Tired of tourists, Gir lions go into hiding

30/10/2017
Tired of tourists, Gir lions go into hiding
THE TIMES OF INDIA

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/tired-of-tourists-gir-lions-go-into-hiding/articleshow/61330193.cms

AHMEDABAD: A total of 31,584 tourists visited Sasan Gir but around 60% of the tourists had to return without seeing the lions or their pride in the sanctuary. There are several reasons for this but experts say that lions get little privacy for rest.

According to the forest department, there were 31,584 visitors to Sasan between October 20 and October 27, while 43,829 visited Devaliya and another 9,693 visited the newly inaugurated Ambardi reserve.

Amit Patel, a resident of Bapunagar who went to Gir on October 21, said that he had booked a place in two safaris - one in the evening and second in early morning.

"But in both the safaris, I could not see a single lion. I was able to see a lot of ungulates along the route but I could not see the big cats," Patel said. He further said that he was not alone in making this complaint as several other tourists also did not see any lion.

HS Singh, member of the National Board of Wildlife, said sightings of the bigs cats depend on several reasons. "The lions are obviously disturbed by the increasing number of vehicles in the forest during the vacation. Hence they move away from the tourism zone. Secondly the forest, at present, is lush green and hence the lions easily hide in the grasses making it difficult to be spotted," Singh said.

AP Singh, CCF Junagadh, admitted that sightings had fallen in number.

"The forest department has ensured that no jeep moves away from its route allotted to it," he said. "We have begun monitoring the movement of jeeps. Moreover, in the past, the lions were moved near the tourism route and all vehicles were moved to that route. But now this practice has been stopped," Singh said.

He further said that apart from this, the forest department, during the festive season, gives 150 permits and another 20 for VIP movements. All these permits are used up during the vacation; hence the big cats get disturbed and move away from the tourism zone.

Lion preys on calf in middle of Junagadh city

24/10/2017
Lion preys on calf in middle of Junagadh city
THE TIMES OF INDIA
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/lion-preys-on-calf-in-middle-of-junagadh-city/articleshow/61192669.cms

Junagadh: Commuters of Bhavnath road in Junagadh city were in for a surprise early morning on Monday as they witnessed an adult lion sitting on one side of the four-lane road eating a calf.

It was around 5.30am that people passing by Pajnaka Bridge noticed the lion sitting in the middle of the road eating his prey. Forest officials said that the lion might have come from the nearby forest area on the road and preyed upon the calf moving there.

For the next half-an-hour the lion sat on the road as bewildered commuters passing by in cars, autorickshaws and motorcycles stopped and clicked pictures and recorded videos.

"Eventually, as the crowd gathered at the spot and started shouting and honking horns from their vehicles, the big cat got disturbed and sauntered back into the forest by the same way that it had come," said a forester.

The area where the lion was sighted borders the Gir forest area. According to forest officials, lions are frequently sighted on the road near Bhavnath Road on the foothills of the Girnar mountain.

There are approximately 45 lions in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans over 17,827 hectare. Junagadh is located just 2km from the sanctuary's boundary.

In October last year, two adult lions, one male and a female, were found strolling in the Gandhigram area of Junagadh city early morning on a Saturday. They moved around the locality on the city's outskirts for over 20 minutes and then returned to the forest.

The October 2016 incident is the second one in that year when the wild cats crossed the forest border to enter the Junagadh Municipal Corporation (JMC) area. In July 2016, a pride of lions, including three adult females and half-a-dozen cubs, were seen jaywalking in Junagadh city early in the morning.

Forest dept seeks five more lions for Ambardi

18/10/2017
Forest dept seeks five more lions for Ambardi
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/forest-dept-seeks-five-more-lions-for-ambardi/articleshow/61124737.cms

Ahmedabad: The state government has asked the forest department to send a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority of India to get five more zoo-bred lions for its Ambardi interpretation zone. The Ambardi project was inaugurated on Tuesday and currently has three lions, a male and two females.

Chief conservator of forests A P Singh said the facility can house eight lions, four females, two males and cubs, but in the first phase CZAI has permitted three lions. "We are sending a proposal to the Union government to immediately sanction five more lions for the sanctuary, to be housed in the Ambardi zone. The zone will serve as a tourist destination for those heading to Diu and Tulshishyam."

Chief minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the Ambardi Lion Safari Park, spread across 350 hectares in Dhari taluka of Amreli district, to the east of the Gir Sanctuary. He unveiled a plaque at the Sinh Dwar entrance and opened the animal upkeep centre.

