Floods revive debate over translocation

02/07/2015
Floods revive debate over translocation
The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Floods-revive-debate-over-translocation/articleshow/47904431.cms

AHMEDABAD: The flash floods that hit Amreli a few days back have come as a shot in the arm for votaries of the proposal to shift Gir's Asiatic lions to Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. The devastating floods triggered by rains in the last week of June killed at least 10 lions. 

Ravi Chellam, the man who came up with the lion translocation project, says it should serve as an eye-opener for the Gujarat government which should now agree to shift some of the lions to Kuno Palpur. 

On the contrary, Gujarat government officials and experts based in the state say that such incidents are rare and that there is no fear of the entire lion population being wiped out by some disease or natural catastrophe. Some officials pointed out that the Kuno river flows right through the sanctuary and such floods can destroy the entire population in the sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh too. 

Chellam, however, said that the floods were evidence that survival of the species was at risk because the big cats were segregated in only one sanctuary. The May 2015 census had revealed that there were 523 Asiatic lions in Gir and surrounding areas. 

"There is no way to predict the occurrence of natural catastrophes. That is why it is crucial to establish at least one more free-ranging population of lions before such threats manifest again," said Chellam. 

He told TOI over the phone that the Apex Court has already given its judgement on the issue. "We should translocate the lions. The state of Gujarat has already exhausted all its legal options," Chellam said. 

The proposal to shift some of the lions triggered a legal battle which lasted a long time. Finally, in April 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that some of them should be relocated to a sanctuary in a neighbouring state. A 12-member committee was also formed by the apex court to look into translocation. 

However, former additional principal chief conservator of forests and member of the National Board for Wildlife, H S Singh, said that the flash floods should not be used to push for the translocation of lions. The big cats will not be able to survive in the 49°C summer temperature of Kuno Palpur, he said. 

Singh further said that the area that was affected by the floods is a new area populated by lions in the last decade. "The management plan for these areas is still being prepared," he said. 

SC Pant, principal chief conservator of forests, said that the flash floods in Amreli were something new for the area and that is why it had caught the forest department unawares. 

Lion translocation panel may join Rajasthan as member

28-06-2015
Lion translocation panel may join Rajasthan as member
The Economic Times
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-06-28/news/63907389_1_asiatic-lions-palpur-kuno-gir-wildlife-sanctuary

BHOPAL: With the death of nine Asiatic lions following heavy rains in Gujarat, a wildlife body has requested Union minister Prakash Javadekar not to challenge in Supreme Court the shifting of lions from Gir National Park to Palpur-Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

"As you are aware that a number of lions were killed due to recent flood in Gujarat and there is an apprehension that they may face serious consequences in post-flood scenario, like outbreak of serious epidemic.

"I have been informed that your ministry is going to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court to oppose the shifting of lions (from Gir to Palpur-Kuno) which will not only be the violation of the Supreme Court order but also a blow to the efforts to provide a second safe habitat to endangered species," Ajay Dubey, secretary, 'Prayatna', the organisation working for wildlife and environment protection, stated in his e-mail sent to the Environment and Forests Minister.

"Since you are representing Madhya Pradesh in Rajya Sabha, it will be a gross injustice to the people of MP that you oppose the shifting of lions to Madhya Pradesh," it said.

Nine Asiatic lions have died following heavy rains in Gujarat of late, apparently due to drowning in the stream of Shetrunji river which flows alongside the Gir wildlife sanctuary.

(With the death of nine Asiatic…)

Dubey requested Javadekar to implement the order of the apex court to shift lions on war-footing for their protection.

The Supreme Court on April 15, 2013, had clearly mentioned that lions from Gir should be shifted to Palpur-Kuno sanctuary but this has not happened, Dubey told.

"The verdict to shift the lions was solely guided by the concern of wildlife experts that population of Asiatic lions in Gir wildlife sanctuary faces the threat of epidemics, natural disasters and others. This was reportedly the precise gist of a study initiated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, way back in 1986," Dubey added.

Dubey said he had filed a contempt of court petition in the apex court against the department concerned last year for the violation of its 2013 order.

"Now, I am going to petition the apex court to draw its attention towards the threat to the population of the 'king of jungle' in Gujarat," he said.

Dubey said the WWI had decided to shift lions to MP way back in 1993.

"However, the plan did not take off due to red tapeism and legal wrangling between the BJP-ruled states of Gujarat and MP," he added.

Lion translocation panel may join Rajasthan as member

08/06/2015
Lion translocation panel may join Rajasthan as member
The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Lion-translocation-panel-may-join-Rajasthan-as-member/articleshow/47585007.cms

AHMEDABAD: The 12-member committee formed following the Supreme Court order of April 2013 to oversee the translocation of lions from Gir in Gujarat to Kuno-Palpur in MP, has now decided to include a 13th member — the principal chief conservator of forest of Rajasthan. 

