Asiatic Lion Information Centre

The Asiatic lion news archive - 2006

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

DATELINE: July 29, 2006
Rains bode ill for Gir lions

Himanshu Kaushik
Times News Network

AHMEDABAD: Heavy rains in and around the Gir sanctuary on Saturday has led to major water-logging in the low-lying areas of the forest, leaving the Gir lions vulnerable to diseases.

Though no casualties have been reported so far, an alert has been sounded by the state forest department in the sanctuary. Heavy rains lashed Una, Talala and Bhayavadar areas, the catchment area of majority of rivers flowing in the Gir sanctuary. The situation has left wildlife experts concerned.

"Though lions are good swimmers and there is no threat of death by drowning, they will be vulnerable to diseases. For, mosquitoes and insects bred in the collected water tend to infect wounds on their bodies, cause maggots to form. This may lead to death," says GA Patel, former Gujarat chief conservator of forest and member of the Wildlife Board of India.

However, sources said the sanctuary, which has 359 lions, had witnessed the death of a lion last year when it was swept away by the flow of water after heavy rains lashed Gir.

While Una recorded nearly 23cm of rainfall in 12 hours till 4pm on Saturday, Talala recorded 32.5cm.

Officials in the state irrigation control room said an alert has also been sounded at the Shingoda and Drafad dams in the sanctuary. Sources said the gates of these dams may have to be opened if rains continued.

"The situation in Gir is under control and there has been no casualty. Despite witnessing a heavy downpour, there is no threat to life of any of the animals as they would move to higher altitudes," said principal chief conservator of forest Pradeep Khanna.