Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Attacked by lions man lands in hospital

26-08-2013
Attacked by lions man lands in hospital
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/attacked-by-lions-man-lands-in-hospital/1160127/

A man was injured after he was attacked by lions near Savarkundla in Amreli district on Sunday afternoon.

Savarkundla police said that Chandu Patadia (30) was injured after a lion attacked him near the town. After primary treatment at a local hospital, Patadia was referred to the Civil Hospital in Amreli.

Confirming the attack on Patadia, deputy conservator of forest (DCF) of Gir East, Anshuman Sharma, said, "A lion pride with cubs is roaming in the area. We have asked our staff to track the pride and lure the lions to a safer area."

Leopard found dead

A male leopard, believed to be three to four years old, was found dead in Piplav village of Khambha taluka of Amreli on Saturday afternoon.

"The leopard was stuck in a bush near a farm. A post-mortem has concluded that the leopard died of multiple organ failure. We have sent samples to veterinary college of Anand Agricultural University in Anand to know the exact cause of the death," Sharma said.

There was no injury mark on the leopard's body but its lungs were clotted and lever was also not functioning properly, Sharma said.

Leopard killed by Asiatic lion in Semredi area of Gir forest

25-08-2013
Leopard killed by Asiatic lion in Semredi area of Gir forest
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/leopard-killed-by-asiatic-lion-in-semredi-area-of-gir-forest-113082500379_1.html

An 11-year-old leopard is believed to have been killed by an Asiatic lion in the Semredi area of the Dalkhania range of the Gir forest in Amreli district few days ago, a senior official said today.

"The carcass was recovered yesterday," Deputy Conservator of Forest (Dhari West) Anshuman Sharma told PTI today evening.

Sharma suspected infighting between the lion and the leopard to be reason for the leopard's death.

The post-mortem report has confirmed the cause of death, Sharma said, adding that lions are known to kill leopards in territorial fights.

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Endangered Asiatic lion cub born at French zoo

22-08-2013
Endangered Asiatic lion cub born at French zoo
Global Post
http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130822/endangered-asiatic-lion-cub-born-at-french-zoo

A rare Asiatic lion cub, whose species is endangered with only about 350 in the wild, has been born at a zoo in the French city of Besancon, officials said Thursday.

"It's a baby girl, she is in great shape. We are observing her in the big-cat house from a distance thanks to a system of cameras," Gerard Galliot, chief conservationist at the zoo at the Citadel of Besancon, told AFP.

The cub was born on August 14 and weighs about 1.5 kilogrammes (3.3 pounds). She is expected to reach a weight of 130 kilogrammes (285 pounds) within two years.

Her father Tejas, born at a zoo in the British city of Bristol, arrived in Besancon, in eastern France, in 2008, while her mother, Shiva, was born in Besancon in 2005.

Listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Asiatic lion (panthera leo persica) was once widely distributed across southwest Asia but is now restricted to a single population in India's Gir Forest.

'Death of wild animals on farmlands responsibility of forest officers, not farmers'

24-08-2013
'Death of wild animals on farmlands responsibility of forest officers, not farmers'
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/death-of-wild-animals-on-farmlands-responsibility-of-forest-officers-not-farmers/1159028/

It is a case of the survival of man versus animal in Junagadh and Amreli districts, where farmers, struggling for their life and livelihood have launched an indefinite agitation.

Protesting under the aegis of Bharatiya Kisan Sangh (BKS), the farmers have submitted memoranda demanding compensation to mamlatdars on Thursday.

"Our fist demand is for the release of three persons who are in jail in connection with electrocution of a lion in Moti Monpari village in Visavadar taluka. We also demand that farmers be paid compensation for damage to their crops caused by wild animals," Vitthal Dudhatra, joint secretary of Gujarat BKS, said.

In Junagadh district, the farmers submitted memoranda to mamlatdars of Una, Bhesan and Visavadar. Memorandum was also submitted to mamlatdar of Talala taluka, which is now part of the newly-created Gir Somnath district. Their counterparts in Amreli, Lathi, Bagasara, Dhari, rajula, Jafrabad and Khambha talukas of Amreli district also submitted memoranda to their respective mamlatdars.

The BKS leader said that farmers would submit memoranda to mamlatdars everyday until they get a positive response. "If we don't get a positive response , we would intensify the agitation," he said.

"Forest officers should keep lions and leopards within the forest. If the big cats come out and die on a farmer's land, forest officers, and not farmers, should be held responsible," Dudhatra, who joined the farmers in protests at Visavadar, said.

BKS and farmers have long been demanding the release of six farmers of Moti Monpari village who were arrested for the death of a lion on August 6. While three of them have been released on bail, three were still in jail.

The agitators have also demanded that farmers should be paid compensation amount at market prices of their cattle killed by wild animals. The BKS has announced to hold a farmers' sammelan in Dhari in this regard on Tuesday.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Shifting lions from Gujarat: MP govt seeks Rs 7cr from Centre

18-08-2013
Shifting lions from Gujarat: MP govt seeks Rs 7cr from Centre
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-18/flora-fauna/41421923_1_palpur-kuno-sanctuary-asiatic-lions-madhya-pradesh

(Madhya Pradesh government has sought over Rs 7 crore from the Centre to shift Asiatic lions from Gujarat to its Palpur Kuno Sanctuary under Sheopur district of Gwalior division.)

 Madhya Pradesh government has sought over Rs 7 crore from the Centre to shift Asiatic lions from Gujarat to its Palpur Kuno Sanctuary under Sheopur district of Gwalior division.

The move came following a Supreme Court judgement on April 15 which held that the species was under threat of extinction and needed a second home.

"... the Supreme Court has passed final orders on the shifting of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh directing the ministry of environment and forests to take urgent steps for their reintroduction," former Madhya Pradesh principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) PK Shukla has said in a letter to enviroment ministry (MoEF).

"The Hon'ble Court has set a time limit of six months from the date of issuance of court's order for reintroduction of lions."

"As the time limit is brief for such a huge task, we were eagerly expecting directions from MoEF regarding the course of action, but we have not received any directions from the central government so far," he said.

The copy of the letter, which was written on May 16, was accessed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey via RTI.

The letter also mentioned details of annual plan expenditure of operations to carry out impending works for reintroduction of lion and had sought central assistance.

Shukla had sought grant of Rs 737.42 lakh for various works, including transportation of animals, strengthening of protection infrastructure and habitat development among others at the sanctuary, located about 300 kms from here.

Dubey said, "Four months have already passed and not much is being done on the shifting of lions. We will write to MoEF in this regard as well as to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modito shift lions as early as possible."

The wildlife activist had earlier filed a PIL demanding ban on tourism inside tiger reserves across the country and restructuring of government policies in this regard, which was granted by the apex court.

Currently, there are around 400 Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Gir sanctuary.

Experts to study threat to lions in Kuno-Palpur

20-08-2013
Experts to study threat to lions in Kuno-Palpur
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Experts-to-study-threat-to-lions-in-Kuno-Palpur/articleshow/21923787.cms

 The 12-member committee formed to look into the translocation of Asiatic lions from the Gir sanctuary in Gujarat toKuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh will now study the threat perception to these big cats in the proposed habitat.

A two-member expert committee has been formed to list out threats and to resolve issues as mentioned in the new guidelines issued by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The experts - Ravi Chellam and Y V Jhala - will prepare a list of studies that need to be carried out for shifting lions to Kuno-Palpur which is a tiger reserve too. This list will then be given to the 12-member translocation committee for further action.

In a meeting held on July 29, Chellam and Jhala were asked to draw up a translocation protocol and submit their report to the committee within six weeks. During the meeting, the members also raised doubts over the prey base count submitted in the last meeting by the Madhya Pradesh government. The state official Suhash Kumar had stated that there are 69 cheetals and 80 animals per sq km in the proposed 314 sq km Kuno sanctuary.

The members questioned the MP officials why tigers were not making Kuno a permanent home despite good prey base. They asked the experts and Madhya Pradesh state to give a clear picture on the presence of tiger and their number in the sanctuary.

Some of the members demanded that the lions should only be translocated only if the MP government was fully prepared for it. The meeting was held in less than a month after Gujarat was given a chance to make a presentation on lion behaviour and other issues.

The members also sought to know from the chief wildlife warden of Gujarat as to what happened to the state government's plan to shift lions to Barda sanctuary in Porbandar district. Besides, the state officials were asked about the status of the new 108 sq km conservation reserve which the government plans to set up in Bhavnagar district.

"Many such translocation attempts have failed in the past and hence one has to resort to it only if there is full commitment," said a member during the meeting.

