BASHIR PATHAN
Posted online: Thursday , November 01, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Thursday , November 01, 2007 at 02:00:26Print Email To Editor
Gandhinagar, October 31 Even as the Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Gujarat Government on a petition seeking steps taken in Gir forest to check largescale poaching and to fence open wells to save Asiatic lions, the state Forest department and Paschim Gujarat Vij Company have launched a joint operation to identify electrified fences being erected by farmers in this region.
With the financial support of some prominent corporate houses, the Forest department and other agencies have also intensified the work on constructing parapets around farm wells located in areas outside the Gir sanctuary to prevent the recurring incidents of Asiatic lions falling in open wells.
“The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the government, but we are yet to receive it. We have already asked our government lawyer Hemantika Vahi in Delhi to send a copy of the notice. As soon as the government obtains a copy of the notice, we will file our response to it,” said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Pradeep Khanna.
Responding to a petition filed in the SC following a recent incident in which three lions and two cubs were electrocuted in the Gir Sanctuary (East) division, the apex court has sought responses from the Centre as well as the Gujarat Government on what measures they were taking to save Asiatic lions from extinction.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Squads-to-identify-electrified-Gir-fences/234712/
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Supreme Court issues notice on death of lions.
J. Venkatesan
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and the Gujarat Government for a direction to investigate the cause of death of lions in Gir forest in Gujarat and to submit a report to the court.
A Bench of the Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran issued the notice on a Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Elephant G. Rajendran alleging that the lion population in Gir forest had dwindled over the year due to poaching and lack of adequate steps to protect them. The Bench appreciated the efforts of the petitioner (who himself argued) for espousing the cause of animals and sought reply from the Centre and Gujarat government on the petitioner’s allegations.
In his PIL, Mr. Rajendran said that as per the 2000 census there were 359 lions in Gir forest but the lion population had gradually dwindled. He said that in March three Asiatic lions were killed and the claws, skull and bones were removed by the poachers. This heinous incident had occurred 500 metres away from the Forest Office. It was stated that the bones were sold to China where they were used for preparing medicines. He alleged that the poachers had not been apprehended and no case had been registered.
He said that if effective steps were not taken then there was a possibility of further decrease of the lion population in the country. He sought a CBI probe into the killings and a direction to the respondents to take effective steps to protect the lions.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/01/stories/2007110161230700.htm
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Centre and the Gujarat Government for a direction to investigate the cause of death of lions in Gir forest in Gujarat and to submit a report to the court.
A Bench of the Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran issued the notice on a Public Interest Litigation petition filed by Elephant G. Rajendran alleging that the lion population in Gir forest had dwindled over the year due to poaching and lack of adequate steps to protect them. The Bench appreciated the efforts of the petitioner (who himself argued) for espousing the cause of animals and sought reply from the Centre and Gujarat government on the petitioner’s allegations.
In his PIL, Mr. Rajendran said that as per the 2000 census there were 359 lions in Gir forest but the lion population had gradually dwindled. He said that in March three Asiatic lions were killed and the claws, skull and bones were removed by the poachers. This heinous incident had occurred 500 metres away from the Forest Office. It was stated that the bones were sold to China where they were used for preparing medicines. He alleged that the poachers had not been apprehended and no case had been registered.
He said that if effective steps were not taken then there was a possibility of further decrease of the lion population in the country. He sought a CBI probe into the killings and a direction to the respondents to take effective steps to protect the lions.
Source: http://www.hindu.com/2007/11/01/stories/2007110161230700.htm
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Remains of 5 lions unearthed at Gir sanctuary.
New Delhi The remains of five Asiatic lions found buried in a private farm near the Gir Lion Sanctuary on Friday.
Forest officials say the lions, two of them cubs, were killed when they walked into an electrified fence put by the farmer.
Amreli Forest Officer J S Solanki says, “We monitor the pride regularly. We found the lions were missing, we were worried and searching intensely for them, our subordinate staff found them.”
Wildlife authorities are not treating this as a case of poaching. But the farmer, Durlabh Vadodarya, has been arrested and will be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for putting up the fence illegally.
If convicted, he could spend up to seven years in prison. Forest officials say they could have done little to prevent the deaths.
“It is our responsibility, but this is outiside our protected area? How far can we operate?,” Solanki adds.
