The Asiatic lion news archive - 2005

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 2005.

DATELINE: January 11, 2005
Lions party through the night in Amreli

RAJKOT: On Wednesday night, the residents of Virpur village in Amreli district were rudely awakened by a frightening invasion. Seven Asiatic lions had strayed into their village from the Gir sanctuary to prey on their livestock.

By dawn, the villagers, who had been helplessly watching the beastly assault from their homes, ventured out to count the carcasses — the village was strewn with the remains of 40-odd domestic animals.

Virpur resident Kanubhai Kothiya says, "Some seven lions killed 35 goats, four wild pigs and an ox. One or two lions stray into the village every week, but this was an army."

The invasion has raised pertinent questions about the proliferating population of wildcats, which has compelled them to extend their territories and stray into human habitat in search of food.

Virpur's residents claim is customary for villages in and around protected areas like Dhari, Mityana and Tulsishyam to entertain these hungry guests at night.

The people do not venture outside the village after sunset, and if they do, they only return the following day. Mansukh Bhura says, "It is impossible for farmers to tend the fields at night as a lion could be sitting right in the middle of the field." But this is a way of life here. As Bhura of Virpur describes it, "Lions are as visible here as stray dogs in cities".

Conservator of forests (CF), Junagadh, Bharat Pathak admits that the lions are straying out of the sanctuary. According to him, "In every census, we find them making new homes outside the sanctuary. The population of lions is increasing, hence we are surveying new areas."

Bhavnagar-Shretrunji range CF AK Mishra agrees and says, "With the increase in numbers, these lions are moving out to new areas, not just for food but in search of new homes."

Former principal chief conservator of forest Sanat Chavan is not surprised by the invasion. He recalls, "The 1953 census showed 250 lions in an area of 4000 sq km, the population decreased to 170 lions in 1968 in the same area, but the last census recorded 327 lions in just 1450 sq km."

Source: Times of India