Monday, August 19, 2013

It's a Jungle Out tHere

18-08-2013
It's a Jungle Out tHere
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/its-a-jungle-out-there/1156727/

An Asiatic lion crosses a road near Amreli district

In Gujarat, animals and birds are increasingly sighted near human habitats

A flock of lesser flamingos descends on a pool of dirty water in Juhapura, Ahmedabad, their crimson-smeared white wings striking against the muddy brown of the sewage water. This rare migratory bird, which flies to Gujarat every winter from Central Asia, is spotted regularly in this colony. Chandola lake, in a lower middle-class neighbourhood of Ahmedabad, is another birder's paradise bang in the middle of urban squalor, with cormorants, painted storks and spoonbills making it their home.

In the Gujarat capital, and indeed in other parts of the state, many animals seem to be straying close to human habitats, posing a wildlife conundrum: is it better conservation that is pushing them to cities?

For instance, according to a 2010 census of Asiatic lions, there were 411 lions in the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), spread over 1,412 square kilometres. But forest officers believe that the big cats now roam in an area covering more than 1,800 sq km, spread over four districts of Junagadh, Amreli, Porbandar and Bhavnagar (known as the Gir protected area). A significant portion of this is revenue land (land under the collectorate, meant for use by people). In fact, a few lion prides have settled as far away as 80 km from the border of eastern Gir forests, in Bhavnagar. "Lions roam almost every day in my mango orchard. I believe they come here in search of water and prey," says Sardarsinh Chauhan, a farmer of Lusava Gir village in Talala taluka, bordering Gir West forests.

Forest officers say there are other reasons for the lions to step out of the jungle. "Historically, Asiatic lions were found as far away as Iran and parts of Europe but were reduced to a smaller area due to habitat loss and hunting. Now that their population is growing (the last three censuses have shown a rise in numbers), they are recapturing their lost territory. This is the reason they are seen near human settlements," says Kasuladev Ramesh, deputy conservator of forest of Gir West division.

Similarly, the numbers of the Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), locally called khar or ghudkhar, had once been reduced to a few hundreds. The 2010 census placed their numbers at 4,038. Their protected habitat is the Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, over 200 km north-west of Ahmedabad. Groups of up to 40 wild asses wandering in agricultural fields in Dhrangadhra, Lakhtar and Patdi talukas of Surendranagar, bordering the sanctuary, is a common sight. "Many of the khars have settled in bushes near my farm for more than 10 years. They don't fear human beings anymore and they can graze on crops even in the day," says Jayesh Vegda, a farmer of Vana village in Lakhtar taluka.

Cereal crops are the most preferred feed of this shy herbivore. "Due to the nuisance of the khar, farmers had stopped growing cereals in this region many years ago," says Vegda, who owns 20 bighas of land and mainly grows cotton.

Forest officers say it's common for wild asses to move out of the forest. "Nearly a decade ago, large groups of wild asses moved to faraway places in search of food and water during droughts. Since those were available, they settled in those areas," says Jesing Chaudhary, district forest officer at the Wild Ass Sanctuary.  Some wild asses are found as far away as Nal Sarovar in Ahmedabad district, some 40 km from the sanctuary. "In the past, the species was spread across a much larger geographical area. So, this can be called their natural dispersal for the second time," says Chaudhary.

While most environmental activists believe that expanding human settlements are swallowing up animal habitats, wildlife expert Bharat Jethwa believes that good conservation practices can also be a reason why wild animals are being spotted near cities. "This is a unique phenomenon of Gujarat. While in other areas you hear of elephants and leopards straying close to human settlements and sometimes attacking people, very rarely do you spot a wild ass or a lion doing that in Gujarat. These are large endemic species characteristic of a particular region. The wild ass is endemic to the Rann of Kutch and the Asiatic lions are found in Gir and nowhere else in India. Increasingly, it looks like wild animals do not mind human presence. This is indicative of the rise in the number of lions and wild asses due to good conservation measures," he says.

The support from people in the regions of Kutch, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar for conservation has helped further. Gujarat, says Jethwa, has a rich diversity of habitats and a history of humans coexisting with wildlife, with the local culture deeply invested in wildlife conservation. "There is hardly any retaliatory killing of wild animals here. Since they don't get maimed by people when they stray near cities, they come more often," he says.

Modi ignores MP, sends 2 lions to UP

17-08-2013
Modi ignores MP, sends 2 lions to UP
INDIA TODAY.IN
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-ignores-madhya-pradesh-sends-lions-to-uttar-pradesh-shivraj-chouhan/1/299960.html

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi knows how to remain in the spotlight even if it is for some very peculiar reasons. This time it's over lions. Ignoring MP's request for some lions, Gujarat has sent some lions to Uttar Pradesh to become part of Mulayam Singh Yadav's Safari Club in Etawah.

In April this year, the Supreme Court had intervened and put an end to a fight between Modi and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan over the translocation of some lions from Gujarat's Gir Forests to MP's Kuno Sanctuary.

At the time when MP had made the original request to "friendly" Gujarat, the Modi government had turned it down saying that MP had failed to protect its own tigers in Panna Sanctuary. They said that they feared that the Gir lions would face the same fate. The Chauhan government had, however, insisted that the state and the Kuno Sanctuary were equipped with all the necessary infrastructure to take care of the big cats. Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had opposed the relocation terming Gir lions as "Gujarati pride".

Even as the two states bickered over the lions, a PIL was filed seeking the translocation of Gir lions to MP.

Eventually the Supreme Court had on April 15 ordered that some lions be translocated to MP and gave a time frame of 6 months.

However, before those 6 months get over, the Gir lions are on their way to Uttar Pradesh to become part of the Lion Safari Club in Mulayam Singh's constituency Etawah.

Sources say that the basic difference between UP and MP's requests for the lions is the use of lions. The Etawah Lion Safari Park will house Asiatic lions from across the country, including those procured from Hyderabad, in a fancy zoo. The ones translocated to MP's Kuno Sanctuary would be kept in a sanctuary where the purpose would be to preserve them and prevent them from getting extinct.

While UP had asked for 7 Gir lions, Gujarat is only sending 2 of them.

Sources say that the Gir lions are very close to Modi's heart and that he doesn't want to part with them. The government has reportedly worked very hard to preserve them and increase their population which has almost doubled since 1979
.


MP govt seeks Rs 7 cr from Centre to shift lions from Guj to Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary

18-08-2013
MP govt seeks Rs 7 cr from Centre to shift lions from Guj to Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary
IBN Live
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mp-govt-seeks-rs-7-cr-from-centre-to-shift-lions-from-guj-to-palpurkuno-sanctuary/415218-3-236.html

Madhya Pradesh government has sought over Rs seven crore from the Centre to shift Asiatic lions from Gujarat to its Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary under Sheopur district of Gwalior division.

The move came following a Supreme Court judgement on April 15 which held that the species was under threat of extinction and needed a second home.

"The Supreme Court has passed final orders on the shifting of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh directing the Ministry of Environment and Forests to take urgent steps for their reintroduction," former Madhya Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) P K Shukla has said in a letter to Enviroment Ministry (MoEF).

MP govt seeks Rs 7 cr from Centre to shift lions from Guj to Palpur-Kuno Sanctuary

"The Hon'ble Court has set a time limit of six months from the date of issuance of court's order for reintroduction of lions.

"As the time limit is brief for such a huge task, we were eagerly expecting directions from MoEF regarding the course of action, but we have not received any directions from the central government so far," he said.

The copy of the letter, which was written on May 16, was accessed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey via RTI.

The letter also mentioned details of annual plan expenditure of operations to carry out impending works for reintroduction of lion and had sought central assistance.

Shukla had sought grant of Rs 737.42 lakh for various works, including transportation of animals, strengthening of protection infrastructure and habitat development among others at the sanctuary, located about 300 kms from Bhopal.

Dubey said, "Four months have already passed and not much is being done on the shifting of lions. We will write to MoEF in this regard as well as to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to shift lions as early as possible."

The wildlife activist had earlier filed a PIL demanding ban on tourism inside tiger reserves across the country and restructuring of government policies in this regard, which was granted by the apex court.

Currently, there are around 400 Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Gir sanctuary.

MP seeks aid to shift lions from Gujarat

19-08-2013
MP seeks aid to shift lions from Gujarat
The Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1130819/jsp/nation/story_17246217.jsp#.UhIf99KTRfY

The Madhya Pradesh government has sought over Rs 7 crore from the Centre to shift lions from Gujarat's Gir to Kuno sanctuary.

On April 15, the Supreme court had ruled that some Asiatic lions from Gir should be moved to Kuno from time to time as an insurance against an epidemic wiping them out forever..

"...the Supreme Court has passed final orders on the shifting of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh directing the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to take urgent steps for their reintroduction," P.K. Shukla, the former principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), has said in a letter written to the environment ministry.

"The hon'ble court has set a time limit of six months from the date of issuance of court's order for reintroduction of lions. As the time limit is brief for such a huge task, we were eagerly expecting directions from (the) MoEF regarding the course of action, but we have not received any directions from the central government so far," he added.

A copy of the letter, written on May 16, has been accessed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, through an RTI query.

The letter also mentions details of annual plan expenditure of operations to carry out impending works for reintroduction of lions and sought central assistance.