The Gir forest is the only remaining habitat in the world for Asiatic lions. There were more than 350 lions at the park in 2005. But the Wildlife Protection Society of India says 32 have died just this year - deaths this critically endangered species can ill-afford.
Source:
Forest officials say the lions, two of them cubs, were killed when they walked into an electrified fence put by the farmer.
Amreli Forest Officer J S Solanki says, “We monitor the pride regularly. We found the lions were missing, we were worried and searching intensely for them, our subordinate staff found them.”
Wildlife authorities are not treating this as a case of poaching. But the farmer, Durlabh Vadodarya, has been arrested and will be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for putting up the fence illegally.
If convicted, he could spend up to seven years in prison. Forest officials say they could have done little to prevent the deaths.
“It is our responsibility, but this is outiside our protected area? How far can we operate?,” Solanki adds.
The Gir forest is the only remaining habitat in the world for Asiatic lions. There were more than 350 lions at the park in 2005. But the Wildlife Protection Society of India says 32 have died just this year - deaths this critically endangered species can ill-afford.
Source:
Remains of 5 lions unearthed at Gir sanctuary.
New Delhi The remains of five Asiatic lions found buried in a private farm near the Gir Lion Sanctuary on Friday.
Forest officials say the lions, two of them cubs, were killed when they walked into an electrified fence put by the farmer.
Amreli Forest Officer J S Solanki says, “We monitor the pride regularly. We found the lions were missing, we were worried and searching intensely for them, our subordinate staff found them.”
Wildlife authorities are not treating this as a case of poaching. But the farmer, Durlabh Vadodarya, has been arrested and will be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for putting up the fence illegally.
If convicted, he could spend up to seven years in prison. Forest officials say they could have done little to prevent the deaths.
“It is our responsibility, but this is outiside our protected area? How far can we operate?,” Solanki adds.
The Gir forest is the only remaining habitat in the world for Asiatic lions. There were more than 350 lions at the park in 2005. But the Wildlife Protection Society of India says 32 have died just this year - deaths this critically endangered species can ill-afford.
Source: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/remains-of-5-lions-unearthed-at-gir-sanctuary/50857-3.html
Forest officials say the lions, two of them cubs, were killed when they walked into an electrified fence put by the farmer.
Amreli Forest Officer J S Solanki says, “We monitor the pride regularly. We found the lions were missing, we were worried and searching intensely for them, our subordinate staff found them.”
Wildlife authorities are not treating this as a case of poaching. But the farmer, Durlabh Vadodarya, has been arrested and will be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act for putting up the fence illegally.
If convicted, he could spend up to seven years in prison. Forest officials say they could have done little to prevent the deaths.
“It is our responsibility, but this is outiside our protected area? How far can we operate?,” Solanki adds.
The Gir forest is the only remaining habitat in the world for Asiatic lions. There were more than 350 lions at the park in 2005. But the Wildlife Protection Society of India says 32 have died just this year - deaths this critically endangered species can ill-afford.
Source: http://www.ibnlive.com/news/remains-of-5-lions-unearthed-at-gir-sanctuary/50857-3.html
Two more big cats fall into well.
Sibte Hussaqin Bukhari
Posted online: Sunday , October 21, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Saturday , October 20, 2007 at 11:50:39Print Email To Editor
Junagadh, October 20 After the death of three lionesses and two lion cubs by electrocution, two more big cats have died in Gir. This time, they fell victim to open wells.
According to official reports, two cubs and a lion fell into a well in Gir (West) forest division. While one cub and the lion were rescued, the second cub died.
A leopard, too, died a few days ago after falling into a well under Gir (East) forest division.
According to Deputy Conservator of Forest (Gir West) B P Pati, a group of three lions — two cubs and a lion — was roaming in a revenue area and fell into an abandoned well on the outskirts of Madhavpur village in Talala taluka. The landowner, Purshottambhai who is a farmer, noticed the incident and informed the forest officials. But before any rescue could reach the spot, the lion, aged about nine, managed to come out of the well on its own. While the officials were rescuing a cub, the other died in the meantime.
In a separate incident, on the outskirts of Aamodra village near Una town, a leopard fell into an open well and died. According to officials, the incident took place about a week ago but it came to light only on Saturday. The well is located in an agricultural land owned by a farmer, Mansingh Solanki.
