Indian villagers honor presence of Asiatic lions, save them from extinction

Villagers do not blame lions for killing cattle or humans

by Ces Dimalanta
March 26, 2016 image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Asiatic-lions.jpg

(Screen grab from ‘Asiatic Lions of Sasan Gir, India’ video/ Contemporary Nomad via YouTube)

From being an endangered species to a pride roaming freely across 8,000 square miles of land in Gujarat, the Asiatic lions are now making a stronger comeback at the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Thanks to the Indian villagers who do not mind living with the wild mammals, the conservation of wildlife became one of the greatest success stories in the world.
Asiatic lions once roamed across the Middle East and northern India but their kind have been cut down to only about 20 by the early 20^th century due to the presence of hunters and poachers in the area. By 2005, they were declared as endangered species.
According to a report from Telegraph, Asiatic lions owe their survival to the Indian prince, the Gujarat Forest Department (GFD), and the support of local villagers who do not show fear towards the lions.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Asiatic-lions2.jpg

(Screen grab from ‘Sasan Gir -Gir National Park’/ Kathiyawadi Khamir via YouTube)

The villagers honor the presence of the animals and even mourn them when they die. Humans getting killed by lions do not stir up fear and resentment to their kind. Thus, even farm animals being eaten by lions is not an issue. People even rescue trapped lions, protect, and revere them.
British imperialists and Indian maharajas were reported to have shot India’s remaining lions, except for those residing in Gir, Junagarh as Saheb Sir Muhammad Rasul Khanji II declared Gir a protected area. He took care of the last lions as he himself struggled to find one for the Duke of Clarence to shoot in 1890.
Being succeeded by his son, Sir Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, the younger ruler also banned all shooting at the protected area of Gir to ensure the lions’ survival.
In 1965, the Gir sanctuary was established with about 170 lions.
The GFD has also invested in conserving the specie, even imposing a 20 kilometer-per-hour speed limit on trains that pass through routes that are visited by lions.

image: http://www.mb.com.ph/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Asiatic-lions3.jpg

(Screen grab from ‘Sasan Gir -Gir National Park’/ Kathiyawadi Khamir via YouTube)

Rangers, composed mostly of women, are also assisting in keeping the count of the beasts. They track the lions while only being armed with bamboo sticks. They have already brought about 100 lions who have been hurt in fights or traps to treatment centers.
Outside Junagarh, slaughter of animals is also prohibited by emperor Ashoka. Lions were welcomed in their territory to scare off boars, deers, and other animals that pester their crops.
Through the continuous efforts of the sanctuary, GFD, leaders, and local villagers, the Asiatic lions have now grown to over 520 in number and have started to explore neighboring lands which they have roamed years before.

Read more at http://www.mb.com.ph/indian-villagers-honor-presence-of-asiatic-lions-save-them-from-extinction/#pcqTBDTAF6bFs2CV.99

Fire breaks out in revenue area near forest in Amreli

TNN | Mar 27, 2016, 10.31 AM IST
Rajkot: A major forest fire broke out in Junasavar village in Liliya taluka of Amreli on Friday evening.

Though the fire was in the forest on revenue land of the village that adjoins the Gir forest area, it spreading towards the forest region at a great speed.

According to forest officials, the fire had spread to Kankraj village about 15km from Junasavar on Saturday. They said that there were no reports of animal deaths due to the fire. Kankraj village is adjacent to Nadiyera which is part of the forest land. Fire fighters from Amreli and Liliya town have been pushed into service by the forest officials to control the fire that has spread to about 15km from its origin. Many ganda bavals and shrubs were gutted in fire.

District forest officer Mohan Ram said that the fire was under control in many parts of the area, however, work was not over yet. "Till now, we have no reports of animal or human casualties in the accident," Ram added. The region affected by fire is home to over 25 lions, said forest officials, but added that all lions were safe as they had spotted them at a safe location.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Fire-breaks-out-in-revenue-area-near-forest-in-Amreli/articleshow/51569170.cms

Officials suspect poisoning of lion found dead in Khamba

TNN | Mar 26, 2016, 10.01 AM IST
Rajkot: Another lion being found dead in a farm near Kodiya village of Khambha taluka of Amreli on Thursday has raised the questions about man-animal conflict in the abode of Asiatic lions as the forest officials suspect that the three-year-old sub-adult animal could have been poisoned. Though exact reason for the wild cat's death will be known only after a panel postmortem, the forest officials are not ruling out the possibility of poisoning.

A three-year-old lion was found dead in a farm owned by Bhupat Ramani in Kodiya village, which adjoins the Gir forests. According to forest officials they had spotted a pride of five lions roaming in the area on March 23. However, on March 24 morning they were informed that a body of a lion was found in Ramani's farm.


A forest official on condition on anonymity said that primary observation of the body suggested that the animal could have been poisoned as the eyes of the animal had rolled upwards. The body of the lion has been sent to Jasadhar range for postmortem.