The move is significant, especially in the light of the recent development where six tigers were documented moving through the natural corridor from Ranthambore to Madavpur leading up to Kun-Palpur. Sources in the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) said that joining Rajasthan as a party was a significant move as the opinion of Rajasthan would be sought on the dangers that translocating lions to Kuno-Palpur could pose to the tigers in that natural corridor. 

The MoEF official said that the movement of tigers has led to a new development and there has been no instance of these two species staying together. "Hence, we will have to look at the entire issue afresh even as the issue has not been discussed at length in the apex court. The court has just quoted Asad Rahmani of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) that the presence of tigers would not be detrimental for lion translocation," he said. 

Before the Supreme Court, Gujarat has been claiming the presence of tigers but the fact that both tiger and lion cannot stay together was not taken up in the apex court. A senior member of the committee said, "After the recent development of two tigers already making their home in Kuno -Palpur and another four being on their way to Kuno, there have been fears that if lions were translocated to Kuno-Palpur, there could be a conflict between the two predators and this will result in loss of animals. Further, if the tiger can move from Ranthambore to Kuno-Palpur, the lion too can use the same natural corridor and can also move to Ranthambore from Kuno. So the 12-member committee wants to know the preparedness of Rajasthan forest department for such a situation." 

In the next meeting scheduled in June last week or early July, the committee will request the MoEF to join Rajasthan as a member. Another senior official said even in the last meeting, the 12-member committee had sought the opinion of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) over the translocation of lions to Kuno. The members wanted to know if the NTCA wanted to develop Kuno as a tiger reserve. 

In May 2014, a fresh petition was filed in the Supreme Court, suggesting that the proposed translocation of Gir lions to Kuno-Palpur might harm tigers moving from Rajasthan to MP. It also suggested that the arrival of the tigers in India might have been responsible for the decline in the population of Asiatic lions in the country.

AHMEDABAD: The 12-member committee formed following the Supreme Court order of April 2013 to oversee the translocation of lions from Gir in Gujarat to Kuno-Palpur in MP, has now decided to include a 13th member — the principal chief conservator of forest of Rajasthan. 

The move is significant, especially in the light of the recent development where six tigers were documented moving through the natural corridor from Ranthambore to Madavpur leading up to Kun-Palpur. Sources in the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) said that joining Rajasthan as a party was a significant move as the opinion of Rajasthan would be sought on the dangers that translocating lions to Kuno-Palpur could pose to the tigers in that natural corridor. 

The MoEF official said that the movement of tigers has led to a new development and there has been no instance of these two species staying together. "Hence, we will have to look at the entire issue afresh even as the issue has not been discussed at length in the apex court. The court has just quoted Asad Rahmani of Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) that the presence of tigers would not be detrimental for lion translocation," he said. 

Before the Supreme Court, Gujarat has been claiming the presence of tigers but the fact that both tiger and lion cannot stay together was not taken up in the apex court. A senior member of the committee said, "After the recent development of two tigers already making their home in Kuno -Palpur and another four being on their way to Kuno, there have been fears that if lions were translocated to Kuno-Palpur, there could be a conflict between the two predators and this will result in loss of animals. Further, if the tiger can move from Ranthambore to Kuno-Palpur, the lion too can use the same natural corridor and can also move to Ranthambore from Kuno. So the 12-member committee wants to know the preparedness of Rajasthan forest department for such a situation." 

In the next meeting scheduled in June last week or early July, the committee will request the MoEF to join Rajasthan as a member. Another senior official said even in the last meeting, the 12-member committee had sought the opinion of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) over the translocation of lions to Kuno. The members wanted to know if the NTCA wanted to develop Kuno as a tiger reserve. 

In May 2014, a fresh petition was filed in the Supreme Court, suggesting that the proposed translocation of Gir lions to Kuno-Palpur might harm tigers moving from Rajasthan to MP. It also suggested that the arrival of the tigers in India might have been responsible for the decline in the population of Asiatic lions in the country. 

Lioness Strays Into Shiva Temple, Attacks 2; Rescued

26-06-2015
Lioness Strays Into Shiva Temple, Attacks 2; Rescued

NDTV

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/lioness-strays-into-shiva-temple-attacks-2-rescued-775631

VADODARA:  An Asiatic lioness, which strayed into a Shiva temple in rain-ravaged Amreli district and attacked two women devotees, was rescued and released into the jungle after a 15-hour-long operation by forest officials.

The incident took place yesterday in Ingrola village when the local women reached the temple to offer prayers and spotted the lioness inside, MR Gurjar, Deputy Conservator of forest, Amreli division told PTI.

As soon as the two women entered the temple, the lioness attacked them, leaving the duo injured following which they were admitted to a nearby hospital, the official said.

Mr Gurjar said the lioness might have taken shelter inside the temple due to inundation and rising water levels in the Shetrunji river nearby, owing to heavy and incessant rains resulting in a flood-like situation there.

Many prides of lions are usually seen lazing on the banks of the river, said Mr Gurjar.

According to him, the animal was rescued after a 15-hour-long operation by a team of forest officials in the wake of torrential rains lashing the area making it difficult to mobilise men and material for such an operation.

