Suchandana Gupta,TNN
|
Jul 30, 2014, 10.09 PM ISTBHOPAL:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi as chief minister of Gujarat would not
part with the state's Asiatic lions. And Madhya Pradesh has been seeking
the king of the jungle for its Palpur-Kuno National Park for the past
15 years.
Chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, however, is now
hopeful that as PM, Narendra Modi would not object to a second home for
the lions. On Wednesday, minister of forests Gauri Shankar Shejwar said
that the state has asked for Rs 59 crore from the Centre to make
Palpur-Kuno an appropriate home for Asiatic lions.
"It has been
recommended by experts that Asiatic lions need a second habitation just
in case a major epidemic breaks out in Gir. It is to ensure the safety
of the species. While we sent the proposal for funds to the Centre,
chief minister Chouhan has asked the forest department to invest its own
Rs 30 crore and start the rehabilitation of two villages that would get
displaced if lions come to the national park," the forest minister
said. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/MP-asks-Centre-for-Rs-59-crores-to-make-home-for-Gir-lions/articleshow/39312736.cms
Thursday, July 31, 2014
MP seeks Centre’s help to get Gir lions.
,
July 31, 2014 12:57 am
BHOPAL : The
State government has approached the union ministry of forests and
environment with a project to the tune of Rs 59 crore for relocation of
Asiatic Lion in Palanpur Kuno national forest reserve following
rejection of its request in this regard thrice by Gujarat government.
Forests minister Dr Gaurishankar Shejwar
said, he talked in this regard with union minister Prakash Javdekar in
his recent Delhi visit and requested the Centre’s intervention in
resolving the long pending issue.
Technical committee formed by national
tiger conservation authority (NTCA) suggested to shift some Asiatic Lion
from Gir National Park of Gujarat to protect the endangered species. MP
government submitted its request to relocate some lions in Kuno Park
but it was rejected at different times by Gujarat government.
The minister said “The State has
submitted a proposal of Rs 69 crore to the centre for relocating two
villages from the national park to increase its area.”
State government has already sanctioned
Rs 30 crore in current fiscal year in anticipation of the centre fund so
that relocation process could start immediately, the minister said.
Forests officials said relocation of two
villages from the national park would provide additional space and make
entire area of 600 square km. The Gujarat government earlier refused to
provide the lions on the ground that Kuno national park has not
required 500 square km area.
Shejwar said number of tigers in Panna
national park is around 28-30 and coming wild life census report would
be boost for the state government.
The minister said he talked with the
union government to hold a joint meeting of forests officials of MP and
Union ministry to resolve issues at single platform which he had agreed.
Shejwar said he had requested the union government to provide
relaxation in its rule to excavate sand stone from forests area for road
construction and other developmental works.
http://freepressjournal.in/mp-seeks-centres-help-to-get-gir-lions-2/
Why Is This Zoo Giving Acupuncture to a Lion?
Expand
An
11-year-old, 418 pound Asiatic lion named Lucifer who lives at a UK zoo
has a sore foot. He's been given acupuncture, despite the complete
inefficacy of the procedure.
According to The Independent,
Lucifer had a tumor removed from his foot. One of the wounds from his
surgery was having trouble healing. The zoo's apparent solution? In
part, dozens of needles placed into his leg.
Ms Grint, a specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, has previously only used acupuncture on dogs, with Lucifer her first cat patient."We are using acupuncture to decrease pain and improve blood flow to the site, helping the healing process," she said.She inserted needles at 1in (2.5cm) intervals around Lucifer's wound in a technique called "ringing the dragon".The needles remained in Lucifer's foot for around 15 minutes, while other experts examined the wound.Jo Reynard, veterinary associate at Paignton Zoo, said: "We're using gas anaesthesia and all the usual medical painkillers. The acupuncture is simply being used opportunistically, as an adjunct to conventional therapy in the hope that it might help the wound heal."
It's
good to know that the zoo isn't relying only on acupuncture, and is
also treating the lion, which, by the way, is classified as Endangered
by the IUCN, with empirical, science-based veterinary medicine. The
Paignton Zoo is an accredited member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
Speaking of which, here's what the great Science Based Medicine website has to say about acupuncture.
