AHMEDABAD:
The secret why lions have been flourishing in Gir has finally been
decoded. Wildlife experts have found that it is the generosity of
maldharis, who do not grudge the big cats preying on their cattle,
deserve to be given credit for the steady growth in population of the
Asiatic lions.
A study by YV Zala of Wildlife Institute
of India (WII) and his team says that the maldhari communities and
lions of Gir co-exist in a win-win situation. A major part of the lion
prey base is the livestock of maldharis while the community gains from
free access to forest resources.
The WII study, 'Living with
Lions: The Economics of Coexistence in the Gir Forests, India', done by
Kaushik Banerjee, Yadvendradev V Jhala, Kartikeya Chauhan and
Chittranjan V Dave reveals that Gir maldharis do not view lions as a
threat. There had been no attack by the big cats on humans in the past
two decades within the area covered in the study. Moreover, lions had
attacked and killed mainly unproductive cattle (such as bulls, ailing
calves, aged, and dying cattle) for food.
The study further
states that the average annual financial loss per household for
maldharis because of livestock lost to lions (after excluding
compensation) was minimal (Rs 2,038). But the free grazing rights and
the compensation at current rates were additional profits for maldhari
families living inside Gir. The profit is approximately equivalent to a
person's annual minimal wage for 213 man days.
The report
further states that the study had not taken into consideration the
additional benefits maldharis get by living inside Gir. These benefits
include collection of fuel wood and minor forest products, use of forest
topsoil mixed with dung sold as manure, free access to water, job
opportunities with the forest department and maintaining their social
customs.
The study reveals that the total revenue loss because
of hunting by lions came to Rs 3.56 lakh per 100 live stock (in cases
where government pays compensation. Where no compensation was paid, the
loss was Rs 6.19 lakh).
The study further states that a family
which had 100 heads of livestock annual made Rs 11.04 lakh per annum
because it lived with lions. This was only where compensation was paid
for livestock lost to the big cats. Where compensation was not paid, a
family made Rs 8.40 lakh per annum.
Zala and his team have
recommended that if removal of livestock is ever contemplated, it should
be done in a phased manner so the natural prey base of the lions can be
built up. However, removal of livestock was unlikely to be fully
compensated by any increase in wild ungulate biomass. With a
lion-focused conservation policy for Gir, maintaining livestock at the
current levels or lower stock density could also be considered as an
alternative management practice.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/the-co-existence-of-girs-lions-and-maldharis/articleshow/40918198.cms
No comments:
Post a Comment