Roads leading to the temple were completely submerged after the district received 22 inches of rainfall, he said.

However, around 1.30 am today, forest officials overpowered the lioness and tranquilised it, ending the operation, Mr Gurjar said.

The caged lioness was later released into the jungle. In another incident, a lioness was found dead today after it allegedly got stuck in muck at an agricultural field in Bhavadi village of Amreli.

The carcass was recovered from the muddy spot and sent to a veterinary hospital at Dhari town early this morning for post-mortem, said Mr Gurjar, adding that the animal might have been caught in flash floods which cut off this worst-hit district from rest of Gujarat for days.

Anshuman Sharma, another Deputy Conservator of Forests, said, "There are at least 50 lions who have made 25 villages on the banks of Shetrunji their permanent homes. The river was in spate since Tuesday night and has been flowing above the danger mark. It inundated all these villages yesterday. After the water recedes, the forest teams will be in a position to assess the damage in the sanctuary area of Gir forest, which is home to 511 Asiatic lions."

Amreli floods kill 5 Asiatic lions, 100 blue bulls

27-06-2015
Amreli floods kill 5 Asiatic lions, 100 blue bulls
Nyoooz
http://www.nyoooz.com/ahmedabad/136812/amreli-floods-kill-5-asiatic-lions-100-bluebulls
Flash floods following extremely heavy rain in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts on Wednesday seems to have taken its toll on wild animals also as four more carcasses of Asiatic lions were recovered from bank of Shetrunji river in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts on Friday, taking the death toll of the big cats to five. More than 100 carcasses of blue bulls have also been recovered in last two days. Carcass of a lion was recovered from near Garajiya and Dayal villages, some six kilometres downstream Shetrunji dam in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar around 3 pm.

Later in the evening, a carcass of a lioness was also recovered from the same area. "We believe the two lions were washed away in Shetrunji river floods. They could be animal from Amreli or Bhavnagar.

We believe they were swayed in the swelling Shetrunji river and came to Shetrunji dam before going down with overflowing water from the dam and being washed ashore," deputy conservator of forests (DCF) of Bhavnagar, Ganga Sharan Singh told The Indian Express. Related3 Asiatic lion cubs run over by goods train in GujaratAsiatic lion found dead in MahuvaLion electrocuted on Bhavnagar farm Meanwhile, carcass of yet another lion and a lion cub were recovered from Gagadiya area in Liliya taluka of Amreli. This comes a day after carcass of a lioness was found from Bovadi village, also in Liliya taluka on Thursday evening.

On the other hand, a lion which had taken shelter in a temple in Ingorala village of Amreli was rescued late Thursday evening. "The lion was visibly weak after struggling its way out of floods. We rescued him by tranquilising him and released at a safe location late in the night," CB Dhandhiya, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Amreli said.

Asiatic lion is an endangered spe...

News Source: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/amreli-floods-kill-5-asiatic-lions-100-blue-bulls/

Don’t worry, Gir lions will survive the Gujarat floods, say wildlife conservationists

27-06-2015
Don't worry, Gir lions will survive the Gujarat floods, say wildlife conservationists
Scroll.in
http://scroll.in/article/737058/dont-worry-gir-lions-will-survive-the-gujarat-floods-say-wildlife-conservationists

Saurashtra's floods have submerged hundreds of villages and parts of the Gir forest, but experts assure us that the lions will be all right.

As hundreds of stranded villages in Gujarat's Amreli district struggle to cope with this week's destructive floods, wildlife enthusiasts have been worried about the fate of endangered lions in the Gir forests of the region.

For the past three days, torrential rains triggered floods across five districts in Saurashtra, submerging villages and farms and displacing thousands. On Friday, Gujarat's health ministry reported at least 70 deaths across the state, although disaster management officials claim that the figure is exaggerated.

"So far 45 people have died in the floods, 13,000 have been evacuated and eight people are still missing in Amreli and Rajkot districts," said Bipin Bhatt, the director of relief and rescue operations in Gujarat. "Our electricity board is working day and night to restore power to areas that are cut off, but otherwise the rains have stopped now and the flood situation is very much under control."

Amreli, by all accounts, has been the worst affected, where 33 people have died and 600 inundated villages are now dependent on the National Disaster Relief Force and the Indian Air Force for food and other humanitarian aid. The forested areas of southern Amreli are also home to many Asiatic lions of the Gir wildlife sanctuary, and in the midst of all the chaos, forest authorities have been concerned about their safety.

Worrying signs?

On June 25, residents of Amreli's Bavadi village discovered the body of a lioness floating in the murky flood waters of a farm. As many as 50 lions had been living near the villages around Bavadi, on the banks of the river Shetrunji that had overflowed during the heavy rains.