In layman's terms, acupuncture does not work – for anything.This has profound clinical, ethical, scientific, and practical implications. In my opinion humanity should not waste another penny, another moment, another patient – any further resources on this dead end. We should consider this a lesson learned, cut our losses, and move on.
It's
one thing for humans to make their own decisions about receiving
scientifically baseless therapies, but to subject non-human animals to
them strikes me as a rampant violation of every tenet of animal welfare.
Header image: Madhusudhan Nanjappa/Wikimedia Commons
http://animals.io9.com/why-is-this-zoo-giving-acupuncture-to-a-lion-1610445521/+riamisra
Gir sanctuary: 125 cases of human-animal conflict in two years Gandhinagar.
Express News Service | Gandhinagar | July 25, 2014 10:51 am
Summary
Over 125 incidents of human-animal conflict have been recorded
outside the forest areas in and around the Gir sanctuary, home to the
endangered Asiatic Lions, in last two years in which 14 people have been
killed.
“Two cases of human-animal conflict have happened within the forest area and 125 cases have happened outside the forests,” stated state Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava in a written reply to a question posed by MLA Jashu Barad about lion and leopard attacks in the Gujarat Assembly on Friday.
The minister also informed that about 117 people were injured in the conflicts recorded till May 31, 2014.
The state government has paid a total of Rs 21 lakh for the deaths and Rs 2.62 lakh for the injured during the said period.
In reply to another question, the minister stated that there are 411 Asiatic Lions in Gujarat as per the last census conducted in 2010. In the last two years till May 31, 2014 106 lions have died due to natural reasons, while an additional four died after falling in wells dotting the region.
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gir-sanctuary-125-cases-of-human-animal-conflict-in-two-years-gandhinagar/
Summary
The minister also informed that about 117 people were injured in the conflicts recorded till May 31, 2014.
“Two cases of human-animal conflict have happened within the forest area and 125 cases have happened outside the forests,” stated state Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava in a written reply to a question posed by MLA Jashu Barad about lion and leopard attacks in the Gujarat Assembly on Friday.
The minister also informed that about 117 people were injured in the conflicts recorded till May 31, 2014.
The state government has paid a total of Rs 21 lakh for the deaths and Rs 2.62 lakh for the injured during the said period.
In reply to another question, the minister stated that there are 411 Asiatic Lions in Gujarat as per the last census conducted in 2010. In the last two years till May 31, 2014 106 lions have died due to natural reasons, while an additional four died after falling in wells dotting the region.
http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gir-sanctuary-125-cases-of-human-animal-conflict-in-two-years-gandhinagar/
Devon lion receives acupuncture on sore foot
|
Posted: July 24, 2014
http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Devon-lion-receives-acupuncture-sore-foot/story-21754125-detail/story.html
Devon lion receives acupuncture on sore foot
A vet who normally performs acupuncture on dogs took on a larger patient – when she treated a lion with a sore foot in Devon.
Fearless Nicki Grint placed a series of needles around the hind paw of 11-year-old Asiatic lion Lucifer at Paignton Zoo.
Lucifer, who weighs almost 30 stone (190kg), previously had a tumour removed from the foot, with wound failing to heal properly.
Zoo animals are not commonly treated with acupuncture and Lucifer is the first at Paignton Zoo to undergo the procedure.
This is because animals must remain completely still throughout – meaning they need to be under general anaesthetic.
Ms Grint, a specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, has previously only used acupuncture on dogs, with Lucifer her first cat patient.
“We are using acupuncture to decrease pain and improve blood flow to the site, helping the healing process,” she said.
She inserted needles at 1in (2.5cm) intervals around Lucifer’s wound in a technique called “ringing the dragon”.
The needles remained in Lucifer’s foot for around 15 minutes, while other experts examined the wound.
Jo Reynard, veterinary associate at Paignton Zoo, said: “We’re using gas anaesthesia and all the usual medical painkillers. The acupuncture is simply being used opportunistically, as an adjunct to conventional therapy in the hope that it might help the wound heal.”
Lucifer was given his name because his number in the computerised Animal Record Keeping System is 666.
He recently arrived in Devon to join two females, mother and daughter Indu and Maliya, at the zoo.
Asiatic lions are classed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Fearless Nicki Grint placed a series of needles around the hind paw of 11-year-old Asiatic lion Lucifer at Paignton Zoo.
