Gujarat biz may open purse strings to save lion; Lion carcass found in Tulsishyam

23-5-2007

Gujarat biz may open purse strings to save lion

Times of India Print Edition

 

Gandhinagar: Nearly 150 Gujarat-based businessmen, including top corporate bosses, are likely to attend a high-level meeting called by the state government on Wednesday to discuss how they can help protect the Asiatic lion in Gir.

The meeting will mark the formal launching of Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society, in which some representatives of trade and industry will also be roped in.

“We have decided to ask the corporates to build parapet walls over 8,000 open wells situated outside the Gir sanctuary. Each parapet will cost not more than Rs 12,000,” a senior official said, adding, “These open wells cause the death of 10 to 15 lions on an average every year.”

The meeting will be held at the Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Fo u n d at i o n , Gandhinagar, and be chaired by Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The state government is actively wooing business houses to contribute generously to the lion conservation fund that aims to raise about Rs 40 crore. The fund was created after poachers killed eight lions in Gir in recent months and large gangs of hunters from Madhya Pradesh were arrested for the crimes.

 

Lion carcass found in Tulsishyam

Rajkot: A lion was reported dead near Underadi ness in Tulsishyam range of Gir forest on Tuesday. The carcass of the two-year-old lion did not bear any injury marks. Its nails and other body parts were also found intact by forest officials. A team of veterinary doctors reached the spot to examine the carcass and carry out postmortem to ascertain the cause of death. Forest officials said that prima facie it has been found that the lion died of natural causes.