Forest officials have sent out teams to reach out to those villages, but have not officially attributed the lioness's death to the floods. "We don't know for sure how the lioness died – she could have been diseased," said an official from the Gujarat government's department of forests. "From our side we are trying to pump out the water from the areas where lions live. And we are trying to provide them with food by making sure that the animals they prey on – like cheetal – do not fall ill."

Concern about the lions' flooded habitats increased after a video of a lion walking along a national highway in Gujarat hit the news channels on June 24. The cell phone video was shot by a passing commuter and has been perceived as a sign of wildcats attempting to escape flooded forest areas.



Nothing to worry about

Some wildlife conservationists, however, believe that people are getting too carried away with their concern for the survival of Gir's lions. The Asiatic lion is undoubtedly and endangered species – there are only 523 of them left, almost all of them in Gir – but they are very unlikely to drown in the floods.

"The Gir national park has got a lot of elevations and hills that lions retreat to when it floods, so this is not new," said K Ramesh, a scientist at the Wildlife Institute of India. "There is also nothing new about spotting a lion along a highway, especially since their population has been increasing."

Flooding is a risk to all animals, but wildlife is far more likely to perish in flood plains like the ones at the Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary in Assam.

"In Kaziranga, many animals do die during floods, and many move to another, hillier sanctuary nearby," said Anish Andheria, president of the non-profit Wildlife Conservation Trust. "Some amount of mortality for various reasons is natural, but lions have survived through many floods and can look after themselves."

While the Saurashtra floods need not be a major cause of worry for India's lions, there are some who believe the risk posed to the animals is a good reminder of the fact that the Gir forests are the only natural home for endangered lions in the country.

"The floods are a reminder that we need to translocate some lions to other sanctuaries so that they can survive outside Gir as well," said Ravi Chellam, a senior wildlife conservationist. "Right now, we are putting all our eggs in the same basket."

5 Asiatic lions dead, several missing post flash floods in Saurashtra

27-06-2015
5 Asiatic lions dead, several missing post flash floods in Saurashtra
The Hindu Business Line
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/states/5-asiatic-lions-dead-several-missing-post-flash-floods-in-saurashtra/article7361694.ece
Search teams formed to locate and rescue lions in worst-affected Amreli district

AHMEDABAD/AMRELI: JUNE 27 :  

Flash floods caused by the heavy rains in the Amreli district of Saurashtra region early this week has claimed lives of five Asiatic lions while at least 35 are reported missing.

Among the five, the bodies of three lions, including a female cub, were found in Amreli district, the worst-affected district with 816 mm rainfall in three days as against the normal of around 600 mm. The bodies of two other lions were recovered from Bhavnagar district.

As per the recent Lion Census conducted by state forest department, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts put together were reported to have lion population of over 200. But the Kankrach region of Liliya taluka was home to about 40 lions.

According to senior forest officials, at least 35 lions apart from the dead are believed to be missing. The forest department has deployed 15 teams of forest guards along with social forestry teams to locate any more carcasses of lions and other animals and rescue those injured.

The Kankrech area, which creates a bowl, faced fury of flash floods after the flooding in Shetrunji river.

Forest department sources confirmed that besides five lion bodies, at least 150 blue bulls (also called neelgai), four spotted deers (cheetals), a wild boar and a porcupine have been found so far.

In all over 1,000 carcasses of different animals were found post the floods that affected most parts of Saurashtra region including the Asiatic Lion's only habitat in the world, Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar among others. There have been no reports of death of any leopards so far.

Asiatic lion is an endangered species. A census conducted in May this year had estimated population of Asiatic lions at 523 

Amreli floods kill 5 Asiatic lions, 100 blue bulls

27-06-2015
Amreli floods kill 5 Asiatic lions, 100 blue bulls
The Indian Express
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/amreli-floods-kill-5-asiatic-lions-100-blue-bulls/
Forest officials rescue lioness from temple.

Flash floods following extremely heavy rain in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts on Wednesday seems to have taken its toll on wild animals also as four more carcasses of Asiatic lions were recovered from bank of Shetrunji river in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts on Friday, taking the death toll of the big cats to five. More than 100 carcasses of blue bulls have also been recovered in last two days.

Carcass of a lion was recovered from near Garajiya and Dayal villages, some six kilometres downstream Shetrunji dam in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar around 3 pm. Later in the evening, a carcass of a lioness was also recovered from the same area.

"We believe the two lions were washed away in Shetrunji river floods. They could be animal from Amreli or Bhavnagar. We believe they were swayed in the swelling Shetrunji river and came to Shetrunji dam before going down with overflowing water from the dam and being washed ashore," deputy conservator of forests (DCF) of Bhavnagar, Ganga Sharan Singh told The Indian Express.

 

Meanwhile, carcass of yet another lion and a lion cub were recovered from Gagadiya area in Liliya taluka of Amreli. This comes a day after carcass of a lioness was found from Bovadi village, also in Liliya taluka on Thursday evening.

On the other hand, a lion which had taken shelter in a temple in Ingorala village of Amreli was rescued late Thursday evening. "The lion was visibly weak after struggling its way out of floods. We rescued him by tranquilising him and released at a safe location late in the night," CB Dhandhiya, assistant conservator of forests (ACF) of Amreli said.

