Gujarat lost 204 lions in 2 years
Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Feb 23, 2019, 04:42 IST
Representative imageAHMEDABAD: Gujarat has lost 204 lions in two years, the government told the state assembly on Friday. In reply to a question, the government said the figure included 94 cubs. In all, 34 lions were lost to disease outbreaks, of which CDV and babesiosis were most deadly, having claimed 27 lives.
Forest minister Ganpat Vasava, replying to a question by Talala MLA Bhagabhai Barad about the number of lion and leopard deaths, said that 204 lions and 331 leopards died in 2017 and 2018.
Out of these, 177 lions died due to natural causes while 27 lions died of unnatural causes. Of the leopards, 86 died of unnatural reasons.
AJT Johnsingh, ex-dean of Wildlife Institute of India and Indian vertebrate ecologist, said that the lion deaths is alarming. “The figure is high considering the fact that majority births in Gujarat is due to in-breeding. This exposes lions to a high risk of disease outbreak. It is time Gujarat government expedited translocation of 20 lions to Kuno Palpur which is ready for the shift,” said Johnsingh. He warned that this is imperative to protect lions from a complete wipe-out in case of a major disease outbreak.
Vasava said that Gujarat is set to take a final call on shifting lions locally to Barda in Porbandar and an announcement will be made soon.
Lion expert and member of National Board for Wildlife H S Singh said the exact number of lions in Gujarat is not known. “If we consider 523 lions as per Lion Census 2015, 204 deaths in two years come to 20%, which is high. But if we consider 600, the death rate comes to 15%, which is acceptable," said Singh.
Principal chief conservator of forest A K Saxena said the rise in natural deaths can be attributed to outbreak of CDV and babesiosis infection.
Forest minister Ganpat Vasava, replying to a question by Talala MLA Bhagabhai Barad about the number of lion and leopard deaths, said that 204 lions and 331 leopards died in 2017 and 2018.
Out of these, 177 lions died due to natural causes while 27 lions died of unnatural causes. Of the leopards, 86 died of unnatural reasons.
AJT Johnsingh, ex-dean of Wildlife Institute of India and Indian vertebrate ecologist, said that the lion deaths is alarming. “The figure is high considering the fact that majority births in Gujarat is due to in-breeding. This exposes lions to a high risk of disease outbreak. It is time Gujarat government expedited translocation of 20 lions to Kuno Palpur which is ready for the shift,” said Johnsingh. He warned that this is imperative to protect lions from a complete wipe-out in case of a major disease outbreak.
Vasava said that Gujarat is set to take a final call on shifting lions locally to Barda in Porbandar and an announcement will be made soon.
Lion expert and member of National Board for Wildlife H S Singh said the exact number of lions in Gujarat is not known. “If we consider 523 lions as per Lion Census 2015, 204 deaths in two years come to 20%, which is high. But if we consider 600, the death rate comes to 15%, which is acceptable," said Singh.
Principal chief conservator of forest A K Saxena said the rise in natural deaths can be attributed to outbreak of CDV and babesiosis infection.
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