Lucifer, who weighs almost 30 stone (190kg), previously had a tumour removed from the foot, with wound failing to heal properly.
Zoo animals are not commonly treated with acupuncture and Lucifer is the first at Paignton Zoo to undergo the procedure.
This is because animals must remain completely still throughout – meaning they need to be under general anaesthetic.
Ms Grint, a specialist in veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia, has previously only used acupuncture on dogs, with Lucifer her first cat patient.
“We are using acupuncture to decrease pain and improve blood flow to the site, helping the healing process,” she said.
She inserted needles at 1in (2.5cm) intervals around Lucifer’s wound in a technique called “ringing the dragon”.
The needles remained in Lucifer’s foot for around 15 minutes, while other experts examined the wound.
Jo Reynard, veterinary associate at Paignton Zoo, said: “We’re using gas anaesthesia and all the usual medical painkillers. The acupuncture is simply being used opportunistically, as an adjunct to conventional therapy in the hope that it might help the wound heal.”
Lucifer was given his name because his number in the computerised Animal Record Keeping System is 666.
He recently arrived in Devon to join two females, mother and daughter Indu and Maliya, at the zoo.
Asiatic lions are classed as endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
238 lions died in Gir forest in five years, claims Gujarat Congress MLA.
Alleging carelessness in protecting Asiatic lions by the Gujarat State Forest Department, Congress MLA from Visavadar, Harshad Ribadiya claimed on Wednesday that 238 lions had died during the last five years.
During his speech on budgetary allocations to the Gujarat State Forest Department in the Gujarat Assembly today, Ribadiya claimed, "As per government figures, 411 lions live in the Gir forest. However, the census was carried out five years ago. During that period, almost 238 lions died. Thus, only 173 lions remain today. If you (forest department) do not take steps to protect lions, these 173 lions would also vanish within the next five years."
However, forest department officials said that natural deaths of lions take place as per their lifecycle of 15 years, and births of new cubs replace the old generation. So against the number of deaths, almost a similar number of births are also recorded in the forest, they said.
According to the MLA, the Gujarat state government alloted Rs 82.61 crore for protection of lions in its recent budget. "If you divide that amount with 173 lions, then it can be said that the government would spend Rs 47 lakh on each lion. But, what exactly did the forest department do? Are they going to feed lions so that they don't come outside the forest area in search of food?" asked Ribadiya, who alleged that lions are left to fend for themselves.
"Lions do not find any animals, such as Neelgai (blue bull) and wild boars inside the forest area. Thus, they encroach into nearby villages and kill our cattle. I urge you to take necessary steps," Ribadiya said to prove his point.
Earlier, on July 11, the Gujarat government had admitted in the House that 66 Asiatic lions died within the last one year in and around the Gir forest. Among these, 55 lions died a natural death and eight died in various other incidents, such as falling into open wells.
Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava also admitted that three lions died after being run over by trains in different areas of Amreli district.
http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-238-lions-died-in-gir-forest-in-five-years-claims-gujarat-congress-mla-2004809
The Quest to Save the World’s Second Rarest Cat
With fewer than 100 Asiatic cheetahs in Iran’s wilderness, the time is now to save this ecological and cultural wonder.
Iran‘s Asiatic cheetah’s alarming low numbers are pushing them closer to extinction. The Asiatic cheetah is one of the last two remaining critically endangered large cats in the country. The country has already lost the Asiatic lion and Caspian tiger to extinction.
The Three P‘s That are Killing Iran‘s Asiatic Cheetah
Cousin to the African cat, the Asiatic cheetah’s territory used to spread from the Red Sea to India. As reported in the Associated Press, in Iran, their numbers have dropped from an estimated 400 in the 1990s to 50-70 cheetahs today.
According to Panthera, an organization dedicated to wild cat conservation, there are three major threats to Iran’s Asiatic cheetahs:
1) Poaching: Even though this cheetah is a lot tamer than other carnivores, some shepherds believe that the cats are competition or are out to eat their livestock. Some of the cheetahs lose their lives to sheep dogs. Ironically, shepherds are given permission to graze their animal flocks in natural cheetah habitat, and the cats die.
Poaching has also fueled the exotic pet trade where cubs are taken and sold. As reported in The Guardian, the illegal pet trade is devastating cheetah populations across the globe. While traditional medicine used to account for most of the cheetah smuggling, today, exotic pets like cheetahs are feeding desires of power, status and wealth.