Asiatic lion is an endangered species and its only wild population in the world is surviving in Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. A census conducted in May this year had estimated population of Asiatic lions to be 523.

The floods have also killed scores of other wild animals. DCF Singh said that they have recovered around 100 carcasses of blue bulls, four spotted deer and one each of wild boar and porcupine. ACF Dhandhiya said eight carcasses of blue bulls have been recovered from Shetrunji banks in Amreli and Liliya taluka.

"We are burying the carcasses on priority basis to prevent spread of disease. We have also sent 15 teams of forest guards to scan areas where Shetrunji flows to locate any other carcasses," he added.

 

CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Asiatic lion takes a walk on Gujarat highway

25-06-2015
CAUGHT ON CAMERA: Asiatic lion takes a walk on Gujarat highway
News Nation
http://www.newsnation.in/article/82839-on-camera-asiatic-lion-takes-a-walk-gujarat-highway.html
New Delhi :-

A lion having a walk in a national park is fine but what if he is spotted strolling on a highway?

On Wednesday, such a scenario was witnessed by passerbys on a highway in the western state of Gujarat.

The Saurashtra region has been witnessing heavy rains for the past few days forcing the lion to move out of its habitat and take a walk on the road in Junagadh area.

The highway runs parallelally to the Gir sanctuary, home to the Asiatic lions. Their numbers have gone up from 411 to 523 i.e. an increase of 27% from 2010 to 2014.

According to observers, the lions have been forced out of their homes because of the incessant rains flooding their habitat areas.

As seen in the video, the lion is captured walking on the highway. He seems totally unperturbed by the car and the people inside it and walks past them across the road.

 

 

Open wells turn fatal for lions, leopards at Gir Forest

24-06-2015
Open wells turn fatal for lions, leopards at Gir Forest
India Today.in

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lion-drowns-uncovered-well-gir-forest-khilavad-village/1/446624.html

It's not just goods trains and speeding vehicles that claim the lives of Asiatic lions at the Gir Forest. The carnivores also meet watery grave in open wells.

Around 7,000 uncovered wells exist in the protected forest and protected areas. The issue came into limelight yet again after a 12-year-old lion drowned in a 30-foot well in Khilavad village recently.

According to forest officials, the paucity of funds has resulted in these wells being left uncovered. Officials claim that 15 lions, on an average, fell prey to drowning every year but the situation now is much better due to improved vigil.

The forest department generally receives 110 distress calls with regard to lions and 290 for leopards. While falls in case of lions stand at seven per cent, the number with regards to leopards is over 14 per cent.

Official sources said the forest department has requested the government to double funds - from Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000.

In 2008, over 25,000 open wells existed in and around the forest following which the government granted Rs 8,000 to farmers to cover them and build barriers around them.

Another problem plaguing the authorities is the rise in the number of lions.

With the increase in numbers, their territory has spread over 20,000 square kilometres in the Saurashtra region. Around 6,000 wells lie in the new terrain, which serves as a habitat to 168 Asiatic lions.

A 12-year-old lion drowned in a a 30-foot deep, uncovered well in Khilavad village recently.

NDRF, IAF called in Amreli as incessant rains lash Saurashtra

24-06-2015
NDRF, IAF called in Amreli as incessant rains lash Saurashtra
The Times Of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NDRF-IAF-called-in-Amreli-as-incessant-rains-lash-Saurashtra/articleshow/47801745.cms

AHMEDABAD: The Saurashtra region was lashed by incessant rains following a deep depression over the Arabian Sea which crossed the state's coast and moved further inside, even as Amreli district administration sought help from NDRF and IAF to rescue people from 12 marooned villages. 

Two teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and two helicopters of Indian Air Force have been called in to rescue people from the villages where water levels are increasing rapidly, Amreli district collector H R Suthar said. 

"Some parts of Amreli received very heavy rainfall since early morning, resulting in flood-like situation in many parts. All the rivers of the district are overflowing, cutting off 12 villages," Suthar said. 

"To rescue people and take them to safer places, we have sought help from NDRF and Air Force. We have learnt that two teams of NDRF are on their way. The Air Force has already started their operation through one of their helicopters while another will join in the operation shortly," he said. 

At present, local police and fire officials are carrying out rescue work, the collector said. 

Apart from Amreli, heavy rains lashed many other districts of Saurashtra region on Wednesday, including Rajkot, Gir-Somnath, Bhavnagar, Junagadh and Devbhoomi-Dwarka, disrupting normal life. 

The heavy rains occurred following the deep depression developed yesterday in the Arabian Sea that later crossed the coast near Diu town. However, Met department's Gujarat Centre here said that the system will weaken in next 24 hours. 

The dams in Saurashtra received fresh stock of water which has largely solved drinking water problem in the area. 

