AHMEDABAD: In Sasan Gir, a young lioness has become the talk of the jungle, earning herself the quirky nickname, ‘Puncture Wali Sinhan’. The feline, who lives in the area surrounding Devalia Safari Park, has gained notoriety for being on a ‘tyre-less’ and unusual mission — deflating tyres of safari vehicles.A video of the lioness caught in the act has lit up social media, sparking curiosity and a few chuckles. Shot by tourists, it shows her casually strolling down a serene forest path before suddenly turning aggressive towards their parked safari vehicle and going straight for a tyre valve, like a seasoned pit crew member, and letting the air hissing out.Local sources and forest department officers confirmed that this lioness, who seems to have a penchant for immobilising vehicles in this way, roams the area surrounding Devalia Safari Park. A local guide quipped, “I’ve crossed paths with her before. Around here, she’s known as Puncture Wali Sinhan. This isn’t a one-off incident; she’s got a real knack for it.”A forest officer stationed at Sasan Gir said that the vehicle seen in the viral video was part of Devalia Park’s fleet. “It’s a common occurrence in Devalia. The lioness often gets up close and personal with vehicles, leaving their tyres deflated. It doesn’t happen every day, but it’s not exactly rare either,” he added. According to Mohan Ram, the deputy conservator of forests for Sasan Gir division, the lioness’s behaviour might be driven by the scent of another animal. “Sometimes, if a vehicle carries traces of animal scent — especially dogs — the lioness might react. She could have scratched or hit the tyre with her claw due to that. It appears to be an older video,” Ram said.The Devalia Safari Park, part of the Gir protected area, is home to several lions living in semi-natural enclosures. While such incidents add a dash of unpredictability to wildlife tourism, forest officers assure that they keep a close eye on animal behaviour and ensure safety protocols for both tourists and animals. After all, in the wild world of Sasan Gir, you never know when you might get a flat tyre!