RAJKOT: Is another epidemic, similar to canine distemper virus (CDV) that had left 23 Asiatic lions dead in 2018, stalking Gujarat’s pride again?
For the past two days, top forest officials of Gir sanctuaryand near-by ranges are huddled in the Jasadhar range of Gir (east) division, reportedly concerned over some serious infection that is possibly spreading. They are particularly worried about three forest ranges - Tulsishyam, Hadala and Jasadhar - where at least 10 lions have died since January.
Four have died in Tulsishyam-Khambha range, three in Jasadhar, two in Savarkundla and one in Hadala range. Of these, seven are lionesses, aged between five and 14 years, according to official data.
The forest department has rescued a pride of around seven lions including cubs from Dedan village in Tulsishyam range since Saturday. They have been shifted to Jasadhar animal care centre.
Officials, however, denied any possibility of a virus outbreak in the lion’s abode.
Tulsishyam range has maximum lions
When contacted, D T Vasavada, chief conservator of forest (wildlife circle), claimed that the pride of seven lions was rescued because one of the cubs was weak.
“We don’t know who is the cub’s mother, so it’s necessary to rescue the lioness for treatment,” said Vasavada, brushing aside possibility of CDV or a similar outbreak. “It’s a rumour. A similar rumour of CDV was spread a couple of months ago too when we had rescued a pride,” he claimed.
In fact, it is reliably learnt that some forest department staff working in the field had flagged the possibility of a virus outbreak among lions in Gir (east) to the senior forest officials around three weeks ago. But the warning went unheeded, and now, the department has woken up to the seriousness.
Interestingly, these three forest ranges are core areas of Gir sanctuary and relatively there is less human disturbance here. Also, Tulsishyam range has the highest number of lions in the entire Gir forest.
In October 2018 too, the forest department had initially denied any disease when lions in Dalkhaniya starting dying one after another. But ultimately, they conceded that CDV was the killer.
In the state Assembly last year, the government had conceded that of the 413 lions that died in Gir forest and other protected areas, 35% had died due to ‘illness.’
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/another-epidemic-stalking-gujarats-pride-once-again/articleshow/75260385.cms
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