Shukla had sought a grant of Rs 7.37 crore for various works, including transportation of animals, strengthening of protection infrastructure and habitat development among others at the sanctuary, located about 300km from Bhopal.

Dubey said: "Four months have already passed and not much is being done on the shifting of lions. We will write to the MoEF in this regard as well as to Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to shift lions as early as possible."

The activist had earlier filed a PIL demanding a ban on tourism inside tiger reserves across the country and restructuring of government policies in this regard, which was granted by the apex court.

Currently, there are around 400 Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary.

5-year-old girl killed by leopard in Junagadh

15-08-2013
5-year-old girl killed by leopard in Junagadh
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-15/rajkot/41412705_1_leopard-wild-cat-5-year-old-girl

A five-year-old girl was killed by a leopard at Kodiya village in Unataluka ofJunagadh on Tuesday. Victim RavinaParadiya was playing in fields when she was dragged by the wild cat to the shrubs.

When her family members, who work as casual labourers in fields, ran after the animal, it dropped the girl and fled. However, by that time the girl had died. The girl's father, Madhubhai Paradiya, a resident of Sanvav village, had come to Kodiya village a couple of months back.

Forest department officials have, meanwhile, placed cages in the area to trap the leopard that has caused a scare. This the second instance in the district where a human was killed by a leopard in the last one week. Earlier, a leopard had killed a 75-year-old woman Moriben Parmar at Santha village on Sunday.

Gujarat launches awareness drive to protect Asiatic lions

14-08-2013
Gujarat launches awareness drive to protect Asiatic lions
Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-14/flora-fauna/41408896_1_asiatic-lions-awareness-drive-sasan-gir

With a view to inform people about legal provisions pertaining to protection of Asiatic lions, the forest department of Gujarat has launched a 'Sinha Rath' (lion chariot) from Sasan Gir in Junagadh to be taken across 130 villages to spread awareness about wildlife conservation.

The awareness drive was launched on Sunday amid reports of deaths of five Asiatic lions in last 15 days.

"It is a modified jeep with flax banners listing dos and don'ts with respect to lions. A loudspeaker has been mounted on the vehicle which plays a pre-recorded audio message asking villagers to support conservation of lions," Deputy Conservator of Forests, Gir (East Division) Anshuman Sharma told PTI.

The vehicle will pass through 130 odd villages located on the Gir East forest division border and create awareness about wildlife and legal provisions, he said.

Forest department staff members accompanying the vehicle have been interacting with villagers to emphasise the need to protect Asiatic lions, he said.

The Gir National Park and wildlife sanctuary which is spread over 1,412 square kilometres, is well known as the remaining habitat of Asiatic lions, which also has a large leopard population.

The sanctuary also has a thriving population of sambar and spotted deer, chinkara gazelle, neelgai and chowsingha, the world's only four-horned antelope.

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

Leopard kills 75-year-old woman in Junagadh

12-08-2013
Leopard kills 75-year-old woman in Junagadh
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Leopard-kills-75-year-old-woman-in-Junagadh/articleshow/21786365.cms

A 75-year-old woman was killed by a leopard at Santha village in Junagadh district on Sunday night.

The deceased, Moriben Parmar, was asleep in an open area outside her house in the village located on Ozat riverbank when she was attacked by the leopard, forest officials said.

The injured woman was rushed to Civil Hospital in Junagadh by her son, but she succumbed to injuries.

Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary officials have placed cages at different places in the village to nab the leopard.

Court rejects bail plea of five accused of electrocuting lion

13-08-2013
Court rejects bail plea of five accused of electrocuting lion
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/court-rejects-bail-plea-of-five-accused-of-electrocuting-lion/1154706/

A local court in Juangadh rejected bail application of five farmers arrested in connection with alleged electrocution of an Asiatic lion last week even as Bharatiya Kisan Sangh lodged protest with the district collector in this regard on Monday.
A magisterial court in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh district refused bail to the five farmers — Jaman Dobria, Vallabh Dobaria, Balu Dobaria, Ratial Dobaria and Jenti Dobaria. All the five are residents of Moti Monpari village of Visavadar taluka and were arrested by the forest department after the body of a lion was found stuck in a pipeline of a causeway near the village on August 6.

"The court refused them bail saying the investigation is on," said Kasuladev Ramesh, Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) of Gir West division.

Forest officers have booked the five for killing the lion. According to them, the big cat was electrocuted on the farm of Vallabh who had set a live electric wire round his farm to keep wild animals from damaging crop.

The electricity was supplied by Jaman. After they found the lion dead, Balu, Ratilal and Jenti helped the duo dump the body in the stream and made it look like an accident, the officers say. The five accused are cousins.

"We have noticed pug marks of lions on Vallabh's farm. This means the farm was frequented by the big cats but he did not remove the wire," the DCF said.

Paschim Gujarat Vij Company Limited (PGVCL) had snapped Jaman's agricultural power connection after forest department booked him for the lion's death.

Meanwhile, forest officers arrested one more person, identified as Chhaganbahi, on Sunday in this connection and secured his remand till August 14. Officers say that the live wire in Vallabh's farm passed through the field of Chhaganbhai. The officers have also arrested one Mavji Patodia after a Nilgai was allegedly electrocuted on his farm and got his remand for two days on Monday.

The BKS submitted a memorandum to the DC of Junagadh and demanded immediate release of Patodia and restoration of power supply to Jaman.

"Being an animal of national importance, lion should be protected at all cost. But the arrest in connection with the death of Nilgai is unjustified as there is no evidence against the arrested person. If he is not released immediately, we will sit on a dharna in front of the office of the Junagadh wildlife circle office," Uka Patodia, president of Junagadh district unit of BKS said.

Lion Rath reaches out to villagers along Gir forest

13-08-2013
Lion Rath reaches out to villagers along Gir forest
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lion-rath-reaches-out-to-villagers-along-gir-forest/1154704/

In view of the recent spate of lion deaths, the forest department has launched an awareness drive and a Lion Rath for villagers living on the fringes of Gir forest.
Minister of State for Forest and Environment Govind Patel flagged off the Lion Rath from Sasan Gir on Sunday, after holding a meeting with top forest officers of Junagadh wildlife circle and local community leaders and village sarpanchs.

The rath, created by modifying a jeep, has flax banners, enlisting the dos and donts for villagers with respect to lions. A loudspeaker, mounted on the vehicle, sounds a pre-recorded audio message, requesting villagers for their support in conservation of lions and precautionary measures they require to take.

"We thought this is the most effective medium to reach out to local people and muster their support and cooperation. The rath will cover seven to eight villages every day and a couple of our staff members will be accompanying it for interacting with villagers," Anshuman Sharma, deputy conservator of forest (DCF) of Gir (East) division said on Tuesday.

"The plan is to take the rath through the 130-odd villages located on the border of Gir (East) forest division and create awareness among the denizens here about the wildlife and legal provisions," Sharma said. Sources said the rath would also go to villages on the borders of Gir (West) forest division and Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary .

Forest officers said the minister was in Sasan to take stock of the situation after five lions died here in the past fortnight. "Patel held a meeting with the sarpanchs, members of the eco-development committees as well as wildlife enthusiasts to seek their suggestions and listen to their grievances regarding man-animal conflict, particularly damage to crops by wild animals," a top forest officer told The Indian Express.

Incidentally, five farmers of Moti Monpari village in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh were arrested last week after a lion was allegedly electrocuted an a farm. This had drawn sharp reaction from Bharatiya Kisan Sangh.

"Sarpanchs suggested that erecting barbed wire fencing or a wall around sanctuaries or digging trenches in some areas would prevent wild animals from entering farmlands and damaging crops. They also demanded to hike in compensation for cattle killed by these wild animals. The minister also assured to look into their suggestions," the officer added.

In the past 15 days, three deaths were reported from the Gir (West) division, while one reportedly died in the Gir (East) division. The fifth was reported from Krakach in Amreli district on Sunday.

Farmer arrested for lion's electrocution in Junagadh

08-08-2013
Farmer arrested for lion's electrocution in Junagadh
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-08/rajkot/41200928_1_lion-gir-wires

Forest department has arrested a farmer after investigation into the incident of a lion's carcass found from a causeway in MotiMonpari village of Junagadh revealed that the wild cat was actually killed by electrocution.

Jaman Dobaria, the farmer, had laid live wires from a near-by transformer using wooden blocks in his groundnut field. Deputy conservator of forest, Gir west, Kasuladev Ramesh said, "These wires are used to keep the wild animals away. The lion came in contact with the live wire and died."

The police are also searching for two other persons who allegedly assisted Dobaria in laying the live wires.

On Tuesday, forest officials had received a call that a lion's carcass was stuck in the pipeline of a causeway. The pipeline was used to flow out excess water. They pulled out the body and found that all the organs and nails were intact.

During investigation, they also found pug marks and strands of lion hair in the nearby field, which led to the suspicion that the lion could have been killed.

