Friday, March 30, 2018

Government reducing protected areas for Asiatic lions from 30,000 hectares to 4,000 hectares: CAG

29/03/2018

Government reducing protected areas for Asiatic lions from 30,000 hectares to 4,000 hectares: CAG

Mirror Now

http://www.timesnownews.com/mirror-now/in-focus/article/protected-areas-asiatic-lions-gir-forest-gujarat-cag-report/212126

 

Gandhinagar: In its report on 'economic sector' of 2018, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pointed out that the government has failed to sanction any new protected habitats for Asiatic lions in Gujarat since 2008.

 

"In view of the rising population and high instances of deaths of lions outside the Gir Protected Area during 2012-13 to 2016-17, the creation of new protected areas was one of the available options with the forest department," said the report.

 

Pointing out that a miraculous 54.6 per cent jump in the population of these leonine creatures between 2011 and 2015 is "exerting pressure" on the existing secured habitat, the CAG said that wildlife conservation efforts have in the past yielded good results for the species, however, the sanctioning of no new protected areas in the past decade can severely affect the bettering population of Asiatic lions.

 

While records suggest that the population of these majestic creatures increased from 308 in 2011 to 356 in 2015, multiple deaths within the species have been recorded in the same time frame with 106 being attributed to natural and 21 being attributed to unnatural causes of death.

 

"The proposal submitted (March 2016) for draft Eco Sensitive Zone notification for Gir Protected Area also reports that the latest census should be taken as a sign of warning as nearly one-third (32 per cent) of lions have their habitat outside the Gir Protected Area, risking human lives, livestock as well as the safety of the lions themselves," added the report.

 

Also Read: A mere Rs 1 cr for tribal scheme in 2016-17, Congress-ruled states ignored

 

CAG, in its report, also stated that the government has been reducing the proposed land for the protected area from 30,152.32 hectares to a mere 4,811.51 hectares.

 

Underlining the delays on the part of the ruling dispensation in transferring government wasteland in favour of the Forest and environment department, CAG also highlighted the need to implement a 2015 proposal that advised the creation of a safe corridor for lions moving out of the Gir protected areas.

 

Earlier this week, the Gujarat High Court on Monday sent notices to the state and Central government seeking an explanation concerning the deaths of 184 lions in the state in the last two years.

 

A total area spanning 17,099.93 square kilometres comprising of 28 protected areas that include wildlife sanctuaries, national parks and conservation reserves currently exists in Gujarat. Out of the total area, only 4,640.58 square kilometres is forest land while the remaining comprises of non-forest ecosystems.



Families of Gir’s oldest lions battle to save their territory

27/03/2018

Families of Gir's oldest lions battle to save their territory

The Times Of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/families-of-girs-oldest-lions-battle-to-save-their-territory/articleshow/63471257.cms

 

Junagadh: Gir forest is witnessing an ugly battle to gain supremacy over a territory that was ruled for long by two famous lion brothers - Ram and Shyam. Ram, the most photographed lion, died in November 2016 while his brother Shyam, who guarded the territory in Dedakdi range later, died a few months later.

 

Now, their family consisting of two lionesses and seven cubs are struggling to retain the territory in Kerambha-Raidi area. For the last three to four months, the two lionesses are constantly warding off attacks by a rival group of lions from Babra-Vidi range and those from Dhari and Girnar east, who are desperately trying to take over this area by attacking their cubs.

 

One of the daily encounters was captured by a tourist a few days ago in his mobile. A male lion is seen running away with one of the cubs. The lioness chases the lion to save the cub but in vain. The tourist shot this video after hearing unusual lion roars.


Forest officials said this behaviour is natural among lions and term it the battle for dominance on a particular territory wherein they force the lionesses to surrender by killing the cubs. A lion and its pride usually dominates over roughly 4 sq km area.


A local forest officer told TOI, "The tourist heard the roars that sounded like a fight between lion and lioness and his group went in the direction of the sound. The lion had snatched two cubs earlier but one survived and he came to kill that cub. After the death of Ram and Shyam, the lions from other territories often come here and harass the lionesses and cubs."

