Two cubs fall to death in well

23-5-08

Two cubs fall to death in well

Indian Express

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Two-cubs-fall-to-death-in-well/313290/

Junagadh, May 22 Two lion cubs aged about two months reportedly died after slipping into a well.

The incident occurred on Wednesday on the outskirts of Khilawad village under Tikaria bit in Jashadhar forest range in Gir east forest division.

This is the second such incident to be reported in the revenue area surrounding Gir forest.

On April 3, carcass of a lioness was recovered from an abandoned parapet-less well on the outskirts of Surva village in Talala taluka in Gir west forest division.

According to forest officials, two lion cubs, male and female, sneaked into a well through a small hole between a hut and the well.

The hut that houses the diesel water pump is located on an agriculture land owned by Chhagan Modasia, a farmer.

On being informed about the incident, forest officials rushed to the spot and fished out the carcasses from the well.

According to the post-mortem report submitted by two veterinary doctors, the cubs died due to injuries received during the fall.

Deputy Conservator of Forest (Gir east) J S Solanki said, "Brain hemorrhage and drowning are stated to be the cause of the death of the cubs. All the claws of both the cubs have been found in-tact."

Last year, a total of five lions died after a fall into parapet-less wells. According to a survey conducted by NGOs and the Forest department, around 8,000 to 9,000 such wells exist in the revenue area adjoining the Gir forest.

In spite of financial assistant provided by the Forest department and NGOs, the farmers give a poor response to covering the parapet-less wells.