A massive search operation was carried out with the help of police state electricity company officials. "This is the time of sowing and to save the fields from animals, many farmers resort to illegal methods of passing electric current to keep the animals away. Sometimes lions also get trapped and electrocuted."

Forensic Science Laboratory team also found a black mark on the lion's skin, which indicated electrocution.

Ramesh said that they also recovered a grid which had live wires and were connected to the nearby transformer.

Officials said that this year because of good rains there has been bumper sowing in the area and hence such incidents are likely to rise. The farmers will resort to such illegal practices to save their crop from neelgai, wild boar and other wild animals. He said that the lion too would fall prey to such live wires.

New numbers beat old case hollow

12-08-2013
New numbers beat old case hollow
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-12/flora-fauna/41331657_1_translocation-sasan-gir-lions

If you thought the question of diversity in gene pool and the argument on dangers of putting all eggs in one basket prompting the idea of translocation of lions first came up in the '90s, then you are wrong. Even in 1956, when the first translocation of lions took place to Chakia forest in the southeast of Banaras, the arguments were laid on the same grounds.

This is evident from minutes of the fourth meeting of the executive committee of the Indian Board for Wildlife held at Sasan Gir (Saurashtra) in January 1956. Minutes of the meeting, which are available with the Times of India, clearly state that the grounds were the same in 1956, when the translocation took place. And, the move failed.

According to the 1955 census the number of lions in Gir region was 290. The last count of the big cats in 2010, put same number at 411.

Ignoring the warning of Navanagar's Jam Saheb, who was the Rajpramukh of Saurashtra in 1948, the translocation took place and all the three lions which were shifted died due to inadequate area and unrestricted movement of grazing animals.

Officials said that even the Rajpramukh had defended the gene pool theory saying, "everybody wants to kill a male lion and hence their number was gradually decreasing. The male lion (being the head of the family) comes out boldly and gets shot easily." The Rajpramukh also gave out minute details of the lion behaviour to the members who had visited Sasan for the first time.

"Lions move in a pack. So, you should sent a whole group if you want to transfer lions from this part to another. Secondly, a combination of high forest and scrub jungle would be an ideal place for the lions to thrive. It is also essential that its prey (like sambhar and blue bull) should in plenty in the new areas. The states which want to introduce lions into their areas should take note of the conditions for their survival; otherwise (if they take just two), they would not succeed. I may suggest that we should add to the available feed of the lion by introducing fresh game like nilgai, sambhar and chital," he said.

The board also tried to pitch for the translocation stating that cattle owners are making a hue and cry that cattle lifting by lions were becoming a menace. "This is the cry of the owners of the cattle. I would like to make it clear that the lion does not take more than 75 kills in a year. The lion kills an animal and eats it for several days, as he does not know when he will get the next kill. So all this you should take into account."

However, despite all the warning from the Rajpramukh, the translocation took place and all the three lions died. The recent Supreme Court order states that the gene pool in MP would be kept healthy by sending fresh male lions from Gujarat every three to five years.

NGO writes to international body seeking its intervention for a review

10-08-2013
NGO writes to international body seeking its intervention for a review
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-10/ahmedabad/41265778_1_translocation-kuno-palpur-gir-lions

On the occasion of World Lion Day (August 10), a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization, Empower Foundation, has written to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for its guidance and involvement in the translocation of Asiatic lions from Gir National park to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

The foundation had earlier submitted a report to the state government highlighting the adverse conditions that prevailed in the proposed translocation site. It had also analyzed 10 translocations across the globe which had failed. Further, the NGO had cited 12 adverse conditions at Kuno-Palpur which could prove fatal for the lions.

In his letter to Dr Frederic Launay (chairperson of the IUCN SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group), Jalpesh Mehta, founder-chairperson of Empower Foundation, has said that the NGO is not against translocation.

He says that it is farcical in the case of the Gir lions that the petitioner and the party interested in translocation are both part of the deciding or recommending and advising body on the issue.

"Since the matter has become political with various people having vested interests, the only solution is international intervention in the matter, keeping in mind wildlife welfare first and the rest later," Mehta says in the letter.

The NGO has requested the IUCN to get involved by either appointing an international lion expert or a team of lion experts who could guide "the self-claiming wildlife experts who may be having some expertise in tigers, birds or hospitality among others but not lions for sure, but are keen to try their hands at lions to get some experience and visibility at the cost of the precious wildlife."

Key IUCN guidelines violated

Guideline 3.2:


There should generally be strong evidence that the threat(s) that caused any previous extinction have been correctly identified and removed or sufficiently reduced.

NGO's view: The previous threats of extinction to tigers in Kuno Palpur came from poaching. This has neither been reduced nor removed. In fact, it has increased. Sariska and Panna tiger reserves lost all their tigers in the recent past due to poaching. Madhya Pradesh has become India's poaching capital and, in the last decade, was responsible for 50% of the world poaching of tigers.

Guideline 3.6:

Justifying a conservation introduction requires an especially high level of confidence about the organisms' performance after release, including over the long-term, with reassurance on its acceptability from the perspective of the release area's ecology, and the social and economic interests of its human communities.

NGO's View: Three accounts of forest dependence on the periphery of the Kuno sanctuary by Dr. Asmita Kabra, Samrakshan Trust, state that from time to time, the sanctuary had provided refuge to various tribes of Chambal. The gun culture of today is also a public fact. The Sahariya and Ladar tribes depend mainly on the forest for its produce and hunting.

Guideline (3.8):

Where a high degree of uncertainty remains or it is not possible to assess reliably that a conservation introduction presents low risks, it should not proceed, and alternative conservation solutions should be sought

NGO's View:

Lions in Gujarat are not limited to 1412 sq km of Gir National Park and Sanctuary but have migrated naturally and are living successfully over 10500 sq km across Saurashtra region. There is a need to correct the perception of there being a risk to the lions dure to their concentration in one forest.

NGO writes to international body seeking its intervention for a review

10-08-2013
NGO writes to international body seeking its intervention for a review
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-10/ahmedabad/41265778_1_translocation-kuno-palpur-gir-lions

On the occasion of World Lion Day (August 10), a Mumbai-based non-governmental organization, Empower Foundation, has written to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) for its guidance and involvement in the translocation of Asiatic lions from Gir National park to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

The foundation had earlier submitted a report to the state government highlighting the adverse conditions that prevailed in the proposed translocation site. It had also analyzed 10 translocations across the globe which had failed. Further, the NGO had cited 12 adverse conditions at Kuno-Palpur which could prove fatal for the lions.

In his letter to Dr Frederic Launay (chairperson of the IUCN SSC Reintroduction Specialist Group), Jalpesh Mehta, founder-chairperson of Empower Foundation, has said that the NGO is not against translocation.

He says that it is farcical in the case of the Gir lions that the petitioner and the party interested in translocation are both part of the deciding or recommending and advising body on the issue.

"Since the matter has become political with various people having vested interests, the only solution is international intervention in the matter, keeping in mind wildlife welfare first and the rest later," Mehta says in the letter.

The NGO has requested the IUCN to get involved by either appointing an international lion expert or a team of lion experts who could guide "the self-claiming wildlife experts who may be having some expertise in tigers, birds or hospitality among others but not lions for sure, but are keen to try their hands at lions to get some experience and visibility at the cost of the precious wildlife."

Key IUCN guidelines violated

Guideline 3.2:

There should generally be strong evidence that the threat(s) that caused any previous extinction have been correctly identified and removed or sufficiently reduced.

NGO's view: The previous threats of extinction to tigers in Kuno Palpur came from poaching. This has neither been reduced nor removed. In fact, it has increased. Sariska and Panna tiger reserves lost all their tigers in the recent past due to poaching. Madhya Pradesh has become India's poaching capital and, in the last decade, was responsible for 50% of the world poaching of tigers.

Guideline 3.6:

Justifying a conservation introduction requires an especially high level of confidence about the organisms' performance after release, including over the long-term, with reassurance on its acceptability from the perspective of the release area's ecology, and the social and economic interests of its human communities.

NGO's View: Three accounts of forest dependence on the periphery of the Kuno sanctuary by Dr. Asmita Kabra, Samrakshan Trust, state that from time to time, the sanctuary had provided refuge to various tribes of Chambal. The gun culture of today is also a public fact. The Sahariya and Ladar tribes depend mainly on the forest for its produce and hunting.

Guideline (3.8):

Where a high degree of uncertainty remains or it is not possible to assess reliably that a conservation introduction presents low risks, it should not proceed, and alternative conservation solutions should be sought

NGO's View:

Lions in Gujarat are not limited to 1412 sq km of Gir National Park and Sanctuary but have migrated naturally and are living successfully over 10500 sq km across Saurashtra region. There is a need to correct the perception of there being a risk to the lions dure to their concentration in one forest.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Eight-month-old lion cub found dead in Amreli

12-08-2013
Eight-month-old lion cub found dead in Amreli
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Eight-month-old-lion-cub-found-dead-in-Amreli/articleshow/21770345.cms

An eight-month-old lion cub was found dead near Krakach area in Liliya taluka of Amreli district on Saturday night.