 

Bhushan Pandya, a wildlife expert, said, "Just like humans, lions too guard their territory and protect their family. When a lion gets injured or dies, the powerful lions of adjoining territory quickly try to capture his pride by first attacking the the cubs as they are a soft target. Until the cubs are alive, lioness don't surrender. However, once they all die, she starts a new family with the other powerful lion."


Ram, who died at the age of 15, and Shyam were the only lions to hold their territory for seven years, which is considered a fairly long time. Usually, a lion loses dominance over its territory within three years.

 

Chief conservator of forest, wildlife circle, A P Singh said, "It is true that a rival group of lions are trying to capture this territory."

 

Forest officials are keeping an eye on this area but they don't want to intervene in their natural activity.


CAG upbraids Gujarat over lion conservation

29/03/2018

CAG upbraids Gujarat over lion conservation

The Times Of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/cag-upbraids-gujarat-over-lion-conservation/articleshow/63523121.cms

 

GANDHINAGAR: The CAG in its report came down heavily on the state government for lackadaisical lion conservation efforts. The CAG noted that despite increase in the number of lions, there was no increase in protected area, and that there was poor implementation of modern technology in conservation. The CAG also pointed out that the genome mapping project for lion conservation was being handled by an agency which did not possess required expertise and progress was slow.

 

The Genome Mapping and Conservation of Asiatic Lion project was recommended by the task force that was set up to probe the poaching of eight lions in 2007. The task force had suggested setting up of a laboratory with facilities for cryo-preservation and DNA sequencing among others.

 

While the Gujarat Wildlife Genomics and DNA Banking Facility was created in 2009, the project began only in May 2014. Within a year, the MoU with Gujarat State Bio Technology Mission (GSBTM) was cancelled, and the responsibility to run the project was given to Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation (GFRF), and the project was renamed as "Wildlife Genomics Research Project."

 

The CAG observed that though an incubator for the purpose was purchased in November 2013, till date work on diagnostic core has not been started. Further, specifications for the laboratory have yet not been prepared.

 

The CAG sated that the even though the GFRF did not have expertise in the field of scientific research on genomics, the project was transferred to the GFRF which did not have a permanent technical staff for the project.

 

NO NEW PROTECTED AREA:

 

The CAG report stated that the population of Asiatic Lions has increased from 205 in 1979 to 523 in 2015, and only 356 of them were within the Gir Protected Area. The CAG observed, "Lions being territorial animals, their increasing population have led them to discover and adopt new habitats outside the Gir PAs. It is evident that the number of lions outside the Gir PA was 108 in 2011, which increased to 167 (54.6 per cent) in 2015."

 

The CAG stated that the proposal submitted in March 2016 for draft Eco Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notification for Gir PA also reported that the latest census should be taken as a sign of warning as nearly 32 per cent of the lions have their habitat outside the Gir PA. The CAG noted that no new sanctuary has been declared as a solution.

 

The audit observed that in 2005 an area of 30,152 hectare in Palitana Mahuva, Talaja, Khambha and Savarkundla was proposed as Sir Dharam Kumar Sinhji Wildllife Sanctuary, later in 2006 it was decided to declare it as a conservation reserve and the area was reduced to 11,155 hectare. This area was further reduced to 10,953 hectare. Also in 2010, it was decided to transfer 4,811 hectare of government waste land, but despite several communication the same has not yet been transferred.

 

Wasteful purchase of forensic mobile unit

 

A forensic mobile unit for forensic science investigation was purchased at a cost of Rs 0.25 crore. Between January 2010 and August 2014, the unit was used on 37 occasions only and that too for non-forensic use. The fact remained that the unit was purchased without proper assessment of its utility.

 

Construction of chain link fencing along railway tracks:

 

Three railway tracks pass through the areas inhabited by the lions in Amreli district. Between 2012-14, there were five cases of lion casualty on the tracks. To control accidental deaths of lions construction of underpasses and fencing of entire railway track on both sides was undertaken. The work, in one section was completed in March 2016 and works of other sections were at various stages of completion. CAG noted that that lions entered fenced area on eight occasions raising doubts that fencing of the railway tracks, though a major step for conservation of wildlife, had not succeeded in its objective.