The coastal town of Una in Gir Somnath district received 360mm of rains overnight which was still continuing, while Talala village near Gir wildlife sanctuary received 288 mm downpour, Saurashtra's rain control room said. 

Besides, Malia Hatina in Junagadh district received 279mm rains, Amreli town recorded 203mm downpour, while Rajkot received 203 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. 

In South Gujarat, Surat city got 42mm rains, Kaprada in Valsad district received 58mm rainfall in last 24 hours. 

In Rajkot, district education officer Chetna Vyas directed the authorities in low lying areas not to run schools in the afternoon shift. 

The Bhadar dam in Rajkot was overflowing as it received 10 feet of water stock, district control room officials said, adding that it will solve the drinking water problems of Rajkot city for a year. 

The Rawal and Ozat dams in Junagadh were also overflowing and authorities have put villages and nearby towns on alert.

The heavy rains occurred following the deep depression developed yesterday in the Arabian Sea that later crossed the coast near Diu town. 

Deep depression causes incessant rains in Saurashtra

24-06-2015
Deep depression causes incessant rains in Saurashtra

The Economics Times
http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2015-06-24/news/63783038_1_saurashtra-region-incessant-rains-deep-depression

 

RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: The Saurashtra region was lashed by incessant rains following a deep depression over the Arabian Sea which crossed the state's coast and moved further inside, throwing life out of gear in many districts.

However, the depression is likely to become weak in the next 24 hours, Gujarat's MeT department said today.

 

 

(The dams of Saurashtra region…)

In the jungle, the mighty jungle

25-06-2015
In the jungle, the mighty jungle
The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/interview-with-praveen-singh-indias-wandering-lions/article7350325.ece

Praveen Singh, the scriptwriter and director of India's Wandering Lions, on following the big cats in a human-dominated landscape.

When the sun goes down and the dust settles after a bustling day in the forests of Gir, the Asiatic lions come out to hunt. With the lioness at the forefront, they set out in prides of five to 10. In the next few hours, the Gir National Park, the only place in the world where Asiatic lions are found, throbs with a fierce energy that very few forests can match. But what makes Gir special is that, in this landscape, humans and lions co-exist. For over two-and-a-half years, Praveen Singh and team followed the lions and lioness of Gir with their camera to tell the story of how the animals survive in a human-dominated area. The Discovery Channel airs their documentary India's Wandering Lions on July 6.

"The people are happy that the lions are around," says Praveen Singh, the scriptwriter and director of the show, in a telephone interview. He recalls how farmers he spoke to felt that their crops were protected from animals such as deer if lions roamed their lands. "Close to a third of the population is living in a human-dominated landscape," he adds. This situation has resulted in "casualties on both sides," he admits. "Lions as well as people have been injured." There have been reports of lions mauling people and lions falling prey to wells in the area.

But, there exists a certain tolerance in Gir that ensures a harmony. With support from the Forest Department and NGOs, Praveen says that several open wells have been covered up. It is this story that his documentary tells — of the co-existence of man and one of the most magnificent predators in the world.

He faced plenty of challenges during the filming. Lions, being creatures of the night, he had to follow them around in the dark to film them. He initially planned to follow one particular animal or a pride, to tell their story. "But lions move a lot, it's difficult to follow one pride," he says.

"Once upon a time, the Asiatic lion roamed Central Asia and was found across Northern India, all the way up to Bihar," observes Praveen. But hunting and cultivation of the plain savannahs, resulted in a massive depletion in their population. He says that in the 1920s, their numbers were as low as 20. But they gradually "bounced back", as hunting was outlawed and due to conservation efforts of the forest department, he adds. At present, over 500 Asiatic Lions roam the forests of Gir and also spill outside the sanctuary into villages in the area.

In the wild, every moment is unpredictable. Praveen recalls how late one night, his team travelled deep into the forest and set up their thermal camera. But their subjects were nowhere in sight, and they decided to call it a day and packed up. Suddenly, four lions crossed the highway and strode majestically into the field nearby, right in front of their eyes. "It was a beautiful sight," says Praveen. "But we couldn't capture the moment."

India's Wandering Lions will be aired on the Discovery Channel at 9 p.m. on July 6.

 

 

 

Caught on Camera: This Lion Took a Stroll on a Gujarat Highway

24-06-2015
Caught on Camera: This Lion Took a Stroll on a Gujarat Highway
NDTV
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/caught-on-camera-this-lion-took-a-stroll-on-a-gujarat-highway-774948

JUNAGADH, GUJARAT:  Spotting a lion in a forest might be a lucky chance for nature lovers, but what are the odds of spotting one outside a jungle? A lion was spotted taking a leisurely stroll, that too on a highway in the western state of Gujarat.

The state has received heavy and continuous rainfall in some parts, especially the Saurashtra region. Such has been the fury of rain in the past 24 hours that a lion decided to move out of its habitat and take a walk on the road in Junagadh area. This area is adjoining the Gir sanctuary, home to the Asiatic lions.

Experts believe the lions have been forced out because of the mud slush and their habitat areas being flooded due to incessant rain.

