AHMEDABAD:
The results of the study carried out by the forest department for
detection of possible presence of dangerous viruses have brought in much
relief to the department. The study which was primarily carried out in
10 lions revealed that there is no presence of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Pestes Des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPR).
This was carried out post an alarm raised by Dr Richard Kock of
Britain's Royal Veterinary College who was quoted as saying, "The lions
in India are a small vulnerable population and widespread infection
caused by such a virus can kill at least 40% of the lions in Gir." Dr
Kock stated that he planned to visit India in September to conduct tests
with the help of Wildlife Institute of India ( WII).
The bogey of a deadly virus that wiped out a significant number of wild
lions in the African Serengeti in mid-1990s was raised again in May
this year, ostensibly to support the proposal of transfer of Asiatic
lions from its only home in Gujarat to a new hostile habitat in Madhya
Pradesh.
TOI has found that the study, which was completed in 2012, was based on a sample taken from a lion carcass in 2006.
Gujarat Forest Department entrusted the job of screening the Asiatic lions for these viruses to Gujarat State Bio-Technology Mission (GSBTM) working under the department of science and technology, Government of Gujarat.
GSBTM report on Thursday revealed that both viruses - CDV and PPR -
were absent in the tissue samples of all the 10 Asiatic lions. The tests
were conducted on six males and four females. Out of these 10, seven
were from the wild and three were from captivity. The animal tissue
samples were collected as opportunistic collection from lions, thus the
sampling was quite random.
Chief wildlife warden, Gujarat, C N
Pandey said, "This investigation report further confirmed the
incorrectness of the May 16 report. The state forest department is not
only sensitive and vigilant about the issue, but has also acquired
capabilities of high-end scientific investigations with the help of
GSBTM, that will go a long way in the scientific management of lions in
the state."
Senior officials from the forest department said
that they are not taking the matter lightly and are fully aware that
Madhya Pradesh will raise this issue in the apex court and even before
the 12-member committee formed by the ministry of forest and environment
over translocation. "Hence, the state wanted to be ready with the test
report so that it could be produced in court whenever required. The
state government is also aware that the neighbouring state will try to
show as if every lion in Gir was suffering from PPR and each lion death
was caused by the virus," an official said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Lions-in-Gir-clear-virus-scan/articleshow/21414306.cms
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