CAG slams Gujarat govt for going ‘very slow’ on Lion conservation

29/03/2018

CAG slams Gujarat govt for going 'very slow' on Lion conservation

India Today

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cag-slams-gujarat-govt-for-going-very-slow-on-lion-conservation-1200222-2018-03-29

 

The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has come down heavily on Gujarat governments most lauded success story of Asiatic Lion conservation in Gir Forests of Saurashtra peninsula.

 

In its report tabled on the last day in the state Assembly on Wednesday, CAG has pointed out that though the increase in lion population in Gujarat is a success story, the rising population exerts pressure on existing protected areas (PA).

 

The total population of Asiatic Lions has increased from 359 in 2005 to 523 in 2015, but no new protected habitat for lions has been approved since 2008.

 

The implementation of modern technology for conservation of Asiatic Lions was very slow. Audit also observed instances of allowing prohibited activities within the protected areas and not ensuring compliance with conditions of PAs, the repot has remarked.

The rapping from CAG comes as a rude shock for the the forest and environment department of the state which has recently been taken to task by Gujarat High Court that took suo motu cognizance of high number of lion deaths in 2016 and 2017.

 

184 lions died in last two years 32 of these died unnatural deaths which could be caused by getting crushed under railway tracks, or being attacked by humans, electric fencing or falling inside a well without barricade.

 

The number of lions outside the protected area in 2011 was 108, which increased by 54.6% to 167 in 2015. A proposal submitted in March 2016 for draft Eco Sensitive Zone notification for Gir protected area also says that the latest census should be taken as a warning sign as nearly one-third, 32% of lions have their habitat outside the Gir protected area, which according to CAG 'risks human lives, livestock as well as the safety of lions themselves' CAG says.

 

Significantly, the number of violent attacks on livestock and humans by lions in 2016 and 2017 were 398 leading to serious questions about man-lion conflict in the entire Saurashtra region. This figure was recently released in the Assembly.

 

What needs to be noted is that all of these issues are not only understood by forest department but their solutions have also been well laid out for years, but implementation remains a distant dream for reasons that are not exactly fathomable.

 

As far back as 2005, the Junagadh Chief Conservator of Forest had suggested to declare 30,152 hectares of land in Amreli and Bhavnagar as sanctuary to provide safe corridor for lions moving out of Gir protected area.

 

As on May 2017, the declaration of this area as protected area is pending despite lapse of more than 11 years, CAG observed.

 

Following lion poaching cases in 2007, the F&ED had initiated several ambitious projects as it was flooded with fund allocation by then chief minister Narendra Modi. One of the projects was genome mapping and conservation of Asiatic Lions.

 

It was also suggested to set up a laboratory that wold have facilities for cryopreservation, DNA sequencing, etc. in 2010, F&ED signed an MoU with Gujarat State Bio Technology Mission (GSBTM).

 

However, the project actually commenced only in May 2014. Within a year of commencement, the MoU with GSBTM was cancelled and entrusted to Gujarat Forestry Research Foundation (GFRF) and renamed Wildlife Genomics Research Project (LEOGEN).

 

As of July 2017, only two of the six activities have been attempted. Work on diagnostic core was not start3ed , though the incubator for this purpose was purchased in November 2013. Specifications for laboratory were also not prepared.

 

Despite the fact that GFRF did not have expertise in the field of scientific research on genomics, which was the core requirement of the project, the project was given to it. There was no permanent technical staff in GFRF to run the project.

 

The director GFRF justified the transfer from GSBTM to GFRF on the grounds that it made collection of samples in the wild life sanctuary easy. But collection of sample was not the objective of the project.

 

However, Audit also observed that the director for GFRF himself reported to F&Ed in November 2015 that the project had come to a standstill.

 

Thus the progress of the project was slow despite availability of funds for the reasons stated above, CAG has said.

 

An expenditure of Rs 25.35 crore was incurred on construction of chain link fencing along railway tracks to stop lions from getting crushed under moving trains. However, lions entered the fenced area on eight occasions, raising doubts over the projects effectiveness.