Rupani said more tourists from India and abroad will now visit the safari park rather than going to Gir sanctuary. He said Amreli district will emerge as a new tourism hub.

Rupani said the state government repeatedly asked for environmental clearance for the eco-tourism project in the reserved forest area of Amreli district, but the UPA government sat on it. As soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, he solved many pending issues of Gujarat. The project was sanctioned by the Centre on June 5 last year and the state forest department got it ready quickly.

Forest dept seeks five more lions for Ambardi

18/10/2017
Forest dept seeks five more lions for Ambardi
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/forest-dept-seeks-five-more-lions-for-ambardi/articleshow/61124737.cms

Ahmedabad: The state government has asked the forest department to send a proposal to the Central Zoo Authority of India to get five more zoo-bred lions for its Ambardi interpretation zone. The Ambardi project was inaugurated on Tuesday and currently has three lions, a male and two females.

Chief conservator of forests A P Singh said the facility can house eight lions, four females, two males and cubs, but in the first phase CZAI has permitted three lions. "We are sending a proposal to the Union government to immediately sanction five more lions for the sanctuary, to be housed in the Ambardi zone. The zone will serve as a tourist destination for those heading to Diu and Tulshishyam."

Chief minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the Ambardi Lion Safari Park, spread across 350 hectares in Dhari taluka of Amreli district, to the east of the Gir Sanctuary. He unveiled a plaque at the Sinh Dwar entrance and opened the animal upkeep centre.

Rupani said more tourists from India and abroad will now visit the safari park rather than going to Gir sanctuary. He said Amreli district will emerge as a new tourism hub.

Rupani said the state government repeatedly asked for environmental clearance for the eco-tourism project in the reserved forest area of Amreli district, but the UPA government sat on it. As soon as Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, he solved many pending issues of Gujarat. The project was sanctioned by the Centre on June 5 last year and the state forest department got it ready quickly.

GIVE LIONS THEIR SPACE TO STOP KILLINGS

16/10/2017
GIVE LIONS THEIR SPACE TO STOP KILLINGS
Ahemdabad Mirror

http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/give-lions-their-space-to-stop-killings/articleshow/61094212.cms

The killing of 15 cows by four lions last week at a cowshed of Juna Vaghaniya village of Amreli district has once again brought to fore the growing concern over man-animal conflict in the vicinity of Gir sanctuary due to lack of space for the big cats. What has scared the villagers is also the fact that the big cats paid a visit the next day too. Locals claimed such attacks, while not frequent, take place once in a while. However, experts are not surprised.

According to them, the eco-sensitive zone, or protected lion area, is not expanding commensurate with rising lion population. According to 2015 lion census data, 210 out of total 523 lions live outside the protected area. The number of lions in Savarkundla and Liliya in Amreli district and surrounding areas increased from 60, as per the preceding census, to over 80 in 2015. Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Pr CCF) H S Singh said, "Such mass cattle killings by lions is not uncommon. Several cows could have died due to heart attack on facing lions. It is important to expand ecosensitive zone.

There is need to build a healthy corridor for lions and give them more space. Each area has the capacity to sustain only a limited number of lions. When the population of an area reaches a saturation point, animal- man conflicts take place." Recalling the incident when lions killed 15 cows in about 45 minutes, Juna Vaghaniya resident Chetan Ramavat said, "Four lions — one male, one female and two sub adults — came around 8.15 pm. As soon as we sensed their presence, we gathered and tried to shoo them away but they ended up killing 15 cows.

Twelve carcasses were taken away by the forest department. We disposed of remaining three carcasses outside the village. On Tuesday night the lions came and took away those carcasses." Amreli Deputy Conservator of Forest Sakira Begum termed it a sporadic incident. She said, "It was a one-off incident and does not prove lions visit the area often. If the visits become frequent, then it will become a subject of research and observation. However, we are making all efforts to protect humans and domestic animals." Talking about lion behavior, former senior forest official and wildlife expert Uday Vora said, "The gathering of villagers may have instigated lions to go on a cattle-killing spree. The incident needs to be studied. However, such incidents have been reported in the past.

The forest department is doing its bit to avoid such episodes." AP Singh, Chief Conservator of Forest, Junagadh Wildlife Circle, told Mirror: "We are making efforts to sensitise villagers in areas where lion sightings are on the rise. We are trying to sensitise villagers of these areas akin to those in Junagadh and Sasan who have been living in close proximity of lions for many generations."

