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The Asiatic lion news archive - 2006
DATELINE: November 9, 2006
Habitat reduction, threat to Asiatic lion
New Delhi, Nov. 9 (PTI): The Asiatic lion may have survived poaching, but its population is fast dwindling due to habitat destruction and man-animal conflict.
"Currently, there are only two sub-species of lions, African and Asiatic. Asiatic lions evolved from African lions and are much lesser in number and most threatened," says Ravi Chellam of Wildlife Institute of India.
"Hunting is not the biggest threat to lions. Habitat destruction and man-animal conflict is. Unlike the tiger, lion's skin, bones and claws are not used in medicine," says Yash Chhaya, a Chicago-based wildlife activist.
Since the entire wild population of Asiatic lions is present in Gir, Gujarat, it is highly vulnerable to any kind of biological, climatic and man-made catastrophe that can wipe it out all at one stroke he says.
Another threat to lions in Gir is the possibility of any catastrophe that can threaten their survival. It could be a disease outbreak or an extensive forest fire or even an adverse political decision," says Chellam.
The current population of 370 lions is next to nothing. Asiatic lion, a species that once rambled and roared from Greece to central India, got its sprawling territory narrowed down to just Gir in Gujarat, rendering the name "Asiatic Lion" almost a misnomer.
"Lions need a large area with sufficient prey species, and once the antelope and other herbivorous animal population decline, the lion population also suffers," says Chhaya, noting inter-breeding of lions could also prove counter-productive in the long-run.
"Reduction in genetic diversity leaves individual animals more prone to disease. Negative genetic traits such as hip displacia are more likely to become active," says Chhaya.
Genetic diversity is importiant for animal and plant populations to survive in their free ranging states as they are exposed to a variety of environmental stresses including diseases.
Populations with higher levels of genetic diversity will be able to cope better with environmental changes and survive for longer periods of time, adds Chellam.
Wildlife experts are faced with another problem in their efforts to save the lion.
Three roads and a railway line criss-cross the sanctuary and temples within Gir Protected Forest attract thousands of pilgrims.
"Certain areas are over-grazed and this causes reduction in quality to the habitat. Livestock also poses risk of disease infection to the wildlife. There are occasional cases of poaching too," says Chellam on continuous human interference.
Meanwhile, as an effort to conserve the lion forest, authorities have come up with a proposal to shift a small number of lions from Gir to Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh. But, reportedly the unrelenting attitude of Gujarat government has thrown a spanner on the subject.
"The opposition is not to Kuno Wildlife sanctuary, but to translocating the lions from Gir to Kuno. In many ways conservation agencies and concerned governmental agencies have failed to communicate the need for this translocation and how this will benefit the long-term survival of free-ranging Asiatic lions,"says Chellam.
Talking about the kind of efforts to conserve the wild population in-situ Chellam says "there is an attempt to keep an eye on all human activities and also animal populations."
"Poaching and fire are being controlled and prevented. During the dry season water is provided for animals."
International agencies like World Bank and the Global Environment Facility along with various local non-governmental groups are also being involved with Gir, he says.
Source: The Hindu News
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/002200611091130.htm
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