Tiger grabbed lion’s national animal status

18/1/2017

Tiger grabbed lion's national animal status

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/tiger-grabbed-lions-national-animal-status/articleshow/56633322.cms

AHMEDABAD: A concerted campaign by the Gujarat Natural History Society in 1948 had compelled Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to declare the Asiatic lion as the national animal. But in 1972, the Bengal tiger was adopted as the national animal in a meeting of the Indian Board for Wildlife. The main reason given was that the tiger was important worldwide and was distributed across 16 states of the country, while the Asiatic lion was found only in Gir in Gujarat. Despite the numbers and vast territorial range of Bengal tigers, the government formed a special National Tiger Conservation Authority in 2005. Even with Asiatic lions on the brink of extinction, there is no such authority at the national level. Maharashtra Congress MP, and a member of the parliament committee on assurances, Hussain Dalwai, told TOI: "The committee now believes that there should be an exclusive Project Lion ." C N Pandey, a former principal chief conservator of forests, said: "Once 'Project Lion' comes into place, the Union government will be committed to allocating funds for lion conservation."

Lions may get their share in Budget

18/1/2017

Lions may get their share in Budget

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/lions-may-get-their-share-in-budget/articleshow/56633303.cms

AHMEDABAD: For the first time after 1972, when the king of the jungle had been dethroned from its position as national animal by the Royal Bengal Tiger, a joint committee of the parliament has decided to give the Asiatic lion its due respect and conceive a separate 'Project Lion' in the lines of 'Project Tiger'. The

 

committee has recommended that fund allocation for the king of the jungle should not be a piecemeal exercise any more. The committee, which is on a week long tour of Gujarat, will submit their recommendations before the Union budget is published this year.

 

After the lion lost its status as the national animal, for four decades, little funds came forth for its conservation, while 'Project Tiger' stole the show, and conservation funds.

But on Tuesday, the joint committee including Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha parliamentarians recommended that Gujarat's pride should trump the tiger with a separate 'Project Asiatic Lion'.

 

Asiatic lions have been so much neglected in the Budget, that since 2013 the Gujarat government had been forced to send proposals to conserve lions under the centrally sponsored scheme - Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats, a project meant for all endangered animals. Despite proposals for Rs 150 crore, the required allocations could not be made owing to paucity of funds.

 

In the last three years, an yearly average of only Rs 10 crore was released by the Union government to Gujarat under various Budget heads.

 

Dilip Pandya, a member of the committee and Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, said, "The committee, after reviewing the ground realities, believes there should be a Project Lion on the lines of Project Tiger." He added, "The committee found that only Rs 1 crore has been allocated for lion conservation under Long-Term Conservation of Asiatic Lions."

 

Interestingly, despite four decades of tiger conservation, the only national institution that is using the tiger as a symbol is the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). On the other hand, the Asiatic lion grace our national emblem as the Ashoka lions of Sarnath pillar. The Presidential flag has the Ashoka lions along with an elephant. Most Indian states use the Ashoka lions, though some have their own symbols, often derived from previous royal courts. Former member of National Board of Wildlife, Divyabhanusinh Chawda, said, "I feel there is no dearth of funds for lion conservation. But 'Project Lion' should concentrate on protecting natural corridors of the Asiatic lion."

Parliamentary panel to visit Gir for two days

17/1/2017

Parliamentary panel to visit Gir for two days

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/parliamentary-panel-in-gir/articleshow/56606408.cms

AHMEDABAD: A 31-member parliamentary committee will visit Gir for two days from Tuesday to get a sense of people's views on the translocation of some lions to Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh. The committee's remit covers science and technology and environment and forests. Renuka Chowdhury, a Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh, heads the committee which is likely to hold meetings with NGOs and members of civil society.

The visit assumes importance after Gujarat's forest department placed its objections before a 12-member expert committee which has been appointed by the Supreme Court to manage the translocation from Gir, the only abode of Asiatic lions. The expert committee found the Kuno-Palpur habitat suitable for lions. However, there has been a difference of opinion between Gujarat's forest department and the expert committee over studies to be conducted before translocation can take place.

