AHMEDABAD: After the canine distemper virus ravaged the Dalkhaniya range in Dhari in 2018 — killing 29 lions — the state government announced that it will create the separate division of Shetrunji to cover the wandering lion population in Bhavnagar, Amreli, Gir-Somanth, and parts of Botad. The forest department on Monday carved out the separate division which will have the same powers as the forest division of Sasan Gir. The new division, with a dedicated staff of 400, will help officials offer better care to lions and their habitat. The division will be served by 104 new posts, including deputy conservator of forests, two assistant conservator of forests, and seven range forest officers.
A senior forest officer said that over the past two years, more than 2,300 wild animals have been rescued and the majority of them were from outside protected areas. Seven wildlife rescue centres are being set up —including in Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Junagadh, and Jamnagar districts.
A senior forest officer said that over the past two years, more than 2,300 wild animals have been rescued and the majority of them were from outside protected areas. Seven wildlife rescue centres are being set up —including in Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Junagadh, and Jamnagar districts.
The division will comprise seven ranges, including Rajula, Jafarabad, Liliya, Mahuva, Jesar, Palitana and Talaja. The officer said that with the appointment of 400 field officers, tracking the movement of lions and controlling illegal activities — such as lion shows — will become easy.
The official pointed out that the proposal to establish a new division was first moved when Bharat Pathak was the chief conservator of forests in Sasan. “He had sensed that the lion population was growing and to control human-animal conflicts it was necessary to have a second division in Shetrunji,” the official said. However, the proposal had been gathering dust since 2010.
Officials said that the new division will cater to the population equivalent to that handled by the Sasan division. A recent count had suggested that the lion population was 700. Gir and the protected sanctuary can accommodate only 350-odd lions. The remaining move across the unprotected areas of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir-Somnath, Rajkot, and Botad.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/new-forest-division-created-for-lions/articleshow/69732442.cms
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