Asiatic Lion Information Centre

The Asiatic lion news archive - 2007

Stories relating to the Asiatic lion and updates on the captive breeding programme from 2007.

DATELINE: March 5, 2007
Relocation of lions political decision in Gujarat

Poaching is rare in Gir, that houses the last remaining free-ranging Asiatic lions in India. The last time was in 2005, when two lions were killed and their claws ripped-out.

Most cases of unnatural deaths have been because of accidents or poisoning in retribution by villagers whose cattle had been killed by lions.

"We have pressed the dog squad and the mobile squad into action under the deputy conservator of forest of the region,"said Bharat Pathak, Gir conservator.

He said two people had been arrested for the incident at the boundary of the sanctuary. Sources revealed to TOI that the only part left behind of the lions by the poachers was their skin - a clear indication that it was a case of organised poaching.

Announcing a reward of Rs 50,000 for information while calling in police for help, the state forest department has got cracking but the political masters of the state did not seem to budge. "Relocation of the lion is a political decision in Gujarat not a scientific one,"said a senior state official. Modi has dug his heels on the issue saying Gir was an emblem of pride for Gujarat.

The Union government and experts at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, have suggested shifting some lions to Palpur (Kuno) Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh to avoid genetic in-breeding, which leaves the animals with a weaker immune system and susceptible to epidemics. Such epidemics have been recorded at closed parks in Africa.

Gir lions originate out of a small genetic line from the collection of the erstwhile Nawab of Junagadh. While Gujarat has done well in increasing the lion population in Gir, experts believe, coming from the same stock, even the increased numbers do not reduce the threat perception.

"The poaching threat only adds to the risk as this incident shows. One shouldn't put all the eggs in one basket," said Ravi Chellam, a renowned Asiatic lion expert.