In a video, a lion can be seen coming out of the jungle onto the main road and casually walking on the road. The lion seems totally unperturbed by the car and the people inside it and walks past them across the road.
 
These lions were in the limelight recently this year, for their numbers going up in Gujarat's Gir sanctuary from 411 to 523, an increase of 27 per cent since the last census in 2010.

 

Discovery to showcase ‘India’s Wandering Lions’ on 6 July at 9 pm

24-06-2015
Discovery to showcase 'India's Wandering Lions' on 6 July at 9 pm
Television Post
http://www.televisionpost.com/television/discovery-to-showcase-indias-wandering-lions-on-6-july-at-9-pm/

MUMBAI: Infotainment broadcaster Discovery Channel will air 'India's Wandering Lions', a special one hour programme that uncovers a mesmerizing story of Asiatic lions which were once on the brink of extinction. The increased numbers of Asiatic lions have forced the big predators to spill over the borders of the Gir Forest National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary and find a way to become an integral part of the farming community in Gujarat. 'India's Wandering Lions' will premiere on 6 July at 9 pm on Discovery Channel. Discovery Channel cameras get special access in and around the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary to uncover the story of these lions as they adapt their savannah hunting instincts to work alongside humans in starlit fields and orchards. The programme offers unbelievable testimonies of villagers and people from the farming community about their camaraderie with the big cats who have become an integral part of their lives and their co-existence with minimal conflict. Discovery executive VP, GM South Asia Rahul Johri said, "Discovery Channel is always committed to present unmatched stories about India to viewers around the world. India's Wandering Lions is a fascinating story about the survival of Asiatic Lions amongst human beings and will force the audience to rethink their views about these dangerous predators." Tracking lions over three years, Discovery's programme captures the extremely rare occurrences of lion's daily living and opens the door to Indian wildlife of the Gir Forest National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary like never before. The cameras also capture incredible animal species like hyenas, jungle cats, leopards, jackals, nilgai's, wild boars, porcupines, deer among others roaming unhindered right next to villages, in orchards and fields with people totally unaware of their presence. Viewers will get up and close with the wildlife as the deployment of special thermal, starlight, infrared and hidden cameras capture striking images. 'India's Wandering Lions' has been produced by Kosmik Global Media in association with Discovery Channel.

India's Lions May Be An Endangered Species But Why Are They Drowning To Death In Gujarat

24-06-2015
India's Lions May Be An Endangered Species But Why Are They Drowning To Death In Gujarat

IndiaTimes
http://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/indias-lions-may-be-an-endangered-species-but-why-are-they-drowning-to-death-in-gujarat-233989.html

The Asiatic Lion is one of the world's most endangered species-  you'd would expect it to be safest at Gir, a sanctuary in Gujarat.  But 2013 saw a jump in the lion deaths (rising to 65 from 45 in 2012), a rate that continued with 64 deaths in 2014.

While forest officials have attributed it to the increase in lion population, a considerable number of lions die due to man-made causes. The Gir forest, and surrounding protected areas have 7,000 uncovered wells, where it is likely that lions flock to quench their thirst. Just recently, a lion drowned in a well - a village well. On an average, 15 lions die from drowning every year, the Daily Mail reported.

There are many other causes behind unnatural lion deaths here. 

Crushed under  trains

In March 2014, four lions were crushed under a goods train in the region.

"Since their population has increased considerably, lions now step out into non-forest areas and become victims of accidents," forest official A.K. Sharma told The Hindu last year.

Interestingly, the beast's population shrank to literally 12 lions in the 20th century, before Nawab Mahabat Khanji (of the princely state of Junagadh state), banned hunting, preserving the cat.  The State administration has, however, not taken steps to re-route the train track passing through the Gir forest."

Electrocuted

Independent media outlet Blue Moon Media had recently reported that lions are electrocuted by "electrified fencing done by the rich farmers in the region. ".

And there's the risk of infection and illegal mining

Gir has largely been unable to deal with the expanding footprint of the lion, which has increased with its population. Gir forest official Sandeep Kumar informed the BBC that living in "prides", "A male needs an area of 50 sq km and a female needs 26 sq km of space"

Interestingly, the Gujarat government, under the rule of then Chief Minister, fought arduous court battles to keep the Asiatic Lion population in Gir, despite a very real risk of keeping lion in a relatively small region – contagious infections.  The BBC reported that illegal sand and limestone mining have dried local rivers, forcing lions to move closer to the water, "as far as 300km from the forest area," Gir forest official Sandeep Kumar said.

 

 

Lion dies after falling into an well in Gir forest Gujarat

19-06-2015
Lion dies after falling into an well in Gir forest Gujarat
PC-Tablet
http://www.pc-tablet.co.in/2015/06/19/11043/lion-dies-falling-gir-forest-gujarat/
A 12-year-old lion accidentally fell into an open well filled with water in Khilavad village in Rajkot on Wednesday evening, reports Times On India on June 18, 2018.

