CONSTITUTION OF A COMMITTEE FOR SPOT APPRAISAL OF ASIATIC LIONS IN AND AROUND THE GIR NATIONAL PARK, GUJARAT

Ministry of Environment and Forest; Press Release, Monday, April 9, 2007

 

A Committee has been constituted for spot appraisal relating to recurring mortality of lions in and around the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. National Tiger Conservation Authority, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests today announced the composition and the terms of reference of the Committee . It will consider the fact that the only last world population of the highly endangered Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) is present in the this habitat.

 

The Regional Deputy Directors (Wildlife) Ms. Meeta Banerjee, Western Region and Shri Santosh Tiwari, Northern Region will be Members of the Committee. This three Member Committee will have Shri Pramod Krishnan, Joint Director (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests as Member Convener:

 

The Committee will give appraisal of protection strategy in vogue vis-à-vis mortality of lions during the last three years (natural / disease / poaching), resource dependency of local people on Gir habitat and steps taken towards redressing park people interface conflicts and fostering co-existence, managerial constraints in this area and possibility of restorative management in crucial corridor linkages around Gir to prevent insularization of the lion population. The Committee will also recommend measures to improve the situation.

 

Dr. Rajesh Gopal, Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority informed in New Delhi today that the Committee may co-opt State officials as required and submit its report within 30 days from today.