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: September 2, 2007
Cash reward for info on lion poaching

In a drastic step to check killing of lions in Gir sanctuary, the Gujarat government has decided to reward those informing about possible incident of poaching with a cash of Rs 2 lakh.

In case the wild cat is poached, those providing correct information about the whereabouts of the those involved, will be rewarded with Rs 50,000.

The move, officials say would also increase the participation of locals in curbing the poaching menace.

The government has also formed a corpus fund for the lion conservation. Three officers - additional chief secretary (wildlife), additional conservator of forest (wildlife) and additional conservator of forest, would be managing this fund.

The state government was forced to take despeate measure to save the lion after eight lions were poached in different parts of the sanctuary and also outside, earlier this year.

The government also announced a compensation of Rs three lakhs for the kith and kin of villagers who are killed in an encounter with the lions. This compensation would be over and above the compensation given from the chief minister relief funds.

Also, any person injured in saving the lions from the poachers would get a compensation of Rs one lakh for permanent disability and Rs 50,000 for partial disability.

The government has also admitted that such poaching incidents are on the rise as there was a increase in the demand of the lion’s body parts.

The Gir National park is spread in an area of 1412.42 sq. km with 54 Ness and 14 forest villages. There are nearly 300 villages situated on the periphery of the national park.

New check posts in the national park, some with close circuit televisions and night vision cameras to capture any suspicious movement in the jungle are also being made. These check posts would be situated in Jasadhar range, Tulsishyam Range, Dalkhaniya range, Jamwada range and Bamansa ranges.