Gujarat govt immune to virus alerts; two more lions perish

AHMEDABAD: Roars of a 26-member strong pride of lions have been almost silenced as two more Asiatic lions succumbed to the deadly infection of canine distemper virus (CDV) and tick-borne babesiosis in Dalkhaniya range in Amreli district.

Forest officials confirmed that 23 lions of this pride have perished in past 20 days flat leaving only three, who are virtually battling for life.



“Two more lions of the pride of 26 died on Monday. Of the report of 21 deaths, four lions were confirmed to have died of CDV while 17 succumbed to babesiosis protozoa infection carried by ticks found on most cattle and canines in the wild,” said Rajiv Gupta, additional chief secretary, forest and environment.

Forest dept was forewarned twice since 2011

Even as the tragedy unfolds, it has come to light that Gujarat’s forest department was forewarned twice since 2011 of the presence of the CDV in Gir lions. First, it was in September 2011, when the Centre for Animal Disease Research and Diagnosis (CADRAD), Bangalore, and Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI), Uttarakhand, analysed tissues from a 2007 Gir lion carcass and found presence of highly contagious peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV). This belongs to the same species of morbillivirus as the CDV. “Continuous serological and clinical surveillance of PPR should be carried out to know its prevalence, impact and possible role of different species in its transmission," the research advocated.

Two years later, this very study was quoted by CDV expert Dr Richard Kock of UK’s Royal Veterinary College, who then said, “The lions in India are a small vulnerable population and widespread infection with such a virus can kill at least 40% of Gir lions.”

Alarm bells were again sounded when four lions sent to Etawah in UP in 2014 for a lion safari died of CDV by 2016.

Lion experts say the government should not delay translocation of lions to MP now. “Do we need more evidence? More research? We have failed to hold the government accountable despite the very far-sighted SC judgement of April 2013 which ordered translocation of lions,” said Ravi Chellam, a lion expert and part of the 12-member Supreme Court committee on lion conservation. “The government of India and the state governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh should immediately act by translocating lions before it is too late".