On March 19, two lions had killed a 60-year-old Jinabhai Makwana near Ambardi village in Dhari Taluka of Amreli when he was asleep in an open farm there. While the two lions were caged on Wednesday in Dhari, forest officials suspect that the increase in attack by lions on humans could lead to situation where the wild cats could be poisoned by villagers to ensure their safety.

Forest officials said that this is the fifth lion death in about a week's time. One cub and a sub-adult lion were found dead in Amreli and Junagadh district, respectively, on Wednesday. The cub was four months old and was found dead in Ambaliyala village inside the Tulshishyam forest range in Amreli. Forest officials said that the lion cub had died following infighting between lions.

Another big cat, a two-and-half-year-old sub-adult lion, was found dead near a farm in Rajpara village of Visavadar taluka in Junagadh on Wednesday. Forest department officials said that the animal was suffering from an infection in its hind leg since many days. It seems to have died due to the infection, they added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Officials-suspect-poisoning-of-lion-found-dead-in-Khamba/articleshow/51558837.cms

Two man-eater lions captured in Gujarat, sent to Sasan Gir

Press Trust of India  |  Ahmedabad  March 23, 2016 Last Updated at 22:07 IST

 

Two lions, who had killed a person near Ambariya village in Amreli district last week, have been captured and sent to a separate enclosure at Sasan Gir, a forest department official said today.

"The two lions were caged on Monday from near the site of the incident," Assistant Conservator of Forest, N M Muni said.

"Both the lions were involved in killing the person. After being caged, they were sent to Sasan where they will be kept at an enclosure meant for man-eaters," he said.

Jinabhai Parmar, a cook working for labourers employed in an agricultural field, was dragged away by the lions when he was sleeping at a camp around 3 km away from the village on Sunday, Muni said.

Parmar's body parts were recovered from a shrub, around 100 metres from the camp, he added.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/two-man-eater-lions-captured-in-gujarat-sent-to-sasan-gir-116032301201_1.html

Lioness run over near Gir sanctuary

AHMEDABAD, March 23, 2016

Updated: March 23, 2016 01:18 IST

A lioness was run over by a speeding vehicle on Pipavav road, near Gir sanctuary, on Tuesday. The forest department has sent the body for post-mortem.

“It appears that the lioness was trying to cross the road,” a forest official told The Hindu.

Last year, two lions were killed on the railway tracks near Rajula.

“Rajula highway sees high traffic movement because of the Pipavav port and sometimes heavy vehicles run over animals on the road,” the official said.

“There are more than 174 lions in Amreli district outside the Gir national park,” he said.

The State government had, in reply to a question in the Assembly recently, revealed that 310 lions including cubs had died in the Gir forest in the last five years.

Unnatural deaths

According to the State’s Forest and Environment Minister Mangubhai Patel, 25 of them died an unnatural death.

According to the census conducted in 2015, the total number of lions in the State was 523, a jump from 411 in the 2010 census.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/lioness-run-over-near-gir-sanctuary/article8386287.ece

Lion kills labourer in Gujarat’s Amreli district

TWENTY FOUR hours after a man was allegedly mauled by an Asiatic lion in Ambardi village of Amreli district, forest trekkers were still trying to locate the alleged man eater in the Gir East divison area on Sunday.
The incident took place some three kilometres away from the proposed Ambardi lion safari park near Dhari town.

TWENTY FOUR hours after a man was allegedly mauled by an Asiatic lion in Ambardi village of Amreli district, forest trekkers were still trying to locate the alleged man eater in the Gir East divison area on Sunday.
Zeena Makwana (51) was found dead in the bushes near agricultural field of one Haresh Bambhaniya in Ambardi village of Dhari taluka of Amreli early on Saturday morning. According to Chalala police, Makwana, a native of Mota Ankadiya village of Amreli taluka was working as a cook for a group of labourers who were levelling the field of Bambhaniya. However, when a roar of lion woke them up, the three other labourers found Makwana missing from his bed. After a search, his head, an arm and a leg were found in bushes in adjoining filed, said police.

“The victim was sleeping on the ground while others were sleeping in charpoi. When they woke up at around 5 am on Saturdya following roars of lion, they found Makwana missing. When they followed a trail suggesting that somebody had been dragged, they found Makwana’s head and other body parts in the bushes,” assistant sub inspector of Chalala, Ramesh Chavda said.
Forest officers confirmed that a lion killed the labourer. “There were pug marks of a male lion near the place where body parts of the labourer were found. Though there is no concrete evidence, we believe the man was killed by a lion. The incident took place in revenue area but a lion pride lives in the area,” deputy conservator of forest (DCF) of Gir East divison, Kruppasamy told The Indian Express.
The incident took place some three kilometres away from the proposed Ambardi lion safari park near Dhari town.
“We have placed three cages to catch the animal. But no lion nor any leopard has been caught. Efforts are on to track the lion pride,” the DCF further said.
Lions scarcely attack human being unless teased or harassed. But leopards can kill human beings. However, forest officers suspect that the man might have been killed during an illegal lion show. ” People hold illegal lion shows in Ambardi and Dalkhaniya ranges and irritate animals. Lions generally don’t attack humans unless irritated. We suspect the incident in Ambardi could be one such,” said an officer on the condition of anonymity.
Incidentally, a farmer was allegedly killed by a lioness when he allegedly teased her and her two cubs in Mota Agariya village of Rajula taluka in Amreli district two years ago.
The DCF said that they had initiated the process of awarding compensation to the kin of the victim and were waiting for post-mortem report of Makwana.
Chalala police has registered a case of accidental death and further investigation is on.