Morari Bapu, lion photo: Forest department begins probe

12/10/2017
Morari Bapu, lion photo: Forest department begins probe
THE TIMES OF INDIA
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/morari-bapu-lion-photo-forest-dept-begins-probe/articleshow/61044162.cms

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat forest department has begun an investigation into allegations made by a Porbandar advocate against kathakar Morari Bapu and forest officials about "organizing and being part of an illegal lion show" in protected limits of Girnar. The pictures of Morari Bapu — taken between October 8 and 9 in Girnar forests — with a lion in the foreground have gone viral.

Principal chief conservator of forests G K Sinha told TOI, "We are examining route permissions Morari Bapu had sought for the Girnar Parikrama. Permissions were given for certain portions of the route and not for the entire route." Forest officials said that Morari Bapu had sought permission this year for Girnar Parikrama within Girnar forest limits where pilgrim movement is allowed. The route winds through 'forest department only' and pilgrim-access areas. A senior forest official investigating the matter said that cricketer Ravindra Jadeja had got down from his jeep to take selfies in the Gir sanctuary which is roughly 48km from the Girnar sanctuary.

"We were trying to involve Morari Bapu in a campaign against plastic pollution along the Lili Parikrama route of Girnar," a senior forest officer said. "Over the past few years, we have retrieved tonnes of plastic wrappers, bottles, cases, and footwear on the route. Morari Bapu wanted to see a portion of the route to gauge the problem."

The official went on to say: "But a few members of Morari Bapu's entourage took photographs which landed them in trouble." Six trackers had accompanied Morari Bapu on the Girnar Parikrama. As for Jadeja, he had tweeted on Wednesday, "It is the same place, same story. Want to see what they are going to do now".

GR permitting overnight stay inside Gir worries foresters

12/10/2017
GR permitting overnight stay inside Gir worries foresters
The Times of India
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gr-permitting-overnight-stay-inside-gir-worries-foresters/articleshow/61044187.cms

AHMEDABAD: A government resolution allowing pilgrims to stay overnight at the Kankai Mata temple inside the Gir Sanctuary is worrying forest officials and conservationists. The use of the word 'yatralu' in the GR has broadened the scope beyond members of the community, who have Kankai Mata as their family deity, and were the only persons who used to stay overnight at the temple, traditionally.

A worried forest department official said, "There are no special permits required to be obtained from the forest department to stay at night at the temple. A person entering the temple with a day permit can stay back with the same permit."

"Earlier, the permit holder visiting the temple had to return by 5pm," said the official.

Through a notification, the government had in the first week of September, allowed 50 devotees to stay overnight at the Kankai Mataji temple within the Gir Sanctuary - the last abode of the Asiatic lion.

Wildlife activists, including some members of the state board of wildlife are worried that conservation of lions may be affected by allowing pilgrims to stay overnight inside the sanctuary.

A senior officer from the forest department said, "After getting the notification, we found the word pilgrims. Initially, it was only for the community who have Kankai Mata as their family deity. But the final notification had the word 'yatralu' thus widening the scope for stay at night."

A tour operator who conducts Gir tours, when contacted, said, "The night permit can be managed easily. Come down and we will arrange for the same."

Forest officials said they had tried to implement a system where a special permit was to be issued for night stay and only after getting a letter from the temple trust. However, the office bearers of the trust objected to the procedure and hence the new system was not implemented.

In 1998-99, a similar attempt was made to permit tourists to stay overnight at the temple. However, the permission was cancelled following the intervention of the standing committee on science and technology, environment and forests of the Rajya Sabha.

So far, apart from the trustees, no one, not even their family members, had been allowed to stay overnight at the temple. In the absence of clarity about who constitutes 'devotees', the deputy conservator of forests denied permissions. The forest department, which had so far made it mandatory for devotees visiting the Kankai temple to exit from the same gate, has now relaxed this norm and devotees can now leave from either gate.

ACTION SOUGHT AGAINST MORARI BAPU

11/10/2017
ACTION SOUGHT AGAINST MORARI BAPU
AhmedabadMirror
http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/action-sought-against-morari-bapu/articleshow/61027733.cms

A Porbandar-based advocate has demanded action against renowned Kathakar Morari Bapu and few forest officials for "organising and being part of illegal lion show" in prohibited area of Gir Sanctuary near Junagadh. Morari Bapu is currently in Junagadh for a Ram Katha. Talking to Mirror, lawyer Bhanu Odedara said: "I have written to the Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court and Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) seeking action against them.