The forest department wants the committee to wait for 36 mandatory studies to be completed before authorizing the transfer of lions. The studies are mandated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and relate to the scrutiny of Kuno-Palpur in matters such as prey base, habitat, vegetation, and weather. Other study areas include previous reintroduction of animals if any, and socio-economic and legal requirements.

Pankaj Chaudhary, the BJP MP from Maharajganj (UP) who is a member of the parliamentary committee, said: "The panel will talk to people about the issues concerning Gir. The committee may discuss translocation with local people."

Residents of Gir are prepared to make representations on the problems they face. They will also make representations against translocating lions. NGOs operating in Gir have held a meeting and have decided that they will raise their voice against translocation and also place local issues before the committee.

 

Dinesh Goswami of the Prakruti Nature Club, Kodinar, said: "NGOs will insist that if translocation is to take place at all, it should be done in accordance with IUCN guidelines as stated by the apex court." NGOs too want studies to be completed before translocation is approved.

 

"Only then will the people of Gujarat, especially of Saurashtra, will allow translocation."

 

However, an official of another NGO — who did not want to be named — said that the parliamentary committee had no locus standi to discuss translocation. Only the SC-appointed committee has any authority in the matter, he said.

Parliamentary panel in Gir

17/1/2017

Parliamentary panel in Gir

NYOOOZ

http://www.nyoooz.com/ahmedabad/709959/parliamentary-panel-in-gir

Summary: Ahmedabad: A 31-member parliamentary committee will visit Gir for two days from Tuesday to get a sense of people's views on the translocation of some lions to Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh. "However, an official of another NGO — who did not want to be named — said that the parliamentary committee had no locus standi to discuss translocation. Other study areas include previous reintroduction of animals if any, and socio-economic and legal requirements.Pankaj Chaudhary, the BJP MP from Maharajganj (UP) who is a member of the parliamentary committee, said: "The panel will talk to people about the issues concerning Gir. The expert committee found the Kuno-Palpur habitat suitable for lions. "Residents of Gir are prepared to make representations on the problems they face.

 

Ahmedabad: A 31-member parliamentary committee will visit Gir for two days from Tuesday to get a sense of people's views on the translocation of some lions to Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh. The committee's remit covers science and technology and environment and forests. Renuka Chowdhury, a Rajya Sabha member from Andhra Pradesh, heads the committee which is likely to hold meetings with NGOs and members of civil society.The visit assumes importance after Gujarat's forest department placed its objections before a 12-member expert committee which has been appointed by the Supreme Court to manage the translocation from Gir, the only abode of Asiatic lions. 

The expert committee found the Kuno-Palpur habitat suitable for lions. However, there has been a difference of opinion between Gujarat's forest department and the expert committee over studies to be conducted before translocation can take place.The forest department wants the committee to wait for 36 mandatory studies to be completed before authorizing the transfer of lions. The studies are mandated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and relate to the scrutiny of Kuno-Palpur in matters such as prey base, habitat, vegetation, and weather. 

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/parliamentary-panel-in-gir/articleshow/56606408.cms

 

‘Must study habitat, food base before translocation’

19/1/2017

'Must study habitat, food base before translocation'

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/must-study-habitat-food-base-before-translocation/articleshow/56653363.cms

AHMEDABAD: The 31-member parliamentary standing committee on science and technology and environment and forests, along with its chairperson Renuka Chowdhury, concluded its two-day visit to Gir forest on Wednesday.

Regarding translocation of lions to Madhya Pradesh, Chowdhury said that proper studies must be completed before shifting the big cats.

Interestingly, her statement runs counter to the view of the Supreme Court-appointed 12-member expert committee which recently said that lion translocation and IUCN studies can take place simultaneously. Gujarat, however, has opposed the move and demanded that the studies be completed before shifting the lions.

 

It may be recalled that in April 2013 the apex court had ordered translocation of the Asiatic lions from Gir to Kuno-Palpur.

During its two-day visit, the committee headed by Chowdhury also held meetings with civic societies and NGOs in the area. Talking to TOI, Chowdhury said that the people of Gujarat are against shifting of the lions.

"Translocation of the any big cat can have dangerous consequences if they are shifted without any proper studies," she said.

There are 523 lions in Gir forest spread over an area of 20,000 sq km in Saurashtra region.

