The Asiatic lion news archive - 2000

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 2000.

DATELINE : March 7th 2000
89 Gir lions died in five years:

GANDHINAGAR: As many as 89 lions and their cubs have died due to various reasons, including old age and mishaps, in the Gir forests in last five years, according to forest minister Kanjibhai Patel.

In a written reply to Jasubhai Barad of the Congress, the minister said most of the lions died due to old age and also in the internal fighting among the wild animals in the Gir lion sanctuary in Junagadh district.

Some cubs died after falling in the wells inside the sanctuary, the minister said. There were 304 lions in the sanctuary as per last census conducted in 1995, he added.

He also said that the state had received over Rs 9 crore from the Centre for implementation of the schemes aimed at developing and preserving ecology in the sanctuary. Out of this, Rs 6.20 crore has been spent for the development of the protected areas of the sanctuary and towards literacy programmes for the people living in the villages situated in the sanctuary.

The Centre had sanctioned Rs 2.42 crore in 1998-99 and Rs 6.89 crore in 1999-2000 for the said projects.

Source : The Times News Service.