Lion shows are prohibited in Gir between June 15 and October 15. Despite this, forest officers tracked and located a lion for Morari Bapu and ten others either on October 8 or 9. The photos of the illegal lion show have gone viral on social media." In one of the photos, Morari Bapu can be seen sitting on a charpoy, surrounded by forest officials, and a lion sleeping in the middle of the road.

'Permission turned down'
Commenting on the matter, Chief Conservator of Forest, Junagadh, S K Mehta told Mirror: "Based on the photographs, it appears Morari Bapu had taken a halt during 'Parikrama' of Girnar for which he was granted permission. In fact, Bapu had sought permission for 'Lili Parikrama (on-foot circuit)' of Girnar which was turned down looking at his age, as it would have involved walking a very long distance.

Still probing incident
"He then decided to do the parikrama in a vehicle using the public road which remains open to public between 6am and 6 pm. "I am still probing into the incident and if someone is found guilty then action will be taken." According to Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, harassment of a wild animal can attract fine up to Rs 25,000 and harm to a wild animal attracts maximum imprisonment of 7 years. A senior forest official said cricketer Ravindra Jadeja was recently fined for taking a selfie with a lion in the background, by getting down from the jeep. Action was also taken against the forest officials accompanying him.

Main accused in 2007 lion poaching case held from UP

10/10/2017
Main accused in 2007 lion poaching case held from UP
DNA
http://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-main-accused-in-2007-lion-poaching-case-held-from-up-2551636

In a major breakthrough, one of the wanted accused in the Asiatic Lion poaching case of 2007, Sarfaraz Qureshi, was arrested in Fatehpur, Allahabad of Uttar Pradesh by a Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) team on Sunday.

A total of 18 people have been arrested for poaching of eight Asiatic Lions at three different sites in and around the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 2007. The carcasses of lions were found at different places, including Babariya Range in the Gir Sanctuary and Bhunduriya village of Bhavnagar district.

However, three main accused including Sarfaraz had been absconding for past 10 years. The other two are Shabir Qureshi and Mohammad Ayub Qureshi.

On Friday while investigating the case, Gujarat ATS officials got specific information that Sarfaraz was seen in Fatehpur of Allahabad area where he was staying in a rented house.

Acting on it, a team was immediately sent to the location and the accused nabbed on Sunday. During interrogation, he revealed that Shabir was his father and he died in 2012. ATS is on a lookout for the third absconding accused Mohammad Ayub Qureshi. Officials said Sarfaraz's interrogation will help them track him down. Further investigation regarding the case is on.
WILDLIFE WOES

· A total of 18 people have been arrested for poaching of eight Asiatic Lions at three different sites in and around the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 2007.

Guj HC dismisses PIL challenging Ambardi lion safari proposal

11/10/2017
Guj HC dismisses PIL challenging Ambardi lion safari proposal
OutLook THE NEWS SCROLL
https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/guj-hc-dismisses-pil-challenging-ambardi-lion-safari-proposal/1165331

Ahmedabad, Oct 11 The Gujarat High Court today dismissed a PIL challenging the state government's Ambardi lion safari proposal for tourists in and around the 400 hectares of fenced area on the eastern side of the Gir National Park.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi dismissed the PIL filed by environmentalist Biren Pandya, saying that the state government has complied with all conditions and secured required permissions.

The court said the proposal for the safari was made in 2005, and in 2008, the central government had given recognition, or in-principle approval for the same. It said that even the physical infrastructure for the safari, like fencing, is in place.

The PIL had sought the court's direction to the government to set aside the plan to convert the forest area into a lion safari, as it will damage the eco-sensitive zone.

Pandya had contended in the petition that the government's proposal had received nod only from the technical committee of the Central Zoo Authority, and this cannot be construed as a final nod as the committee is not empowered for the same.

During the course of hearing, the state government had submitted before the court that it had received the final permission to start the lion safari at Ambardi from the ministry concerned, and produced an official document regarding the same, dated June 19.

It had said that a newly-appointed technical committee of the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) had given a go-ahead to the project and a final order regarding this was passed on June 19 this year by the ministry.

The park aims to take the tourist load off the existing Gir National Park. It will have three zoo-bred lions for public viewing in the forest environment.

The forest department has also received permission to house two lionesses and a lion in the park for public viewing.

As per the latest census carried out by the state forest department in 2015, Gujarat is home to 523 Asiatic lions in the Gir forest and other areas in Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts.