2) Prey: The Iranian Revolution of the late 1970s created a time of unregulated hunting of many of the Asiatic cheetah’s natural prey. While regulations were eventually set, the illegal overhunting of cheetah prey hasn’t stopped.
3) Place: The cats are losing their natural habitats to human development, grazing land for livestock and farmland. Natural occurrences like droughts are also hurting their numbers.
The cheetahs also have first-world problems. Like the endangered ocelots in the United States, Asiatic cheetahs are frequent victims of passing cars.
The UN Steps in
Iran can’t afford to lose another wild cat, and the United Nations has stepped in to help. The two-phase Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) was born out of this partnership.
Phase I: According to National Geographic, CACP appointed five areas that would act as cheetah safe-havens. From 2001 to 2008, the areas would also include cheetah guards with new materials to better defend the cats, e.g. vehicles and motorbikes.
CACP also promoted the cultural significance of the wild cat to the masses through educational initiatives. Before CACP, most Iranians weren’t aware that there were cheetahs in their country or that they were the wild cats’ main custodians.
Phase II: Phase II was launched in the summer of 2010 and it is expected to end in December 2016. The second wave of CACP is working towards creating better management of the protected areas by creating financial sustainability and filling in those financial gaps. Another goal is to get the local private sector involved in promoting conservation and creating environmentally-friendly opportunities for locals in protected areas to reduce poverty and sustain their livelihoods.
CACP seems to be on the right track. A few of the successes include: implementing better grazing laws, obtaining land and water rights in cheetah protected areas, increasing cheetah research and promoting the cats to the public, e.g. Cheetah Day.
Reasons to Save the Asiatic Cheetah
With numbers so low, it’s really a no-brainer as to why Iran and the world should step in to save the Asiatic cheetah.
Besides being the right thing to do, the Asiatic cheetah can also fuel ecotourism and create an additional revenue stream in the country. As Nature World News reports, the endangered status of the cats could lure more tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the rare cat.
Saving the Asiatic cheetah is also an internal matter of cultural solidarity. The Asiatic cheetah used to be reserved for Iranian royalty. Emperors and kings used them to hunt gazelles. Today, sport royalty recalls the spirit of the endangered wild cat when Iranian soccer players sported the cheetah on their 2014 World Cup jerseys.
The Asiatic cheetah shouldn’t be reserved for a select few. Iran and the world should get to enjoy the wild cats for a long time. Let’s hope that conservation efforts pay off.
Iran‘s Asiatic cheetah’s alarming low numbers are pushing them closer to extinction. The Asiatic cheetah is one of the last two remaining critically endangered large cats in the country. The country has already lost the Asiatic lion and Caspian tiger to extinction.
The Three P‘s That are Killing Iran‘s Asiatic Cheetah
Cousin to the African cat, the Asiatic cheetah’s territory used to spread from the Red Sea to India. As reported in the Associated Press, in Iran, their numbers have dropped from an estimated 400 in the 1990s to 50-70 cheetahs today.
According to Panthera, an organization dedicated to wild cat conservation, there are three major threats to Iran’s Asiatic cheetahs:
1) Poaching: Even though this cheetah is a lot tamer than other carnivores, some shepherds believe that the cats are competition or are out to eat their livestock. Some of the cheetahs lose their lives to sheep dogs. Ironically, shepherds are given permission to graze their animal flocks in natural cheetah habitat, and the cats die.
Poaching has also fueled the exotic pet trade where cubs are taken and sold. As reported in The Guardian, the illegal pet trade is devastating cheetah populations across the globe. While traditional medicine used to account for most of the cheetah smuggling, today, exotic pets like cheetahs are feeding desires of power, status and wealth.
2) Prey: The Iranian Revolution of the late 1970s created a time of unregulated hunting of many of the Asiatic cheetah’s natural prey. While regulations were eventually set, the illegal overhunting of cheetah prey hasn’t stopped.
3) Place: The cats are losing their natural habitats to human development, grazing land for livestock and farmland. Natural occurrences like droughts are also hurting their numbers.
The cheetahs also have first-world problems. Like the endangered ocelots in the United States, Asiatic cheetahs are frequent victims of passing cars.