On Sunday morning, the forest department rushed to the spot, which is locally known as 'Khadkhad'.

According to sources, it was a male cub and it may have died three to four days ago. But the area has been unapproachable due to heavy rains which is why it was discovered late.

"Primary investigation suggests that the cub may have been killed in infighting as there were marks of lions' nails on the cub's body,'' said forest official.

Sources said that the cub's carcass was decomposed and postmortem was carried out on the spot.

There are about 28 lions in Liliya-Krakach area in Amreli district and they have made this area their permanent home. As per the last lions' census, there are about 100 lions in Amreli distict.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

Lioness Laxmi's lucky five

06-08-2013
Lioness Laxmi's lucky five
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-06/ahmedabad/41130449_1_four-cubs-sasan-gir-devaliya

Five seems to be the lucky number for Laxmi. This three-year-old lioness in Gir has given birth to a litter of five. Interestingly, Laxmi herself was one of a litter of five born to lioness named Shyama.

At her age, Laxmi should usually be learning the tricks of hunting, but she is already a mother and playing the role with tremendous ease. She is taking good care of the cubs and is protecting them from all kinds of threats of jungle life.

On May 17, 2013, Laxmi gave birth to five cubs in Gir Interpretation Zone at Devaliya in Sasan Gir. The cubs are now 75 days old and weigh between 3.5 kg and 4 kg. The cubs have begun to supplement the mother's milk with meat as they have already developed teeth. "This is a remarkable feat as normally a lioness gives birth to 2 to 3 cubs and it is rather rare for all the cubs to survive. Laxmi deserves praise for her mothering skills well proved by the thriving brood," said a forest officer.

Gujarat's chief wildlife warden C N Pandey said, "Laxmi has inherited good genes. She was borne on May 3, 2010, at Sakkarbaug Zoo, Junagadh to lion Daksh and lioness Shyama. However, her mother Shyama could raise only three of them. The rest died in their infancy. Laxmi has been able to achieve a record."

"A lioness can feed only four cubs at a time. But Laxmi has been able to work around this biological limitation. This example illustrate that Asiatic lions are genetically strong and competent," said Pandey. "The forest department continues to play a leading role in biodiversity conservation through dedicated management and support to nature with skill and care. It is crucial that each and every individual of an endangered species is protected with proper skills and capability."

"Birth to five cubs in a litter is extremely rare," an official of the department said.

"We were not sure if Laxmi would be able to raise all five cubs. But she was to make a record in the known history of Asiatic lion management. Laxmi, supported by the forest department staff, she has been able to ensure that all of her cubs survive," the official said.

Asiatic lion electrocuted

08-08-2013
Asiatic lion electrocuted
The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/asiatic-lion-electrocuted/article5001495.ece

An Asiatic lion was electrocuted allegedly by a farmer in Moti Monpuri village in Visavad taluka of Junagadh district within the Gir forest range, Deputy Conservator of Forests, West Division, K. Ramesh said.

Farmer electrocutes Asiatic lion to death near Gir forest

07-08-2013
Farmer electrocutes Asiatic lion to death near Gir forest
Business Standard
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/farmer-electrocutes-asiatic-lion-to-death-near-gir-forest-113080701487_1.html

An Asiatic lion was electrocuted to death allegedly by a farmer in Moti Monpuri village in Visavad taluka of Junagadh district within the Gir forest range, Deputy Conservator of Forests, West Division, Gir Forest, K Ramesh said.

"The farmer, Jamanbhai Dobariya, has been arrested under the Wildlife Act and will be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours," Ramesh said, adding that the electrocution took place a couple of days ago when the lion strayed into an electrically-charged wire.

After the lion was electrocuted, his dead body was dragged into a cement causeway near the road. Due to heavy rains in the region, it took a couple of days to learn about it, Ramesh said, adding that it came to light only when he was patrolling in the area.

He said it took a couple of hours to bring out the lion's body from a cement pipe under which it was stuck.

It was found in decomposed state and samples were sent to the Forensic Laboratory (FSL) at Junagadh. The FSL report has indicated that its died due to electrocution, he said.

After this, forest department teams, police and electricity company officials, carried out massive combing operations to find out the killer, which took them to Dobariya's farm from where pugmarks and other body parts of the electrocuted lion, were recovered, he said.

The possibility of two other suspects being involved in the electrocution of the lion cannot be ruled out, he said.

Further investigations are on, he said.

Farmer electrocutes lion to death near Gir forest

07-08-2013
Farmer electrocutes lion to death near Gir forest
Zee News
http://zeenews.india.com/news/gujarat/farmer-electrocutes-lion-to-death-near-gir-forest_867557.html

 An Asiatic lion was electrocuted to death allegedly by a farmer in Moti Monpuri village in Visavad taluka of Junagadh district within the Gir forest range, Deputy Conservator of Forests, West Division, Gir Forest, K Ramesh said.

"The farmer, Jamanbhai Dobariya, has been arrested under the Wildlife Act and will be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours," Ramesh said, adding that the electrocution took place a couple of days ago when the lion strayed into an electrically-charged wire.

After the lion was electrocuted, his dead body was dragged into a cement causeway near the road. Due to heavy rains in the region, it took a couple of days to learn about it, Ramesh said, adding that it came to light only when he was patrolling in the area.

He said it took a couple of hours to bring out the lion's body from a cement pipe under which it was stuck.

It was found in decomposed state and samples were sent to the Forensic Laboratory (FSL) at Junagadh. The FSL report has indicated that its died due to electrocution, he said.

After this, forest department teams, police and electricity company officials, carried out massive combing operations to find out the killer, which took them to Dobariya's farm from where pugmarks and other body parts of the electrocuted lion, were recovered, he said.

 
The possibility of two other suspects being involved in the electrocution of the lion cannot be ruled out, he said.

Further investigations are on, he said.

Wednesday, August 07, 2013

Say 'no' to Kuno: Wildlife activists

04-06-2013
Say 'no' to Kuno: Wildlife activists
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-04/flora-fauna/41057202_1_gir-lions-kuno-wildlife-sanctuary-wildlife-activists

The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as SasanGir) is believed to be the last residence for last 400 Asiatic lions over this earth. Gir proved not only just a home to these majestic Lions, but as a paradise to them. Had it been the terrain, vegetation, climate, or medical care, Gir always stood the best for them. It's not only the Gujarat government, but even the people of Gujarat has shown much affection towards these lions. To people of Gujarat, Gir Lions are like members of their family. Gir has always stood the best fighting poaching, hence the Lions there feel themselves safe from cruel hands.

"However, the decision for translocation of Gir Lions to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary (MP) has been thrown over everyone and precisely the animals there in. The decision slapped down not only Gujarat government but also all the Wildlife lovers and conservationists. While Indian Govt. claims this plan to be the most needful and call of the hour which would offer the Gir Lions more space to expand their prides, on the other hand paved the path for the wild Lions to end up in hell i.e. Zoo. While the whole world is protesting against captivating wild animals, we Indians are denoting this act as beneficial?" said Jalpesh Mehta, NGO, Empower Foundation.

Monday, August 05, 2013

Lioness' bloated carcass found in lake

05-08-2013
Lioness' bloated carcass found in lake
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Lioness-bloated-carcass-found-in-lake/articleshow/21613236.cms

The carcass of a lioness believed to be around five or six years old was found from a lake in Alidar village of Junagadh'sKodinartaluka.

Sources said that villagers noticed the carcass floating in Pinchli lake on Saturday and immediately informed forest department officials.

The lioness was removed from the lake by forest department team.

Officials said that the body was bloated and it is believed that the lioness may have died few days ago. It is also likely that it may have been swept away in the local river in Jamwala area of Gir which was flooded due to incessant downpour last week.

The body was sent for postmortem at Sasan and the samples of its viscera were sent to forensic science laboratory (FSL).

Sources added that the tongue hanging out of the mouth indicates chances that the lioness may have not died a natural death.

But the exact reasons will be known only after the FSL and postmortem report, they added.

Sunday, August 04, 2013

'Human Assisted Dispersal' of lions will be a very good development

02-08-2013
'Human Assisted Dispersal' of lions will be a very good development
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-08-02/flora-fauna/41006078_1_asiatic-lions-translocation-re-

The Supreme Court of India's recent judgment permitting translocation of some of the endangered Asiatic lions from Gujarat's Gir National Park to Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh is considered to be a good and essential step for the long-term survival of the species. BNHS India, terms this type of re-introduction as 'Human Assisted Dispersal', which means re-introduction of a species to some part of its former range through human intervention. BNHS is of the opinion that many other threatened species can be conserved using this approach wherever it is necessary and appropriate to do so.