 

 


Take lion deaths seriously: HC to Centre

27/03/2018

Take lion deaths seriously: HC to Centre

Nyoooz

https://www.nyoooz.com/news/ahmedabad/1067834/take-lion-deaths-seriously-hc-to-centre/

 

AHMEDABAD : The Gujarat high court on Monday sought a reply from the Centre and the state government on the issue of unnatural deaths of Asiatic lions in and around the Gir sanctuary. The state government had said that 184 lions had died over the past two years and many deaths were due to unnatural causes.During the hearing, the judges said that lions' unnatural deaths is a really serious issue and the governments must not take it lightly. Hence there should be a device installed in locomotives to detect the presence of the beasts. The first demand is to close three main roads, passing through the sanctuary, at night. The court said the governments should not treat the PIL as adversarial, for it is aimed to protect a rare species of animals which is found only in Gujarat.

 

AHMEDABAD : The Gujarat high court on Monday sought a reply from the Centre and the state government on the issue of unnatural deaths of Asiatic lions in and around the Gir sanctuary.

 

A bench of Chief Justice R S Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi filed a public interest litigation (PIL) suo motu in response to a letter written to them by Justice A S Dave , who expressed concern over the endangered species by citing news reports on lions' unnatural deaths as revealed in the state assembly recently.

 

The state government had said that 184 lions had died over the past two years and many deaths were due to unnatural causes.During the hearing, the judges said that lions' unnatural deaths is a really serious issue and the governments must not take it lightly.

 

The court said the governments should not treat the PIL as adversarial, for it is aimed to protect a rare species of animals which is found only in Gujarat.

 

The state is proud of this and the government should make all endeavours to protect the animals so that the treasure can be cherished, the court said.According to the high court's advocate, Hemang Shah, the PIL has made various prayers in order to avoid unnatural and accidental deaths of lions.



No lion’s share for Gujarat’s pride

27/03/2018

No lion's share for Gujarat's pride

The Times Of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/no-lions-share-for-gujarats-pride/articleshow/63474613.cms

 

AHMEDABAD: Lions have received less than Rs 67,000 per head for their conservation, and that too, only from the state government, while under Centre's Project Tiger, each tiger has received Rs 13 lakh for conservation efforts. Neither the Centre nor the state government has allocated sufficient funds for lion conservation, even though a 31-member parliamentary committee had in January last year, after visiting Gir Sanctuary, recommended creating a Project Lion in the lines of Project Tiger.

 

A senior officer said that in the budget for 2018-19 the government has stated "A provision of Rs 4 crore has been made for 'Project Lion' a unique project for conservation and development of the lion in Gir and Greater Gir."

 

However, apart from this, there has been no allocation in the budget for lion by the Centre or by the state government.

 

Officials pointed out that in the assembly the state government had admitted in 2017 that for two years — from Januaary 2015 to Decembler 2016 — the central government did not give any additional grants for the Gir lion project in Gujarat.

 

Not only this, even the Rs 234 crore long-term lion conservation project was turned down by the Centre. The projects did not have a place in the centrally-sponsored scheme, Centre's Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH).

 

Earlier, the UPA government had turned down the state government's Rs 234-crore proposal for long-term lion conservation. After the Gujarat government scaled down its requirements and sent a revised proposal of Rs 150 crore, the NDA government refused to grant any money, citing lack of funds.

 

Ganpat Vasava, minister tribal development, tourism, forest, women and child welfare, said "We have formed a society for lion conservation and the society spends nearly Rs 60 crore and hence the government is just required to make allocation in the budget according to requirement.


HC took tough stand on hospitality units near Gir

27/03/2018

HC took tough stand on hospitality units near Gir

The Times Of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/hc-took-tough-stand-on-hospitality-units-near-gir/articleshow/63474604.cms

 

AHMEDABAD: Last year, the state government was compelled to redesign the ecosensitive zone around Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park after the Gujarat high court took suo motu cognizance of a letter complaining about encroachment by hospitality units. After the high court took a tough stance on hospitality units operating illegally, the state government forced the closure of many hotels and lodging places in Junagadh, Amreli, and Gir-Somnath districts.

 

The state government had to apply strict measures in granting development permissions in the buffer zone. However, following a protest by local people, the state government modified its plan and came up with a final notification which aimed to reduce the buffer zone around the sanctuary. The government faced allegations that the reduction in the buffer zone was meant to benefit mining and tourism industries. However, the HC asked tough questions to the state government with regard to the reduced buffer zone.