The UN Steps in
Iran can’t afford to lose another wild cat, and the United Nations has stepped in to help. The two-phase Conservation of the Asiatic Cheetah Project (CACP) was born out of this partnership.
Phase I: According to National Geographic, CACP appointed five areas that would act as cheetah safe-havens. From 2001 to 2008, the areas would also include cheetah guards with new materials to better defend the cats, e.g. vehicles and motorbikes.
CACP also promoted the cultural significance of the wild cat to the masses through educational initiatives. Before CACP, most Iranians weren’t aware that there were cheetahs in their country or that they were the wild cats’ main custodians.
Phase II: Phase II was launched in the summer of 2010 and it is expected to end in December 2016. The second wave of CACP is working towards creating better management of the protected areas by creating financial sustainability and filling in those financial gaps. Another goal is to get the local private sector involved in promoting conservation and creating environmentally-friendly opportunities for locals in protected areas to reduce poverty and sustain their livelihoods.
CACP seems to be on the right track. A few of the successes include: implementing better grazing laws, obtaining land and water rights in cheetah protected areas, increasing cheetah research and promoting the cats to the public, e.g. Cheetah Day.
Reasons to Save the Asiatic Cheetah
With numbers so low, it’s really a no-brainer as to why Iran and the world should step in to save the Asiatic cheetah.
Besides being the right thing to do, the Asiatic cheetah can also fuel ecotourism and create an additional revenue stream in the country. As Nature World News reports, the endangered status of the cats could lure more tourists eager to catch a glimpse of the rare cat.
Saving the Asiatic cheetah is also an internal matter of cultural solidarity. The Asiatic cheetah used to be reserved for Iranian royalty. Emperors and kings used them to hunt gazelles. Today, sport royalty recalls the spirit of the endangered wild cat when Iranian soccer players sported the cheetah on their 2014 World Cup jerseys.
The Asiatic cheetah shouldn’t be reserved for a select few. Iran and the world should get to enjoy the wild cats for a long time. Let’s hope that conservation efforts pay off.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/causes/the-quest-to-save-the-worlds-second-rarest-cat.html#ixzz393XHOq1g
Sanctuary or Killing Fields? Four Asiatic Lions Died on Rail Tracks in India's Gir Reserve This Year.
-
July 22, 2014 12:57 BST
Unlike the African lion, there are only around 411 Asiatic lions left. Most are found in the Indian state of Gujarat.Reuters
Indian Minister of State for Railways, Manoj Sinha, said that measures like restricting the speed of trains to 30 km per hour, cautious driving in the forest area and restricting train movements during night were some steps taken to protect the animals.
The railways had increased co-ordination with the forest department to inform railway locomotive drives about movements of lions in these areas, he said.
The deaths come as worrying news for the state government, which is fighting to retain its lions in the face of national plans to translocate them from Gir in Gujarat to Kuno Palpur sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
The latest census puts the number at 411, up from 359 in 2005.
But wildlife experts believe the lions have outgrown the Gir forest, and a single epidemic or calamity could wipe out the entire population. This was why the translocation plan was made almost a decade ago.
Kuno was chosen because of its size -- 3000 sq km -- and diverse prey base. Wildlife studies have shown that the prey count in Kuno is higher than that at Gir, according to experts. Around 24 villages were relocated in Kuno at considerable expense to make way for the lions.
But a petition filed in the supreme court early this year has again delayed the process. The petitioner contended that the court had been misguided on the status of lions in the state.
While the 2000 International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) report had placed Asiatic Lions on the red list, describing them as critically endangered species, it has now moved out from the critically endangered list to the endangered list.
The IUCN report on the Asiatic Lions further noted how lion populations had not only stabilised but also extended beyond the Gir Forest across four regions of Gujarat.
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/sanctuary-killing-fields-four-asiatic-lions-died-rail-tracks-indias-gir-reserve-this-year-1457757
14 lion cubs born at Chhatbir after 15 years.
Manvir Saini, TNN | Jul 22, 2014, 07.18AM IST
CHANDIGARH: A six-year-old Asiatic lioness has delivered four cubs at the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, popularly known as Chhatbir, giving the authorities something to cheer or rather roar about after 15 years.
Abhay, a lion brought from a zoo in New Delhi on "breeding loan'' basis, has fathered the cubs. Heli, the lioness, and Abhay were introduced to each other on Valentine's Day this year.