The re-introduction of Asiatic lions in some part of their former range, which once existed from West Asia to eastern parts of India, has long been debated at various levels. Commenting on the re-introduction of Asiatic lions in Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, Dr Asad Rahmani, director, BNHS said, "It is a very good development and we welcome the move. Relocating some lions is a wonderful idea for the long-term survival of the species and should have been done much earlier."

Translocation of Asiatic lions: Gujarat’s objections brushed aside

30-07-2013
Translocation of Asiatic lions: Gujarat’s objections brushed aside
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-30/ahmedabad/40894668_1_asiatic-lions-kuno-palpur-translocation

Gujarat's objections were brushed aside by the 12 member-committee formed by the ministry of forest and environment for the translocation of lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh. The panel, which met in Delhi on Monday, formed a two member team comprising pro-shifting experts Ravi Chellam and Y V Jhala to decide on the translocation protocol and submit their report to the committee within six weeks.

Chellam is said to be the brain behind the transfer move while Jhala represents the Wildlife Institute of India- Dehradun, which is spearheading the cause of creating a second home for the lions.

The Gujarat representatives, who were not given a chance to present their case, will be allowed to do so during the next meeting.

At the start of the meeting, Gujarat forest official CN Pandey tried to raise objections by putting forth the recent guidelines issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature against such translocations. But Pandey was the lone voice in the meeting against the shifting of lions, as ordered by the Supreme Court. The other experts however accepted that the translocation of lions to from Gir in Gujarat to Kuno Palpur in MP will be done strictly on the basis of the new IUCN guidelines. The SC had stated in its April 15, 2013 order that the number of lions to be introduced in MP would depend upon the density of prey base and other related factors.

The MP official Suhash Kumar was well prepared for this and furnished facts and figures in the proposed 314 sq km Kuno sanctuary which has 69 cheetal per sq. km. and about 80 other animals.

Saturday, August 03, 2013

Lioness, leopard found dead in Amreli

31-07-2013
Lioness, leopard found dead in Amreli
The Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lioness-leopard-found-dead-in-amreli/1149058/

A week after mysterious death of a lion in Junagadh district, a lioness and a leopard were found dead in Savarkundla taluka of Amreli, bordering Gir forests Tuesday.

"Forest guards on a routine patrolling found the carcass of the lioness in Vansiyali Vidi (bushes) in Savarkundla range around 11 am Tuesday while the carcass of a nine-month old female leopard was found from Pithavadi village in the same range," Anshuman Sharma, deputy conservator of forest (DCF) of Gir East Division, told The Indian Express.

The DCF said prima facie the cause of the death of the 11-year-old lioness seemed ageing. "A post-mortem has concluded the lioness died due to multiple organ failure. There were tumours in its lungs and bowels. Tapeworms measuring up to one-metre in length were also found from its intestines. It had prayed on a sheep three days ago but could not eat the kill. So, our staff was tracking it since then," Sharma further said.

But according to the officer, the leopard cub had died in an infighting. "There were injury marks caused by canine teeth on its head and legs. So, after an autopsy, it seems a clear case of death in infighting," Sharma said, adding a nine-month-old leopard cub could leave its mother.

Incidentally, the lion was found dead near Vekaria village in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh district in Gir West Division last Tuesday. A post-mortem had failed to give a decisive reason for its death and samples were sent for forensic examination.

This is the third death of lion in the last two months but first in Gir East in this year. Gir forest and its peripheral areas are the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lions. The Supreme Court had ordered translocation of the big cats to Madhya Pradesh in April this year and the panel set up by Union Ministry of Environment and Forest to execute the order had held its first meeting on Monday.

Villagers live close to Kuno, not 12 km away

31-07-2013
Villagers live close to Kuno, not 12 km away
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-31/ahmedabad/40913531_1_sanctuary-area-kuno-gir-national-park

Madhya Pradesh officials are once again learnt to have tried to mislead the 12-member committee formed by the Union ministry of forest and environment for translocation of Gir lions. During a key meeting held in Delhi on Monday, members of the committee were told by MP officials that villagers living within the sanctuary area had been shifted to a place about 12 km away.

The reality is very different. Any visitor to the area will find the villagers living very close to the sanctuary and in very unhygienic conditions. The first hamlet is situated barely 200 to 300 meters from the sanctuary while the majority of other villages are within 1-2 km of the sanctuary area.

C N Pandey, chief wildlife warden, Gujarat, had attended the meeting on Monday. He said that "Madhya Pradesh has informed the meeting that the villages are settled 12 km away from the sanctuary."

However, Times of India which had visited the sanctuary found out that the 're-settled' villagers are not only fighting a battle for survival in the courts but also living a life of hardship.

Kutcha houses, polluted drinking water, lack of irrigation facilities - all these have made the life of the Sahariya, Jatav and Adivasi tribes miserable. They are also against the M-P government because they were not compensated properly.

It was in 1995, that the Centre decided to shift a pride of Asiatic lions from Gujarat's Gir National Park to Kuno in Madhya Pradesh. At that time, tribal people from 24 villages that fell within the sanctuary were moved out to make space for the big cats. They were paid Rs 36,000 cash and nine bighas of land each.

However, the tribal villagers claim that this amount was paid to each family and not individually. Under a recent compensation policy, the government has been paying hefty sums to all adults in a family.

"We have been fighting a case in the local courts against the inadequate compensation. In 2000, when we took out a rally to register our protest, the police had opened fire at us," says Radhunath Jatav, a community leader displaced from Kuno.

Baisram Adivasi of Khakhoda village said that the land given to them does not have any irrigation facilities. "We can only sow monsoon crops like bajra, mustard and guvar. For the rest of the year, we depend on forest produce. So we should be given rights to enter the forest to collect herbs and tendu leaves used to make bidi," Baisram said.

Yet another villager, Balram Adivasi, pointed to a hand pump and said: "Just taste the water and tell us if it's potable." Then he brought stinking water in a jug and said: "We have to drink filthy water for the sake of a few lions."

When asked about wheat and sugar that they were supposed to get at subsidized rates, Balram said: "When we were displaced, we were promised regular wheat and sugar but it now comes once in a couple of months."

Ramsinh Jatav, a resident of Agara village, said: "The women are forced to walk nearly one km to get water from the fields." He further said that the government had promised them Rs 36,000 but, in many cases, the bank had given less for want of documents.

Gujarat readies to clone its lions

30-07-2013
Gujarat readies to clone its lions
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-30/flora-fauna/40894367_1_gir-lions-pestes-des-petits-gene-bank

The DNA banking of lions will not only be useful for further disease and management related issues, but will also help to have healthy lion genes.)

Like humans, Asiatic lions now have a gene bank with a cloning facility. In collaboration with the Gujarat State Bio-Technology Mission (GSBTM), the forest department has already collected 80 strains of DNA of the Asiatic lion.

The DNA banking of lions will not only be useful for further disease and management related issues, but will also help to have healthy lion genes. An exclusive "Institute of Wildlife Genomics and DNA Banking" will be set up by the end of this year.

Akshaykumar Saxena, the GSBTM Director, says, "The institute is a joint collaboration of the forest department and the GSBTM, and will come up in Gandhinagar. We are already working on the project."

The institute will help the department to overcome fears that the genes of the lion are deteriorating, as the institute will have a data bank of genes of different types of lions in Gir region.

Having lineage data will help the wildlife experts evaluate breeding stress and disease susceptibility, say officials. The DNA bank will also have embryo transfer technology to supplement highly endangered species.

An official says, "The institute will help identify the cats with the best genes, which will be introduced at the gene pool centers set up at Sakarbaugh Zoo and Rampara Virdi."

Once the institute is fully operational, various studies related to diseases and other management aspects of lions will be taken up. The genetic material stored in these banks will be used to increase genetic diversity. Material from DNA banks can be used to infuse small populations with new genetic material, increasing their chances of survival. Another goal of DNA banks is to increase the population size.

In 1999, at the Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species, a domestic housecat gave birth to an African wildcat kitten that had been frozen as an embryo in a DNA bank. This was the first example of interspecies birth. In 2000, the Center produced test-tube Caracal cats from sperm that had been stored in their DNA bank.

Officials say that the GSBTM is also in the process of collecting samples of cubs born at Rampara virdi to study their genes. The GSBTM also plans to carry out a study of the Pestes Des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV). Earlier in May a false alarm citing the death of an Asiatic lion was raised following the outbreak of PPRV virus in Gir lions. The lion had in fact died in 2006.

Madhya Pradesh getting ready to welcome big cats from Gir

30-07-2013
Madhya Pradesh getting ready to welcome big cats from Gir
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-30/flora-fauna/40894637_1_gir-lions-kuno-palpur-kunopalpur

(Soon after the Supreme Court gave its order directing that some of the Gir lions should be shifted to the neighbouring state, the MP government had roped in the trainers.)

Gujarat may be not willing to part with its lions for the KunoPalpur wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, but Madhya Pradesh is getting ready in a big way to welcome the big cats from Gir. The forest department of MP has roped in trainers from World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Malaysia, to train its staff in lion protection and conservation.

