Thursday, November 21, 2013

Translocate 6 lions every 4 yrs into Madhya Pradesh: Experts

21-11-2013
Translocate 6 lions every 4 yrs into Madhya Pradesh: Experts
The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Translocate-6-lions-every-4-yrs-into-Madhya-Pradesh-Experts/articleshow/26139352.cms

If lions are not sent from Gir every four years to Kuno Palpur (Madhya Pradesh), the chance of their extinction in Kuno Palpur is 30% after a hundred years.

If lions are not sent from Gir every four years to Kuno Palpur (Madhya Pradesh), the chance of their extinction in Kuno Palpur is 30% after a hundred years. This is among the extinction scenarios relating to the Madhya Pradesh site - proposed to be Gir lions' new abode - discussed in a report by two lion experts, Ravi Chellam and Y V Jhala.

The two stated that the possibility of lions' extinction in Kuno Palpur would be almost negligible if 12 lions were introduced initially and six lions were supplemented every four years for 16 years. They said that to take the possibility of extinction to zero, the forest department would have to enhance the carrying capacity of the park.

The experts said that the current carrying capacity of 45 lions has to be increased to a minimum of 75-80 lions over 20-25 years. The report suggested an initial population of 12 translocated individuals - including five to seven breeding females and two to three breeding males. The report recommends that at least six new lions - including two males and four females - be translocated every four years.

The report directs the Madhya Pradesh Government to submit a report to the lion reintroduction expert committee within 30 days explaining its preparedness in relation to each point raised in the action plan.

The report concludes by saying: "Carnivore reintroduction is an appropriate conservation strategy to restore the integrity of ecosystems. It is a rapidly growing science which, if carried out accurately, has the potential to be a valuable component of the conservationist's tool kit. However, many pitfalls exist that can result in a total or partial failure of the reintroduction program and can potentially waste valuable and limited resources."

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