"A situation should not arise where the animal is killed because they pose danger to the local habitat. One has to study the availability of food, the habitat in the area where it is to be shifted, and the behavior of the species to be shifted," she said.

Chowdhury further said that before shifting any animal, one has to understand the area and its climate and see if the animal would survive in the new habitat.

"Look at what happened to the Humboldt Penguins in Mumbai Zoo. These penguins were brought without proper studies," Chowdhury said.

 

It may be recalled that eight penguins were brought to Mumbai from a South Korean aquarium on July 26 last year. Of the female penguins, one named Dory died in October following a brief illness.

The other penguins are still open for public viewing.

 

Chowdhury was also angry with officials for reducing Gir's 'eco-sensitive zone' from 17 km to only 0.5 km.

 

"Individually, I am not happy with the move to reduce the eco-sensitive zone," she said. "I have asked the officials to reconsider their decision in the interest of the Asiatic lions and their conservation."

 

Chowdhury further said that besides holding meetings on Gir, the committee also held talks with farmers on the issue of genetically modified crops.

 

"According to the protocol, we cannot disclose what the report will contain as it is to be presented in Parliament for consideration by the central government," she said.

‘Finish studies before moving lions’

16/1/2017

'Finish studies before moving lions'

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/finish-studies-before-moving-lions/articleshow/56575599.cms

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat's forest department has placed its objections before the 12-member expert committee appointed by the SC to manage translocation of Asiatic lions. The department has demanded that 36 mandatory studies be completed first before the committee allows any transfer of lions to MP. The studies, mandated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) consider investigations in Kuno on prey base, habitat, vegetation, weather, previous reintroduction if any, socio-economic and legal requirements among others.

What has stirred the hornet's nest recently is an RTI reply of the Madhya Pradesh forest department which claimed that the state will complete all formal processes of declaring Kuno as a 'national park' by the end of February. The expert committee had visited Kuno on December 20.

The documents containing the discussion points of the 12-member expert committee, headed by an additional director general of forests under the Union ministry of environment claims that Kuno was "conducive" according to the RTI reply. One of the committee members told TOI, "After spending nearly five hours at the sanctuary, the panel members found the atmosphere in Kuno-Palpur conducive to the shifting of lions." Gujarat, too, could not question much on MP's preparedness to host the lions.

 

Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh had principally differed on the issue of IUCN guidelines. While MP demanded that the guidelines be taken up simultaneously with the translocation of lions to Kuno-Palpur, Gujarat forest officials in the committee insisted that the multiple studies mandated by IUCN be conducted prior to translocation. However, officials from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) were of the opinion that various studies, including that of the prey base, have been conducted to assess the suitability of Kuno to accommodate lions. Census 2015 has pegged Gujarat's Asiatic lion population at 523. Forest minister Ganpat Vasava has said, "Apartf rom the detailed studies, we also want MP to give us details of the area which will be notified for lions. The government will go through them."

 

"We want all the studies to be conducted fresh and these studies have to be conducted following the apex court order of April 2013," said Vasava.

 

The discussion points report further additions to the demands, "All members of the expert committee, except (the representative of) the Gujarat forest department (GFD), were of the opinion that these studies may continue in parallel to the process of translocation of lions. But the GFD has recorded its objection to this proposal," it said.

 

The reintroduction plan of lions has faced stiff opposition from Gujarat. In April 2013, the Supreme Court had ordered shifting of some lions to Kuno.

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MP's Kuno ready for lions, says Centre; Gujarat opposes

16/1/2017

MP's Kuno ready for lions, says Centre; Gujarat opposes

DECCAN HEARALD

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/591577/mps-kuno-ready-lions-says.html

Madhya Pradesh's Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary may soon become a second home for Asiatic lions as majority members of a central team have favoured their translocation from Gujarat's Gir. The recent development has brought a ray of hope for the Madhya Pradesh government and wildlife lovers who have been awaiting the shifting of the lions after a Supreme Court judgement in this regard in April 2013.

This matter was discussed during a meeting of the expert committee, headed by an Additional Director General of Forests under the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, on translocation of Asiatic lions from Gir National Park to Kuno sanctuary. "Kuno has achieved amazing recovery of the habitat and is practically ready for translocation of lions," as per 'points of discussion' with the expert committee.

