The Asiatic lion news archive - 2005

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

DATELINE: August 3, 2005
Greater Gir proposed to accommodate lion population increase; lion numbers increase to 359

The Gujarat State government is said to be giving final touches to its proposed Greater Gir project aimed at accommodating the increasing population of lions in and around Gir. An increase in the lion population in Gir (it was 327 according to the 2001 census), has resulted in their dispersal into pockets of forests around Gir like Mitiyana, Jesar, Hipavali, and Paniya.

Forests such as these have been identified for inclusion in Greater Gir, and the FD expects that an official ‘protected’ status will be accorded to the new project within six months. Work for creating the necessary infrastructure including construction of check dams and water holes has already started in these areas

The Chief Wildlife Warden of the state, Mr. Pradeep Khanna said that neither the FD nor the government was now keen on transporting lions outside the state and that the present project had been undertaken to ensure adequate space for the increasing population of the lions.

Figures released on the completion of the lion census that was conducted from April 24 - 26 reveals that the lion population in Gir has gone up to 359. Forest officials said that a scientific analysis of the figures was being done and final figure could vary by plus or minus 10.

As part of the procedure adopted for the census, the known region of lions was divided into 286 beats. The beats were grouped into 90 sub-zones, 26 zones and six regions. In the basic unit a beat guard assisted by two local labour canvassed in two phases of 24 hours each beginning on the morning of April 24. The sub zones were supervised by Range Forest Officers while zones were supervised by Deputy Conservators of Forests/Assistant Conservators of Forests and the regions by CFs.

68 lions were sighted outside the boundary of the protected area. 39 of these were found in the grasslands of Lilia, Savarkundala and Jesar. These grasslands are located around 40-60 km away from the main sanctuary and though, this is not the first time that lions have been sighted here, maximum breeding seems to have taken place here after the last census in 2001. There has also been an increase in the numbers at Girnar where, this time, 17 lions were spotted. Twelve lions were seen in coastal Junagadh.

Source:
‘Greater Gir for rising lion population mooted’, The Hindu, 12/04/05
RK Misra. ‘Asiatic lion population booms in Gir’, The Pioneer, 29/04/05.
Palak Nandi. ‘King looks beyond Gir’, The Indian Express, 02/05/05.