Lion deaths: HC takes suo motu cognizance

26/03/2018

Lion deaths: HC takes suo motu cognizance

The Times Of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/lion-deaths-hc-takes-suo-motu-cognizance/articleshow/63456361.cms

 

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court has taken suo moto cognizance of the issue of accidental deaths of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary.

 

As many as 184 lions died in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary over the past two years, and a large number of these deaths were unnatural. The court will hear the suo motu public interest litigation on Monday and consider issues of proper construction of wells, removal of electric fencing, closure of roads passing through the sanctury during the night and asking railways to take safety measures.

 

According to figures tabled by the state government, 365 big cats including lions, lion cubs and leopards have died in the two years that ended December 31, 2017. The government said in a reply to a question in the state assembly last week that the figure included 110 lions, lion cubs and 74 lionesses.

 

Forest minister Ganpat Vasava said in a reply in the assembly that out of the total 184 lions that died in and around the Gir sanctuary in the last two years, 104 deaths occurred in 2016 and 80 in 2017. As many as 32 of them died of unnatural causes. These include 20 in 2007 and 12 in 2016. The minister admitted that wells without parapet walls often become death traps for the animals which fall inside and drown.

 

Figures show that about 22% of deaths of wild cats including those of leopards were categorized as unnatural. According to the census of 2015, there were 523 lions in and around the Gir sanctuary, the last abode of Asiatic lions.


Delay in translocating Gir lions putting them at risk

07/03/2018

Delay in translocating Gir lions putting them at risk

The Statesman

https://www.thestatesman.com/cities/delay-translocating-gir-lions-putting-risk-1502597362.html

 

Delay in shifting Asiatic lions, an endangered species, to Kuno-Palpur sanctuary, situated in Sheopur district of Gwalior-Chambal division in Madhya Pradesh, from the Gir National Park by the Central, MP and Gujarat governments, has left the big cats at risk.

 

In April 2013, the Supreme Court had directed the Central goverment to relocate some Asiatic lions from Gujarat's Gir forest to Kuno-Palpur sanctuary.

 

The court had said the species faced the threat of extinction and needed a second home. It had given the wildlife authorities six months to complete the process.

 

In November 2017, the apex court issued notices to the Union Environment Ministry and the Gujarat government in connection with a contempt petition over not implementing the top court's order of April 2013.

 

Meetings of the expert committee, which has been constituted for complying with the Supreme Court directions, have not been conducted since December 2016.

 

Additional Director General Wildlife, Principal Chief Conservators of Forests of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, National Wildlife Board member MK Ranjit Sinh, expert scientist Ravi Chelam, officials of the Environment Ministry, forest officials of both states and other wildlife experts are members in the Supreme Court-appointed expert committee.

 

M K Ranjitsinh recently said the Madhya Pradesh government was not serious about relocating the Asiatic lions.

 

The expert committee had at its last meeting in December 2016 in Kuno said the wildlife habitat was ideally suited for the Asiatic lions.

 

But Gujarat forest officials had objected and demanded that 36 studies as mandated by IUCN (International Union for Conservation Nature) be completed before the endangered Gir lions are transferred to Kuno.

 

"Kuno-Palpur is a suitable habitat in accordance with the IUCN guidelines. Kuno was found to be the most suitable site for reintroduction in establishing a free-ranging population of Asiatic lions by the Research Advisory Committee of Wildlife institute of India in 1995," H S Mohanta, Chief Conservator of Forests of Kuno lion project, told The Statesman.

 

"Not conducting regular meetings of the expert committee is a major cause for delaying the translocation of lions," Mohanta added.

 

IUCN had in 2000 added the Asiatic lions (Panthers Leo Persica), found only in Gir forest of Gujarat, to the list of critically endangered species.

 

There is only one habitat of such lions in the world. The population of the Asiatic lions is around 650 in the Gir forest, as per the lion census report released by the Gujarat government in 2017.

 


Steering panel holds first meeting

14/03/2018

Steering panel holds first meeting

The Times Of India

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/steering-panel-holds-first-meeting/articleshow/63291796.cms

 

AHMEDABAD: A meeting of the steering committee formed for translocating lions from Gir Forest in Gujarat to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh was held in Delhi on Tuesday. The committee directed the Madhya Pradesh forest department to form a panel similar to the one in Gujarat. The steering committee has asked the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to appoint its representative in both the committees.