Soon after the Supreme Court gave its order directing that some of the Gir lions should be shifted to the neighbouring state, the MP government had roped in the trainers. They are training the staff at Kuno Palpur not only in the management of the park but also in rescue of the animals.

The trainers are also preparing a plan for conservation of the Asiatic lions using modern equipment.

The officials said that the trainers will also teach the MP staff ways to improve the habitat of the big cats, including augmenting of water sources, water regime development, eradication of weeds, development and restoration of grasslands. They are also focusing on development of communication and protection infrastructure, patrolling and anti-poaching activities, research and monitoring, mitigation of man-animal conflicts, and inoculation of domestic cattle in and around Kuno Palpur against contagious diseases.

A senior officer of the Gujarat government complained that the central government has funds for a project whose fate depends on the final SC verdict, but when it comes to giving funds to Gujarat, the Centre expresses helplessness.

Such training would come in handy to Madhya Pradesh as that state is preparing ground to establish in court that it is as well-equipped for conservation as Gujarat, the officer said. He said that the Gujarat government, after filing the review petition in May 2013, has not taken any new steps to establish that Gujarat was safer for the lions than Madhya Pradesh.

Officials in the state government said that even if the Gujarat government's review petition was rejected, the state will have the option of going in for a curative petition which may take a long time.

Lions in Gir clear virus scan

28-07-2013
Lions in Gir clear virus scan
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-28/ahmedabad/40848477_1_dr-richard-kock-pestes-des-petits-asiatic-lions

The results of the study carried out by the forest department for detection of possible presence of dangerous viruses have brought in much relief to the department. The study which was primarily carried out in 10 lions revealed that there is no presence of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Pestes Des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPR).

This was carried out post an alarm raised by Dr Richard Kock of Britain's Royal Veterinary College who was quoted as saying, "The lions in India are a small vulnerable population and widespread infection caused by such a virus can kill at least 40% of the lions in Gir." Dr Kock stated that he planned to visit India in September to conduct tests with the help of Wildlife Institute of India ( WII).

The bogey of a deadly virus that wiped out a significant number of wild lions in the African Serengeti in mid-1990s was raised again in May this year, ostensibly to support the proposal of transfer of Asiatic lions from its only home in Gujarat to a new hostile habitat in Madhya Pradesh.

TOI has found that the study, which was completed in 2012, was based on a sample taken from a lion carcass in 2006.

Gujarat Forest Department entrusted the job of screening the Asiatic lions for these viruses to Gujarat State Bio-Technology Mission (GSBTM) working under the department of science and technology, Government of Gujarat.

GSBTM report on Thursday revealed that both viruses - CDV and PPR - were absent in the tissue samples of all the 10 Asiatic lions. The tests were conducted on six males and four females. Out of these 10, seven were from the wild and three were from captivity. The animal tissue samples were collected as opportunistic collection from lions, thus the sampling was quite random.

Chief wildlife warden, Gujarat, C N Pandey said, "This investigation report further confirmed the incorrectness of the May 16 report. The state forest department is not only sensitive and vigilant about the issue, but has also acquired capabilities of high-end scientific investigations with the help of GSBTM, that will go a long way in the scientific management of lions in the state."

Senior officials from the forest department said that they are not taking the matter lightly and are fully aware that Madhya Pradesh will raise this issue in the apex court and even before the 12-member committee formed by the ministry of forest and environment over translocation. "Hence, the state wanted to be ready with the test report so that it could be produced in court whenever required. The state government is also aware that the neighbouring state will try to show as if every lion in Gir was suffering from PPR and each lion death was caused by the virus," an official said.

Modi-Shivraj war for lions to heat up

28-07-2013
Modi-Shivraj war for lions to heat up
Hindustan Times
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/NewDelhi/Modi-Shivraj-lion-war-to-resume-on-Monday/Article1-1099719.aspx

An uncanny political fight treading into wildlife will start from Monday when a committee of experts will consider relocation of lions from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh as directed by the Supreme Court earlier this year.
 
Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi had opposed the relocation terming Gir lions as "Gujarati pride" and had even threatened to seek review of the Supreme Court order, which has not happened so far. Madhya Pradesh had claimed that Kuno Palpur was ready for soft release of lions.
 
The differing view of the two state governments and some wildlife experts would come out in open when wildlife wardens of the two stat
es participate in the environment ministry's committee to decide on relocation of Gir lions.
 
The committed is headed by additional director general, wildlife, SS Gabrayal and has experts such as former director of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) PR Sinha, WII faculty J Y Jhala, senior ecologist Ravi Chellam and ATS John as members. The visible omission from the committee is petitioner and conservationist Fayaz Khudsar, who has worked extensively in Kuno.
 
Many believe that the committee is loaded with experts who believe that Kuno is not ready for relocation.
 
Chellam, who did Kuno habitat viable study in 1993, in his report to the Supreme Court had raised doubts over MP's claim on prey base in Kuno to sustain lion population and adequacy of 344 sq kilometer of the park to provide second home to the big cats.
 
 "Review of the most recent data provided by Madhya Pradesh reveals several flaws both with data collection methods as well as potentially with the analysis," he said in his note to the court. Sinha had also raised doubts over Kuno's ability to sustain relocation.
 
Madhya Pradesh forest department is not ready to take this criticism. "Any expert from anywhere in the world can visit Kuno and do a study on prey base," said a senior MP forest department official. "Kuno may be 344 sq kms but it is part of contiguous forest of 4,000 sq kms. The limit of the park can be extended any time," the official added.
 
Other than experts, MP government officials will also have to face charged Gujarat government officials, who have been directed to oppose the relocation tooth and nail.
 
Environment ministry officials, however, said all views would be taken into consideration and the committee may be expanded for wider scientific input.  "Lions will not go there immediately. It will take some time," an official said.

Gujarat objects to tiger experts on panel to shift Gir lions

27-07-2013
Gujarat objects to tiger experts on panel to shift Gir lions
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-27/flora-fauna/40832735_1_gir-lions-asiatic-lions-gujarat-government

The Gujarat government has written to the minister of environment and forests (MoEF) raising objections over the composition of the 12-member committee to chalk out the translocation of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh.

Gujarat has also objected to the first meeting of the committee, formed on orders of Supreme Court, scheduled for Monday in Delhi.

While some of the names of committee members have been suggested by the apex court, it had also observed that the Union ministry was free to co-opt lion experts from anywhere in the country.

The letter says that experts from Gujarat have been ignored even as most of the existing members specialize on tiger conservation.

The Gujarat government has objected to Monday's meeting at a time when it had moved SC with a review petition seeking a fresh look into the judgment dated April 15, allowing the translocation. The letter, signed by chief wildlife warden C N Pandey, has requested the Union ministry to postpone the meeting till the outcome of the review petition.

"We were taken aback when we heard that the committee has already announced its first meeting as we were under the impression that it will happen only after the SC disposes the review petition," said a senior Gujarat official.

While admitting that such a letter has been dashed off to the Centre, H K Dash, principal secretary of state forest and environment, refused to divulge any information about the contents of the letter.

The 12 committee includes additional director general (wildlife), MoEF as the chairperson and has experts like AJT Johnsingh, Y B Jhala, Ravi Chellam, P R Sinha and M K Ranjitsinh besides chief wildlife wardens of MP and Gujarat.

The committee will decide on the number of lions to be shifted, identify individual animals for shifting, monitor the shifting on behalf of the MoEF and provide technical inputs for translocation.

Shivraj may snatch Gujarat’s lions, steal Modi’s thunder

24-07-2013
Shivraj may snatch Gujarat’s lions, steal Modi’s thunder
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-24/flora-fauna/40770512_1_asiatic-lions-kuno-palpur-translocation

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, who is engaged in an apparent game of one-upmanship with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, is likely to steal his thunder further if the neighbouring state gets final approval from the Supreme Court for the translocation of some Gir lions to MP.

(Lions roaming at the Gir National Park located in Junagadh district on Sunday. The park is closed for visitors in monsoon season, considered good for lions' breeding.Photo)

The project for creating a second home for the Asiatic lions in Kuno Palpur is finding favour with the government of India and tilting the balance against Gujarat in its final battle to remain the only state that boasts of being the habitat of the king of the jungle.

The SC had on April 15 okayed the translocation of lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh and directed that this be done in six months (October 15). On the day of the judgment, an excited Chouhan had tweeted, "I welcome Supreme Court's verdict on Asiatic lions. We are well-equipped to welcome them in their new home." The Gujarat government had filed a review petition on May 13 but failed to get a stay.

Chouhan continued being pro-active on this matter and his government sent three reminders in the last three months for convening a meeting of the experts group, as directed by SC. The Centre has finally convened a meeting in New Delhi on July 29.

The 12-member committee has just been formed and the meeting will be chaired by Dr Rajesh Gopal, additional director general, forest (wildlife), an officer who has worked extensively in MP. The other committee members are also overwhelmingly in favour of the relocation plan drawn up by the Wildlife Institute of India at Dehradun.