Various studies, including the one by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII), have been conducted to assess the suitability of Kuno to accommodate the lions. "All members of the expert committee, except (the representative of) the Gujarat Forest Department (GFD), were of the opinion that these studies may continue in parallel to the process of translocation of lions. But the GFD has recorded its objection to this proposal," it said.

The Madhya Pradesh Forest Department will complete the process of declaring Kuno as a 'national park' by the end of next month, reads the discussion points, a copy of which was received in response to an RTI query filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey. Dubey has also filed a contempt petition in the apex court, seeking implementation of its 2013 order. In a project report to the Environment Ministry, WII has said lion reintroduction in the Kuno sanctuary would not wait for the completion of an ongoing study since the institute's earlier ecological assessment had already validated the potential of that area to support about 40 lions.

The Madhya Pradesh government has been seeking transfer of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to its Palpur-Kuno sanctuary. The reintroduction plan of lions has faced stiff opposition from Gujarat. In April 2013, the Supreme Court had ordered shifting of some lions to Kuno. The apex court had directed the Environment Ministry to shift them by October, 2013. However, not a single lion has been shifted so far. Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Sheopur district of Gwalior division has been chosen as a second home for over 500 Asiatic lions.

Would try our best to stop shifting of lions to MP: Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava

29/12/2016

Would try our best to stop shifting of lions to MP: Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava

THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS

http://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/would-try-our-best-to-stop-shifting-of-lions-to-mp-gujarat-forest-minister-ganpatsinh-vasava/489302/

Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava today said the state government was never in favour of the proposal of `translocating' Asiatic lions from Gir forest to Madhya Pradesh, and would try its best to stop such a transfer.

 

Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava today said the state government was never in favour of the proposal of `translocating' Asiatic lions from Gir forest to Madhya Pradesh, and would try its best to stop such a transfer.

 

The BJP government in Gujarat had submitted a 36-point report opposing the proposal to a committee appointed by the Supreme Court in 2013, he said.

 

The SC-appointed committee, having wildlife experts and senior officials from Gujarat, MP and Centre, had not yet got back in touch with Gujarat government after the report was submitted, he said.

 

"Since the beginning when this issue of translocating some of our lions to MP came up few years back, Gujarat government has made its stand clear by saying we are against such a move and we will try our best to see to it that our lions remain here," Vasava told PTI.

 

As per the 2015 census, there are 523 lions in and around the Gir Sanctuary, which is known as the last abode of Asiatic lions.

 

Without elaborating on the 36 points, the minister stated the report backed the state government's argument that lions should not be shifted to Madhya Pradesh.

"Lions are not just wild animals to the people of Gujarat. Lions share a special bond with people living near the forest. Lions are a matter of pride and identity for us. We are emotionally attached to these wild cats," he said.

 

Supreme Court had earlier ordered to shift some of the Gujarat lions to Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary in MP.

The BJP government in Gujarat had submitted a 36-point report opposing the proposal to a committee appointed by the Supreme Court in 2013, he said. (Reuters)

 

Lost lion cub reunited with family near Gir forest

5/1/2017

Lost lion cub reunited with family near Gir forest

The IndianEXPRESS

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/lost-lion-cub-reunited-with-family-near-gir-forest-4460247/

On Tuesday, after nearly 15 hours of efforts by the team, a lioness came near the cage, sniffed the cub and took him along while disappearing in the adjoining forest, said the officer.

 

Lost lion cub reunited with family near Gir forest Vadodara, Jan 5 A nearly two-month-old male Asiatic lion cub who got separated from his family at a village in Gir Somnath district was rescued and reunited with his mother, a forest official said on Thursday. A pride of two lioness and 2-3 cubs ventured into a forest revenue area adjoining the Gir sanctuary, the only abode of these big cats.

 

One of the male cubs got separated from the other felines and was found roaming at a field in Juna Ugla village under Una tehsil of Gir Somnath district on Monday night, Range Forest Officer J G Pandya said.