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/lion-kills-labourer-in-gujarats-amreli-district/

Two tonnes of plastic removed from around Gir

TOI
Ahmedabad
Sat,19 Mar 2016

Summary: Within three hours, some 2,000 kg of plastic waste was collected from around the village. "On Friday, the wildlife division of Sasan Gir had organized a camp for 250 people, including NGO workers, college students local villagers, guides, drivers and forest staff.Ram Ratan Nala DCF of wildlife division Sasan Gir said participants were divided in 13 teams to collect plastic waste. Further, drivers and guides were instructed to collect any plastic bags they saw on their route," said a senior officer. "We will first clean the area and then will talk to traders and persuade them to end the use of plastic. In the last stage, we will persuade tourists not to leave plastic anywhere in the area.

Ahmedabad: Around 20 tractorloads of plastic waste, some two tonnes, was recovered from the periphery of Sasan Gir as part of a move to free the last abode of the Asiatic lion from plastic.The forest department, as part of celebrations of the 50th year of the sanctuary, has taken up a drive to make the sanctuary and its periphery free of plastic. The sanctuary turned 50 on September 18 last year.A P Singh, chief conservator of forests says that apart from removing plastic from the periphery, the forest department is going to propose a complete ban on the use of plastic in Sasan and nearby areas. "We will first clean the area and then will talk to traders and persuade them to end the use of plastic.

In the last stage, we will persuade tourists not to leave plastic anywhere in the area."On Friday, the wildlife division of Sasan Gir had organized a camp for 250 people, including NGO workers, college students local villagers, guides, drivers and forest staff.Ram Ratan Nala DCF of wildlife division Sasan Gir said participants were divided in 13 teams to collect plastic waste. Within three hours, some 2,000 kg of plastic waste was collected from around the village."Senior officials of the department said the sanctuary has already been made plastic-free. The department in 2014 made it mandatory for all the tourist vehicles entering the sanctuary, to have a dustbin."It was the responsibility of the guide and the driver to ensure that tourists did not litter inside the sanctuary.


Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Two-tonnes-of-plastic-removed-from-around-Gir/articleshow/51466256.cms

26-year-old lion 'Raja' dies in Raipur's Nandan Van zoo

The 26-year-old lion popularly known as 'Raja' was given a tearful adieu by the zoo authorities.Ishita Mishra | TNN | Mar 18, 2016, 07.59 PM IST

RAIPUR: Central India's oldest lion died at Nandan Ishita Mishra | TNN | Mar 18, 2016, 07.59 PM ISTVan zoo in Raipur on Friday. The twenty-six-year-old lion popularly known as 'Raja' was given a tearful adieu by the zoo authorities who claimed him to be one of the few lion in India who crossed 25 years of age.

Raja died after pro-long illness at 4:30-4:45am on Friday morning. He had reached the highest life expectancy for Asiatic lions and his death came as a shook for his caretakers and animal lovers who will miss his roar from now onwards. He was brought to Nandan Van from a circus in 1996 when he was 6 plus years of age.

"Raja's last movement was spotted on Thursday night when he changed his place in his cage. The guard saw him dead during wee hours in the morning. The zoo's oldest occupant's rites was attended by the entire staff. His body was garlanded by roses and cremated," informed Jai Kishore Jadiya, senior vet at Nandan Van zoo.

Raja remained in Nandan Van for two decades and was one of the favourite animals of the zoo staff and visitors. The lion was sick since long and some modifications his in diet were done to keep him in good shape.

"Because of his age, there are digestive disturbances and arthritis troubles that we have taken care of regularly. He was not having food so we gave him chicken last night but he didn't eat that too. The post-mortem also revealed that Raja's vital organs had failed due to illness. He was the only animal to have spent two decades in the zoo," said Jadiya adding that Raja was the oldest lion in Central India.

"India's oldest lion was Raja who lived till 30 years in rescue centre in Bandhavgarh. Another lion named Badshah too lived till 28 years in Jaipur zoo and died in 2014,"said Akansha Chaudhary, deputy conservator forest and wildlife Jaipur.

Known for his roar and frequent appearances out of cage, Raja was one of the eight lions in Nandan Van zoo. Presently, the zoo is home of seven lions, four males and three females.

Top Comment

Rest in peace, and reborn in any forest for a free life...NEERU SHARMA

"Unlike tigers and lions, he had the tendency of appearing before the visitors. He was favourite among the caretakers also as he had never made any attempt to hit anyone," said a zoo staff.

The average life span of a feline bred in captivity rarely exceeds 18 to 20 years and in the wild it is between 12 to 16 years.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/26-year-old-lion-Raja-dies-in-Raipurs-Nandan-Van-zoo/articleshow/51460066.cms