“The post-mortem was conducted on the spot. All 18 claws of the animal were found to be intact. However, the gender of the animal could not be ascertained, as the carcass recovered was badly decomposed. The animal was aged between five and six,” said an official.
Meanwhile, four people were arrested and produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) on Saturday evening in connection with the electrocution case of Dhari town.
Those arrested include Durlabhaji Vadodaria, his son Purshottam (owner of the agricultural land who had erected fences with electric current flowing through it), and two tractor owners Ravji Hirani and Bhala Parmar, who were involved in destroying the evidence. The four were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) at Dhari on Saturday evening.
Said Deputy Conservator of Forest J S Solanki: “The court has remanded them in our custody till October 23. They are all booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The maximum punishment liable for the offence is three to seven years of imprisonment and a fine Rs 25,000.”
Considering the seriousness of the incident, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Pradeep Khanna visited the incident site and chaired a meeting with forest officials. “To ensure the safety and security of the lions, we have decided to intensify a drive to check the agricultural fields where there is wired fencing. Besides, we have also informed the police and the electricity company to act against illegal power connections,” Khana said. “All possible steps are being taken to check such incidents. We have ordered a probe into the electrocution incident.”
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Two-more-big-cats-fall-into-well/230592/
Posted online: Sunday , October 21, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Saturday , October 20, 2007 at 11:50:39Print Email To Editor
Junagadh, October 20 After the death of three lionesses and two lion cubs by electrocution, two more big cats have died in Gir. This time, they fell victim to open wells.
According to official reports, two cubs and a lion fell into a well in Gir (West) forest division. While one cub and the lion were rescued, the second cub died.
A leopard, too, died a few days ago after falling into a well under Gir (East) forest division.
According to Deputy Conservator of Forest (Gir West) B P Pati, a group of three lions — two cubs and a lion — was roaming in a revenue area and fell into an abandoned well on the outskirts of Madhavpur village in Talala taluka. The landowner, Purshottambhai who is a farmer, noticed the incident and informed the forest officials. But before any rescue could reach the spot, the lion, aged about nine, managed to come out of the well on its own. While the officials were rescuing a cub, the other died in the meantime.
In a separate incident, on the outskirts of Aamodra village near Una town, a leopard fell into an open well and died. According to officials, the incident took place about a week ago but it came to light only on Saturday. The well is located in an agricultural land owned by a farmer, Mansingh Solanki.
“The post-mortem was conducted on the spot. All 18 claws of the animal were found to be intact. However, the gender of the animal could not be ascertained, as the carcass recovered was badly decomposed. The animal was aged between five and six,” said an official.
Meanwhile, four people were arrested and produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) on Saturday evening in connection with the electrocution case of Dhari town.
Those arrested include Durlabhaji Vadodaria, his son Purshottam (owner of the agricultural land who had erected fences with electric current flowing through it), and two tractor owners Ravji Hirani and Bhala Parmar, who were involved in destroying the evidence. The four were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate (First Class) at Dhari on Saturday evening.
Said Deputy Conservator of Forest J S Solanki: “The court has remanded them in our custody till October 23. They are all booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. The maximum punishment liable for the offence is three to seven years of imprisonment and a fine Rs 25,000.”
Considering the seriousness of the incident, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Pradeep Khanna visited the incident site and chaired a meeting with forest officials. “To ensure the safety and security of the lions, we have decided to intensify a drive to check the agricultural fields where there is wired fencing. Besides, we have also informed the police and the electricity company to act against illegal power connections,” Khana said. “All possible steps are being taken to check such incidents. We have ordered a probe into the electrocution incident.”
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Two-more-big-cats-fall-into-well/230592/
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Photograph of the Culprit and Lion Dead Body on Site.
Culpritn - Durlabhbhai Tapubhai Vadodaiya of Prempara Village, Dhari (Amreli)and Dead Body of Lions on his field.
Source: News Paper - Divyabhaskar Gujarati Daily, Rajkot Edition.
Modi had promised big not very long ago.