 

"Since an abandoned cub might not survive, our team, without any delay, decided to locate his mother and visited around five nearby villages after learning about a pride of lions seen roaming in the area," he said.

 

The worry before the forest officials was how to reunite the cub with his family.

 

"Usually in such situations, the cub is left to die and is not accepted back by the pride. The female carnivores often kill the cubs if they come in close contact with humans," he said.

 

Later, the forest team reached a site near Kedarnath dam close to Fadsar village and kept the cub there in an open cage, Pandya said.

 

On Tuesday, after nearly 15 hours of efforts by the team, a lioness came near the cage, sniffed the cub and took him along while disappearing in the adjoining forest, he said.

The Gir national park and wildlife sanctuary in Western Gujarat is the only habitat for Asiatic lions.

 

Minister Ganpat Vasava objects to lion translocation

30/12/2016

Minister Ganpat Vasava objects to lion translocation

THE TIMES OF INDIA

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Minister-objects-to-lion-translocation/articleshow/56244804.cms

AHMEDABAD: The 12-member expert committee appointed by the apex court's order may have found Kuno-Palpur suitable forlion translocation, but the Gujarat government has made it clear that they would not consider the issue till all the 36 studies, which have been specified under the new translocation guidelines of theInternational Union For Conservation of Nature, are not duly conducted.

Gujarat's environment and forest minister, Ganpat Vasava, said "We, in the state government, were never in favour of the proposal of translocating Asiatic lions from Gir forest to Madhya Pradesh, and would try our best to stop such a transfer." According to the 2015 census, there are 523 lions in and around the Gir Sanctuary, which is known as the last abode of Asiatic lions.

 

The state government, after studying the apex court order of April 2013, has asked the 12-member committee to carry out the studies afresh in compliance with IUCNguidelines, and then see if the site was suitable for translocation or not.

 

"It has now been over three years, but the committee, despite meeting six times, has not ordered any study following IUCN guidelines. We have on several occasions made it clear through officials that all studies listed in the fresh IUCN guidelines issued just before the April 2013 judgment have to be complied with, before putting the proposal to the government for translocating lions."

 

"We want a detailed study on the weather, its vegetation and even the prey base in the area. We also want MP to give us a detail of the area which will be notified for lions. After getting all these studies, the government will go through them," said the minister. "This is not a short-term measure. If it is for conservation, then all measures should be taken to ensure lions don't die in their new habitat in Kuno," said the minister.

 

Vasava said that since the time the issue of translocating lions to MP came up first, the government has made its stand clear. "The government is against such a move, and we will try our best to ensure that our lions remain here," Vasava said. "We are emotionally attached to these wild cats. Lions are not attacked by people even if they kill their cattle or livestock. The people are also against such a move," the minister said.

Will try to stop shifting of lions to M.P.: Vasava

29/12/2016

Will try to stop shifting of lions to M.P.: Vasava

THE HINDU

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-otherstates/Will-try-to-stop-shifting-of-lions-to-M.P.-Vasava/article16957283.ece

Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava on Wednesday said the State government is not in favour of translocating Asiatic lions from Gir forest to Madhya Pradesh, and will try its best to stop it.

The BJP government had submitted a 36-point report opposing the proposal to a committee appointed by the Supreme Court in 2013, he said. The committee, having wildlife experts and senior officials from Gujarat, M.P., and the Centre, is yet to get back.

"When this issue came up a few years ago, the Gujarat government had made its stand clear that we are against such a move and we will try to ensure that our lions remain here," he said. As per the 2015 census, there are 523 lions in and around Gir Sanctuary, which is known as the last abode of Asiatic lions. — PTI

                                                                                                          

Seven-year-old Asiatic Lion dies

1/1/2017

Seven-year-old Asiatic Lion dies

Business Standard

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/seven-year-old-asiatic-lion-dies-117010100503_1.html

A seven-year-old Asiatic lion shifted to Barda sanctuary near Porbandar from Gir forest two years ago, died on December 30 after a week-long illness, a senior forest officer said. 

"The lion was being treated at the veterinary hospital at Sakkarbag zoo," Shobita Agrawal, district forest officer, told PTI.

"Samples collected from his body, have been sent to forensic laboratory to find out the exactcause behind the death," said the officer.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)