Gujarat ATS arrests lion poacher in Uttar Pradesh

10/10/2017
Gujarat ATS arrests lion poacher in Uttar Pradesh
THE TIMES OF INDIA
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-ats-arrests-lion-poacher-in-uttar-pradesh/articleshow/61012536.cms

Ahmedabad: The Gujarat anti-terrorism squad (ATS) on Monday arrested an Uttar Pradesh man wanted in lion poaching cases dating to 2007. Sarfaraz Qureshi was arrested from his home town, Khaga, near Agra. Qureshi, who had been on the run for 10 years, used push lion bones and teeth — peddling them as tiger remains — to countries such as China and Taiwan through the Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh.

In March and April of 2007, ten lions were poached from Babariya range in Amreli and Junagadh. Three cases were registered. They were probed and cracked under the supervision of the DIG CID crime at the time, Keshav Kumar, who is currently the in-charge director of ACB Gujarat.

"We had arrested 32 accused, including the members the Baheliya gang," Keshav Kumar said. "We had also arrested Circuslal, a notorious poacher from Madhya Pradesh; Keshav Kosh of Karnataka who used to handle the illegal sale of tiger bones and skins in South India; and Sarfaraz's father, Shabbir Hussain." Shabbir died in 2012, while Sarfaraz and another accused, Mohammed Ayyub Qureshi, went absconding

Keshav Kumar said that because of forensic evidence, all the accused were sentenced to three years of imprisonment and were ordered to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 each, in October 2008.

 Deputy superintendent of police (DSP), ATS, Ramesh Faldu said that based on a tip-off, teams had been sent to Allahabad and Agra. "Qureshi has been handed over to CID crime for further questioning," Faldu said.

Kingpins got Rs 50 lakh per dead animal

CID crime learnt during investigation that each dead lion fetched Rs 50 lakh in the international market. "Circuslal of Madhya Pradesh, who used to finance the poachers, made Rs 2.5 lakh on every poached lion," Keshav Kumar said.

Tiger scarcity led gang to Junagadh

CID crime said that rampant poaching has reduced tiger numbers in North India. This scarcity led the gang to Junagadh. "Once skinned, it is hard to differentiate between a lion and tiger carcass without DNA testing," Keshav Kumar said. "The accused took advantage of that."

Lion translocation: Contempt petition filed in SC

05/10/2017
Lion translocation: Contempt petition filed in SC
THE TIMES OF INDIA
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/lion-translocation-contempt-petition-filed-in-sc/articleshow/60946915.cms

AHMEDABAD: Ajay Dubey, a wildlife activists from Madhya Pradesh, has filed a contempt petition in the Supreme Courtdemanding action against the government of India and the Gujarat government for not implementing the apex court order of April 2013 directing translocation of lions to Kuno Palpur from Sasan Gir.

The petition was taken up for hearing on Wednesday. "We had mentioned in the court today, and the court after hearing the counsel has decided to hold a detailed hearing on the petition in November. The apex court has thus listed the matter in November," said Varun K Chopra, advocate appearing for the petitioners in the Supreme Court.

The petitioner has highlighted the wilful non-compliance of the apex court order of April 15, 2013. The said order directed the respondents to constitute an expert committee to oversee and ensure re-introduction of Asiatic lions from Gir forest to Kuno Palpur. The respondents have not taken any action to implement the directions of the court and have instead raised technical objections challenging the very rationale of the directions, the petitioner submitted.

The petitioner submitted that the government of Gujarat through principal chief conservator of forests (Wildlife) & chief wildlife warden raised several contentions that were already dealt by the apex court in its April 2013 order. The petitioner submitted that Gujarat has contended that for translocation of lions to take place it must first be proved that Kuno is a suitable habitat in accordance with the IUCN guidelines. The petitioner submitted that a survey conducted by the Research Advisory Committee of Wildlife institute of India in 1995, Kuno Wildlife was found to be the most suitable site for reintroduction in establishing a free ranging population of Asiatic lions.

The petitioner submitted that Gujarat has in the letter raised a contention that prey density at Kuno is not adequate. The Supreme Court in its order has stated that several prey density surveys have been conducted by various experts, WII and the Government of Madhya Pradesh, including in 2004-2005, 2008 and 2012 surveys and the density was more than the existing prey base in Gir.

The government of Gujarat in a letter to the expert committee has contended that the presence of tigers in the occupied area at Kuno is one of the major obstacles for the translocation project. However according to Dr Asad Rehmani of Bombay Natural History Society, sporadic presence of tigers in Kuno is in no case detrimental to reintroduction of lions, the petitioner has submitted before the apex court.