 

In 2013, the apex court had ordered the translocation of lions from Gir to Kuno Palpur. The steering committee comprises six members and the additional director general of forests (of the ministry of environment, forest and climate change) is the chairman. The others members include a scientist, the representative of the WII, principal chief conservators of forests from Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and the director of wildlife preservation from the ministry.

 

On Tuesday, the first meeting of the steering committee was held. Since the ministry has not appointed scientists for the translocation mission, the meeting was adjourned with directions to Madhya Pradesh to form the committee and to the WII to appoint its representatives to both the committees. A source in the committee said: "Madhya Pradesh was to form the committee, but instead of appointing the members, the Madhya Pradesh forest department sent a report asking the steering committee to form the Madhya Pradesh coordination committee."

 

The steering committee has asked Madhya Pradesh to have a Gujarat representative in the committee it is to form. The Madhya Pradesh government was also asked to appoint its representative in the Gujarat committee. Earlier this month, to ease the translocation process, the Gujarat government had formed a nine-member subcommittee headed by the principal chief conservator of forests. The Gujarat subcommittee will be headed by the principal chief conservator of forests, and include state government officials, a representative from the Madhya Pradesh forest department, Union government, and the WII.


Over 57 hectares of Gir Sanctuary encroached upon: Guj Govt

12/03/2018

Over 57 hectares of Gir Sanctuary encroached upon: Guj Govt

Business Standard

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/over-57-hectares-of-gir-sanctuary-encroached-upon-guj-govt-118031201063_1.html

 

Over 57 hectares of forest area inside Gujarat's Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is under encroachment, the state government informed the Legislative Assembly today.

 

While responding to a written query raised by Congress MLA Mohanlal Vala during the Question Hour, state Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava said that a total of 57.53 hectares of land inside the Gir Sanctuary was under encroachment.

 

Vasava informed that there was no encroachment in the Gir National Park situated inside the sanctuary.

 

Out of the 57.53 hectares under encroachment, 56.17 hectares was being used for farming by locals while 1.36 hectares had religious structures on them, Vasava's written reply stated.

 

He informed the House that while some land had been encroached long back, others were illegally occupied after 1987-88.

 

He said that the state had taken various steps to clear the encroachments but several occupants had filed court cases against such government action.


India’s endangered Asiatic lion population increases to 600

09/03/2018

India's endangered Asiatic lion population increases to 600

Jagran Josh

https://www.jagranjosh.com/current-affairs/indias-endangered-asiatic-lion-population-increases-to-600-1520569561-1

 

The endangered Asiatic lion, which only live in Gir Forest National Park of India, has made a comeback from the brink of extinction, with its population rising to more than 600.

 

In the late 1960s, there were only about 180 Asiatic lions, but the progress in their numbers provoked wildlife conservationists to consider them as endangered.

 

Asiatic Lions

 

• Asiatic lion are cousins of the African lion. It is believed that both got separated 100000 years ago.

 

• Asiatic lions are slightly smaller and have a distinctive fold of skin along their bellies.

 

• Asiatic lion once inhabited complete southwest Asia, but, in past few years, it got restricted to the 1400 square kilometre Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat state, leading to its listing as critically endangered in the year 2000.

 

• The species' population was under threat due to hunting and human encroachment.

 

• A recent survey revealed increase in the number of Asiatic lions, Gir forest now inhabits more than 600 lions, up from 523 in a 2015 census.

 

• They are a major tourist attraction in Gujarat. Earlier, they were only regarded as the target of poachers.

 

• This increase in the number of lions is attributed to the wildlife conservation schemes, well-trained staff and vets as well as help from farmers.

 

• It's population is currently growing at about two per cent a year.

 

Conservationists' opine for relocation of Asiatic Lions

 

After considering the extinction and then the unexpected rise in the number of lions, wildlife conservationists have suggested relocating some of the lions to another sanctuary.

 

Conservationists believe that their relocation will reduce human-animal conflict and will avoid the risk of the Asiatic lion being wiped out by disease or a natural disaster.



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