Published: Thursday, May 17, 2012, 16:53 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA
The problem of man-animal conflict is getting worse by the day in
Saurashtra where the Asiatic Lions are thriving in their last abode in
Gir forest.
Early on Wednesday, a pride of six lions, including cubs, attacked a
man and his livestock in his house in Umed village near Una taluka in
Junagadh district.
The man, Amba Donga, sustained wounds in his leg while one of his cows died due to injuries sustained when the cubs attacked.
Forest
officers claim that the lions would have ventured out in search of
prey. Livestock is considered easy prey for the wild beast.
Besides,
orchards surrounding the deciduous forest also provide cool environment
for them and they are known to frequent the area in summers.
While
Donga was rushed to hospital, forest officials conceded that it was
issue of conflict. Deputy conservator of forest at Gir national park,
Anshuman Sharma said that they are devising strategies to tackle the
lion menace in the village and safeguard people and their livestock.
Of
late, they had noticed that the wild cats were freely roaming in the
area and creating fear amongst the residents. Activists working towards
lion conservation assert that the wild cats are reclaiming their
centuries-old
territory.
"Lions have reached upto Gondal near
Rajkot, Mahuva in Bhavnagar, and coastal areas of Probandar. Some lions
have been brought back by forest department, but reclamation of their
territory is bound to happen as their population expands. The lion
census pegs the population at 411, but we estimate the population would
easily be close to 500," said Dinesh Goswami, an activist in Kodinar.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_6-lions-enter-a-house-in-junagadh-1-injured_1689991
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