Express news service
Posted online: Saturday , October 20, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Saturday , October 20, 2007 at 02:17:11Print Email To Editor
Gandhinagar, October 19 “My government will not allow even a single Asiatic lion to die an unnatural death. And for this, the government has decided to set up the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society. Funds for this would be made available from the Rs 40-crore Project Lion package.”
So proclaimed Chief Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sasan Gir in April last when he went there to take stock of the situation arising out of the killing of eight lions. Now that 5 more big cats, including 3 lionesses and 2 cubs, were reported killed in Dhari taluka of Amreli district on Friday, no one knows the fate of the Rs 40-crore Project Lion package that had been announced by the CM about six months ago.
Not only this, the State Forest department had mooted a Rs 60 crore proposal over nine months ago, under which it envisaged to set up a gene pool to conserve the genetic diversity of Asiatic lions in Gir forest and its surrounding areas. It was Modi again who had, during a meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board, suggested setting up of such gene pools. Though the government has accepted this proposal in principle, the gene pool project is yet to take off.
“The Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society is very much in place. But, we have to have adequate funds to implement the Rs 40-crore Project Lion package. The Society has a provision to mobilise funds from its individual and institutional members, as well as from national and international agencies like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCNNR). We have still not been able to mobilise funds to implement the project,” concedes a senior Forest official.
The official told The Indian Express on Friday that it was not possible for his department to implement the Project Lion project without financial assistance from individuals or institutions or any other donor agencies. He also admitted that the funds constraint was delaying the implementation of the gene pool project. “We are pursuing this project, too, with all seriousness,” was all that he had to say.
Rattled by the poaching incidents in March-April last, the government had also announced the setting up of a high-powered committee headed by the Chief Secretary to suggest measures for the protection and conservation of Gir lions. But, the committee has not met yet to deliberate, among other things, the contentious issue of frequent poaching of Asiatic lions.
An autonomous body, the Society has been set up with the main objective of mobilising additional resources for conservation of lions and its associate flora and fauna in the Gir National Park and adjoining areas. The Society has a 16-member executive committee headed by the State Chief Wildlife Warden.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Modi-had-promised-big-not-very-long-ago/230434/
Posted online: Saturday , October 20, 2007 at 12:00:00
Updated: Saturday , October 20, 2007 at 02:17:11Print Email To Editor
Gandhinagar, October 19 “My government will not allow even a single Asiatic lion to die an unnatural death. And for this, the government has decided to set up the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society. Funds for this would be made available from the Rs 40-crore Project Lion package.”
So proclaimed Chief Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Sasan Gir in April last when he went there to take stock of the situation arising out of the killing of eight lions. Now that 5 more big cats, including 3 lionesses and 2 cubs, were reported killed in Dhari taluka of Amreli district on Friday, no one knows the fate of the Rs 40-crore Project Lion package that had been announced by the CM about six months ago.
Not only this, the State Forest department had mooted a Rs 60 crore proposal over nine months ago, under which it envisaged to set up a gene pool to conserve the genetic diversity of Asiatic lions in Gir forest and its surrounding areas. It was Modi again who had, during a meeting of the State Wildlife Advisory Board, suggested setting up of such gene pools. Though the government has accepted this proposal in principle, the gene pool project is yet to take off.
“The Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society is very much in place. But, we have to have adequate funds to implement the Rs 40-crore Project Lion package. The Society has a provision to mobilise funds from its individual and institutional members, as well as from national and international agencies like the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCNNR). We have still not been able to mobilise funds to implement the project,” concedes a senior Forest official.
The official told The Indian Express on Friday that it was not possible for his department to implement the Project Lion project without financial assistance from individuals or institutions or any other donor agencies. He also admitted that the funds constraint was delaying the implementation of the gene pool project. “We are pursuing this project, too, with all seriousness,” was all that he had to say.
Rattled by the poaching incidents in March-April last, the government had also announced the setting up of a high-powered committee headed by the Chief Secretary to suggest measures for the protection and conservation of Gir lions. But, the committee has not met yet to deliberate, among other things, the contentious issue of frequent poaching of Asiatic lions.
An autonomous body, the Society has been set up with the main objective of mobilising additional resources for conservation of lions and its associate flora and fauna in the Gir National Park and adjoining areas. The Society has a 16-member executive committee headed by the State Chief Wildlife Warden.
Source: http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Modi-had-promised-big-not-very-long-ago/230434/
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