New Sanctuary for Asiatic Lions being planned by State - Central Govt.

21-11-2007

New Sanctuary for Asiatic Lions being planned by State – Central Govt.

Source: Divya Bhaskar (Briefly translated from Gujarati)

There are 359 Asiatic Lions in their last abode in Gir forest. Lions have been straying outside the sanctuary because of space constraint. Thus State and Central Govt. are thinking to add 300 sq. km more area to the existing 1460 sq. km. Necessary proposals have been prepared for the same.

In last two decades two regions have been added to the area of National Park. Still the the king of the jungle is wandering outside as far as sea-side of Mahuva and Vallabhipur. Looing to the situation it has been decided to further extend the area of existing 1460 sq km area.

A team headed by PCCF Shri Pradeep Khanna is studying the proposal. If the proposal is approved by the Central Govt. then the area adjoinging existing sanctuary will be added.

At present there are about 25 lions in Jesar and Mityala sanctuary area, 25 lions have made Bhavnagar district as their permanent home and also about 8 lions are regularly found in Umrala and Mahuva towns, as per information of Forest Dept. If the expansion proposal is successful then in true sense king of the jungle will have best habitat.

Together Lets Save Gir and Asiatic Lion