WATCH: Lion swims off Jafrabad coast in Gujarat's Amreli, spotted by fishermen, later captured by forest officials https://t.co/UlGBJCM9KS — ANI (@ANI_news) January 3, 2016

RAJKOT: A six-year-old lion swam a distance of around 500 metre across a creek, off Jafrabad coast in Amreli district, on Saturday morning and reached the light house, some 2km from the town.However, people who saw the swimming lion got excited and gathered near the light house to see the wild cat. Local residents also informed the police and forest department about it. Forest department officials and rescue team rushed to spot and tranquilized the lion."At Jafrabad coast, on one side there are industrial units and on the other side where the lion had reached after swimming till the light house. Normally, people walk across the bridge on the creek but the lion swam 500 metre in sea water to the other side. We have rescued the lion and sent it back to the forest," said C B Dhandhiya, range forest officer, Rajula forest range in Amreli.According to forest officials, there are over 45 lions living in areas along the Amreli coast.The latest lion census stated that there are 523 lions in and around the Gir sanctuary.