Forest department starts probing lion death

24-07-2013
Forest department starts probing lion death
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-24/rajkot/40770376_1_lion-death-five-year-old-lion-khambha

The forest department has constituted five teams to investigate the death of a five-year-old lion whose carcass was found on Dhari-Junagadh Road in Visavadartaluka on Monday.

With no major injuries found on its body in the postmortem analysis, the department officials are suspecting foul play. It was earlier believed that it may have been run over by a vehicle. "There were no major injuries to suggest that it was an accident. We now suspect that there is a possibility that the lion may have consumed water in agricultural fields that was mixed with urea fertilizer. We are investigating this aspect," said R L Meena, chief conservator of forests (Wildlife Division), Junagadh Circle.

Sources said that farmers mix urea in water to ward off wild animals like nilgai and wild boar. In this case also, it is being assumed that the lion accidentally consumed contaminated water kept by farmers.

Moreover, the farmers also tried to destroy the evidence by dumping the lion's carcass somewhere else to prove that the wild cat died in a road accident.

Two lions had died in a similar manner near Kantala village of Khambha taluka of Amreli about five years ago.

Gir lions to roar in MP soon

23-07-2013
Gir lions to roar in MP soon
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-23/flora-fauna/40748240_1_palpur-kuno-wildlife-sanctuary-gujarat-government-dr-ravi-chellam

Roar of translocatedGir lions will be heard in Sheopur district, if everything goes well. Paving the way, Ministry of forest and environment (Moef) has constituted a 12-member committee to decide final course of action to shift lions from Gir in Gujarat to Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district of the state.

The committee, chaired by Moef's additional director general (ADG) Wildlife will hold its first meeting in New Delhi on July 29, sources said.

The other committee members include chief wildlife wardens (CWW) of MP and Gujarat - Narendra Kumar and C N Pandey, respectively, member secretary National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), Wildlife Institute of India ( WII), and other wildlife experts Dr AJP Johnsingh, YB Jhala, Dr Ravi Chellam, PR Sinha and NK Ranjeet Singh.

The committee is mandated to advice on the number of lions to be trabnslocated, provide technical guidance to both the states, select individual animals, monitor implementation plan of reintroduction and submit progress report to the Moef, said MP CWW told TOI. This committee can also co-opt more experts for the proceedings, he added.

Members will identify lions and number of prides to be shifted to MP, besides discussing a strategy to monitor research and track their movements continuously.

The committee has been constituted in compliance with the April 15 order of Supreme Court which directed Gujarat to translocate lions to Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Sheopur district of the state. In May, Gujarat had filed a review petition against this order citing that court was misguided by MP government. While the petition is yet to be admitted in the court, MP forest department shot off a communication to the centre for compliance of the apex court's order.

The Gujarat government also claims that top carnivores have never been successfully translocated. "We propose that we may first have a program of having a second home in the same climatic region in Gujarat as a pilot project and closely monitor the progress and learn from the exercise as to how the prides behave etc," Gujarat government has claimed in their review petition besides accusing the forest officials of being negligent in protecting their tigers.

Five-year-old lion found dead in Junagadh

23-07-2013
Five-year-old lion found dead in Junagadh
Indian Express
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/fiveyearold-lion-found-dead-in-junagadh/1145314/

A five-year-old lion was found dead Monday morning on state highway 96 near Vekaria village, around 50 km east of Junagadh, in Gir (West) division. However, officials ruled out any foul play.

Forest officers rushed to the spot near Visavadar after receiving reports of the lion lying dead on the roadside. The body of the big cat was later taken to Animal Rescue Centre in Sasan Gir for post-mortem. However, the autopsy could not conclusively establish the cause of the lion's death, officers said.

"There were no major injury marks. But there was blood in its mouth, suggesting it might have been hit by a vehicle while crossing the road," said R L Meena, chief conservator of forest (CCF), wildlife circle, Junagadh.

"Prima facie, presence of urea has been detected in its body. Another suspicion is the lion might have drunk water from some field where a doze of fertiliser might have been given to crops. This might have slowed down its movement and it might have met with an accident late night or early morning," Meena added.

The CCF went on to say that samples had been sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Junagadh and College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry of Junagadh Agricultural University.

"The cause of its death will be ascertained only after reports from FSL and the veterinary college come," he said.

Meena ruled out foul play saying, "Pugmarks of the dead lion and three

others were seen in the nearby area. The other three lions were traced out later in the day."

Officers said incidents of lions being killed in road accidents are rare even though the highway does not have speed-breakers on the stretches that pass through forest area. Forest officers said the area where the body was found was a corridor for lions living in Pania Wildlife Sanctuary and Hathalia hills.

Where are 2 lions of Chhatbir zoo hiding?

23-07-2013
Where are 2 lions of Chhatbir zoo hiding?
The Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-07-23/chandigarh/40748179_1_chhatbir-lion-safari-enclosure

Two lions that stepped out of their enclosure in Chhatbir zoo situated on the Chandigarh-Patiala road two days ago have not yet returned or been located, heightening the possibility of them going missing even as the authorities claimed otherwise.

Sources told TOI that a 20-year-old Asiatic lion and a two-year-old lioness were let out to roam within the lion safari - an area spread over eight hectares with shrubs and grasslands - on Saturday. The lioness, Heli, was brought from Gujarat, while the lion, Raman, was born in Chhatbir itself. Worryingly, for the past 48 hours, zookeepers have not sighted them despite scouring for them a number of times. "We had carried search operations and went in our vehicle to trace them. But they have not been spotted yet," said a zoo employee.

However, zoo director Kuldeep Kumar does not believe anything was amiss. "The lions were let open in the safari which is within the zoo. As a habit, they return to eat food in the den. Maybe they felt uncomfortable. But they are not missing," said Kumar. Punjab chief wildlife warden Darinder Singh too echoed Kumar"s sentiments. "It is nothing unusual. Whenever lions feel uncomfortable in their den, they roam in the safari for days and return whenever they feel like," he said. "Lions do not require food daily like humans. Usually, they kill some small animal from the forest itself. People are safe while visiting the safari as metal bars are installed all around for security reasons," he added. According to experts, lions prefer free spaces in the forest. They do not feel at ease in closed and dense forests.

Missing or not, the prolonged absence of the two lions has alarmed the staff. An eight-month-old cub, Abhay, has been confined to his enclosure and not allowed to roam freely. "We cannot leave the new lion out until the other two return to their den as they usually get into a fight," said the employee.

Oppn slams BJP for delay in shifting Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Kuno Palpur sanctuary

19-07-2013
Oppn slams BJP for delay in shifting Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Kuno Palpur sanctuary
IBN Live
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/oppn-slams-bjp-for-delay-in-shifting-asiatic-lions-from-gujarat-to-kuno-palpur-sanctuary/407859-3-236.html

The Opposition Congress has asked the BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government to directly take up with their Gujarat counterparts the issue of trans location of Asiatic lions.

"Though Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan always talks about the state's interests, but in the matter of shifting of Asiatic Lions from Gujarat's Gir Forest to Kuno Palpur sanctuary, he is hardly doing anything in the interest of the people who were relocated from the area for trans location of lions," environmentalist and state Congress unit joint spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi said on Friday.
"Chouhan should take up the matter with the top BJP leadership as the matter is between the two BJP-ruled states, without waiting for a court directive in the matter," Chaturvedi said.

Oppn slams BJP for delay in shifting Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Kuno Palpur sanctuary

The Supreme Court had on April 15 this year allowed trans location of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh, saying the species is under threat of extinction and needs a second home. However, Gujarat had decided to file a review petition in the matter.

Currently, there are about 400 Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Gir sanctuary.  Chaturvedi also said that he will urge the state Congress manifesto committee chairman Suresh Pachouri to include the issue in the party's manifesto as people from 24 villages were shifted from the Kuno Palpur area to facilitate a second home for Asiatic Lions.  

"The forest department had relocated large number of people from the area for Asiatic Lions. At the same time, due to political rivalry between Chouhan and Modi the big cats are not being brought to the area without realising the pain and agony of large number of people who were forced to leave their homes," Chaturvedi alleged.
Citing a study conducted by an environmentalist in Gujarat, he said that shifting of Asiatic Lions from Gir forest area to another location is genetically and environmentally beneficial for this gene as any natural calamity would wipe out the entire population of the carnivore.

Kuno Palpur wildlife sanctuary, home to many species of wild animals including wolves, leopards and nilgai, lies in the Sheopur district in north western Madhya Pradesh, about 120 kms from Gwalior.

According Wildlife Institute of India (WII) experts, the sanctuary is the most promising location to re-establish a free ranging population of the Asiatic lions and certified it ready to receive its first batch of trans located lions from Gir wildlife sanctuary where they are highly overpopulated, Chaturvedi said.  The sanctuary was selected as the reintroduction site for the Asiatic lions because the earlier range of the lions there was hunted into extinction in 1873, he added.

Previous Posts