The Asiatic lion news archive - 2006

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 2006.

DATELINE: MARCH 19, 2006
New sanctuary for lions to come up at Jesar
Anil Pathak

RAJKOT/GANDHINAGAR: In a major step, the state government has decided to set up a new lion sanctuary at Jesar hills in the Bhavnagar-Amreli forests to ensure better conservation of the Asiatic lions of Gir.

The new location is on the eastern side of Gir sanctuar y. A team of senior forest officials are in the process of demarcating 100 square km area in the forest range of Bhavnagar and Amreli bordering Mitiala area.

A small wildlife sanctuary was created in Mitiala in 2004 following increasing congestion of wild animals in Gir. At present, more than 50 lions have made Mitiala and its surrounding areas their home.

Once the new sanctuary comes up, it could provide a natural habitat to at least 100 lions. The Gir sanctuary area has over 359 lions and 999 panthers at present.

The state government decided on creating a new sanctuary after the alarming number of lion deaths - at least 100 in the last four years.

Plus, continuous pressure from the Central government to shift the lion sanctuary to Madhya Prade sh for better conservation spurred the state authorities into action.

When contacted, state chief conservation of forest (wildlife) Pradeep Khanna admitted that the proposed new sanctuary would provide more space to the lions who have started coming out of the sanctuary area in search of new natural habitat.

"We therefore decided to set up a new sanctuary for lions somewhere near Jesar." Khanna said that the flora and fauna surrounding Jesar forest area was ideal not only for lions but also the panthers of Gir.

The new abode of Asiatic lions will also reduce man-animal conflicts, a major reason for the deaths of 23 lions of Gir sanctuary.

"We are making all out efforts for better conservation of wildlife in Gir and the proposed new sanctuary was a major decision in that direction," he said.

At present, the lions live in over 1,500 square km area, which includes the Gir lion sanctuary set up in 1963 and the Gir national park and the small sanctuary of Mitiala. After including the new Jesar sanctuary, the area will go up to 1,600 square km.

Source: The Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1455643.cms