Despite the rescue operation by the forest department, the lion couldn't be rescued as it died drowning in the well that was about 30ft deep.

A forest department official said, "Preliminary probe suggests that the lion may have fallen into an open well while straying from it or chasing pray and drowned into well's water.

"The dead body was Asiatic lion was brought to Jasadhar animal care center and the post-mortem was conducted."

In the past few years, many Asiatic lions have died unnatural deaths in the Gir forests of Gujarat. Many Lions also die due to rail tracks and road accidents.

There are 532 lions in Gir forest of Gujarat, according to the latest population report of lions.

In 2013, the Supreme Court of India had ordered to shift some of Gujarat's lions to the Kuno wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.

But the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) filed an affidavit in the Court explaining the difficulties of shifting the lions to Madhya Pradesh.

 

Gir lions’ relocation to Madhya Pradesh faces hurdle

18-06-2015
Gir lions' relocation to Madhya Pradesh faces hurdle

Live Mint

http://www.livemint.com/Politics/niSTqjTWnYXmlhogS55tuM/Gir-Lions-Forest-ministry-cites-challenges-in-Madhya-Prades.html

The environment ministry plans to file an affidavit in SC about the difficulties of relocating the animals

New Delhi: Will the Asiatic lion remain restricted to Gujarat's Gir forest? Looks like that may be the case as the ministry of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) has decided to file an affidavit in the Supreme Court about difficulties of relocating the animals from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh.

In April 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the shifting of some of Gujarat's lions to the Kuno wildlife sanctuary in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

The apex court had directed the MoEFCC to shift them by October 2013. So far, not a single lion has been shifted.

"As per the latest lion census figures released last month, the population has reached 523 and that is a tremendous increase. Relocating them from their present habitat could be detrimental. Unlike tigers who stay alone, lions move in prides. So if you displace some of them from their present habitat, it will be detrimental to their breeding and survival," said a senior environment ministry official who did not want to be identified.

The official was part of a recent meeting at the MoEFCC, chaired by Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar, wherein experts expressed concern over any move to relocate the lions right now.

"The population of lions has stabilized after a lot of hard work. The view that emerged from the expert meeting, which included wildlife division officials, was that the move to Madhya Pradesh could destabilize their population. Thus it has been decided to prepare a fresh affidavit explaining the same. It will soon be filed with the Supreme Court to inform and clarify on the issue," the environment ministry official added.

Another environment ministry official said work on the affidavit has started.

The Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, evolved in Europe and is believed to have moved southward over millennia, and is now found only in Gujarat. It is classified as an endangered species. The African lion, on the other hand, is found in larger numbers and lives in sub-Saharan Africa.

The need for relocating the big cats from Gir was felt because environmentalists and wildlife conservations feared that an epidemic or natural calamity could wipe out the species if it is concentrated in a single forest.

Last month, the Gujarat government released the lion census figures, which put Gir's population of the Asiatic lion at 523 in 2015, an increase of nearly 27% from 411 in 2010.

Following the 2013 Supreme Court order—after an appeal by Gujarat against the order was thrown out by the apex court—an expert group, including officials of MoEFCC, the Gujarat government, the Madhya Pradesh government and individuals such as Ravi Chellam, Y.V. Jhala andA.J.T. Johnsingh, prepared a draft action plan for shifting the lions.

But no lions were shifted.

Activists, already agitated by the non-implementation of the Supreme Court order, said they would oppose the affidavit. They point fingers at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not allowing the relocation. As Gujarat chief minister, he had dubbed the lion the pride of Gujarat and vowed to not allow its relocation.

Ajay Dubey, secretary of non-governmental organization (NGO) Prayatna, which is at the forefront of the campaign to move the lions to Madhya Pradesh, said a contempt petition in view of non-implementation of the order is already pending before the Supreme Court.

"We will fight MoEFCC tooth and nail if they file any such affidavit. We are also preparing to file additional documents in light of the new lion census figures. In the additional documents, we will highlight that forest areas in Gujarat are now saturated and that the population growth is leading to lion-human conflicts. We are also pondering over sitting on dharna at Jantar Mantar in Delhi," said Dubey.

He explained that the relocation plan was scientifically devised, under which only six lions were to be brought initially to Kuno. Thus, there would be no effect on the lion population in Gujarat. "The issue now requires urgent action. But the Gujarat government has put in many impossible conditions for relocation," he said.

Madhya Pradesh, meanwhile, has been quietly preparing the second home for Gujarat's lions, and has informed the expert group that the prey base in Kuno has increased. The state government has already spent more thanRs.60 crore on developing the sanctuary and relocating villagers.

Lion reintroduction is a long-term programme envisaging action over 25 years in accordance with the guidelines issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The plan was to bring a few dozen lions to Kuno over a period of 15-20 years.

 

 

The Asiatic lion, Panthera leo persica, evolved in Europe and is believed to have moved south over millennia, and is now found only in Gujarat. Photo: Reuters