Punjab chief wildlife warden Dhirendera Singh said the cubs were born on June 28 and have been kept with the mother. "Since there is zero human intervention in the enclosure, we do not even know how many of them are males," he added. Even as the cubs were active and healthy, the zoo has decided to keep them under observation of CCTV cameras and provide special care for three months. "They will remain with their mother for six months. This is the beginning of another golden era for the zoo. We are hopeful to see the lion safari regain its glory," he added. The zoo has three Asiatic lions, with 24-year-old Rocky the oldest in the safari, once having a pride of 14 lions. It was the main attraction since the zoo came into existence on April 13, 1977.
However, the breeding was not an easy job. Brought from Rajkot in 2012, Heli had suffered a serious illness and was hospitalized. Though veterinary doctors at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Agriculture Science University, Ludhiana, cautioned against breeding, a team of vets headed by Dr M P Singh carried out the programme. "We still recall as to how we used to put her on glucose drip and monitored the functioning of her organs. After she gained weight in February, we prepared the course of action for the breeding programme,'' Dr M P Singh said. Even now her health was being monitored.
The zoo had landed in controversy owing to experiments of inbreeding and cross-breeding of lionesses with African lions in the early 80s. As a result, the population touched 90 plus in late 90s but the big cats caught diseases that led to sudden deaths from 1999 to 2005. In1999, following the directions of the Central Zoo Authority of India, the zoo stopped the breeding programme.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/14-lion-cubs-born-at-Chhatbir-after-15-years/articleshow/38838033.cms
CHANDIGARH: A six-year-old Asiatic lioness has delivered four cubs at the Mahendra Chaudhary Zoological Park, popularly known as Chhatbir, giving the authorities something to cheer or rather roar about after 15 years.
Abhay, a lion brought from a zoo in New Delhi on "breeding loan'' basis, has fathered the cubs. Heli, the lioness, and Abhay were introduced to each other on Valentine's Day this year.
Punjab chief wildlife warden Dhirendera Singh said the cubs were born on June 28 and have been kept with the mother. "Since there is zero human intervention in the enclosure, we do not even know how many of them are males," he added. Even as the cubs were active and healthy, the zoo has decided to keep them under observation of CCTV cameras and provide special care for three months. "They will remain with their mother for six months. This is the beginning of another golden era for the zoo. We are hopeful to see the lion safari regain its glory," he added. The zoo has three Asiatic lions, with 24-year-old Rocky the oldest in the safari, once having a pride of 14 lions. It was the main attraction since the zoo came into existence on April 13, 1977.
However, the breeding was not an easy job. Brought from Rajkot in 2012, Heli had suffered a serious illness and was hospitalized. Though veterinary doctors at Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Agriculture Science University, Ludhiana, cautioned against breeding, a team of vets headed by Dr M P Singh carried out the programme. "We still recall as to how we used to put her on glucose drip and monitored the functioning of her organs. After she gained weight in February, we prepared the course of action for the breeding programme,'' Dr M P Singh said. Even now her health was being monitored.
The zoo had landed in controversy owing to experiments of inbreeding and cross-breeding of lionesses with African lions in the early 80s. As a result, the population touched 90 plus in late 90s but the big cats caught diseases that led to sudden deaths from 1999 to 2005. In1999, following the directions of the Central Zoo Authority of India, the zoo stopped the breeding programme.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/14-lion-cubs-born-at-Chhatbir-after-15-years/articleshow/38838033.cms
What's in a name: Gir names its lions in a unique way.
AHMEDABAD: Gabbar Singh was thrown out of its territory in Dhari last week after he killed two lion cubs. Gabbar, the lion, apparently did not like the cubs' interference when he was spending some intimate moments with their mother!
Gabbar, as the big cat was popularly known in the area, had become nomadic after it was driven out of its territory by another lion. It was now moving around in search of new territory where he could settle down after the humiliating defeat. It was named Gabbar as he had got into fights with 3-4 lions in a different territory before it killed the two cubs. Local villagers from Savarkundla phoned forest authorities to ensure that Gabbar was removed from their area.
The nomadic lion is not the only one to be identified by a unique name. Almost every pride is identified by a name. The forest officials, including the beat guards and trackers, have a tradition of giving interesting names to lions in Gir Sanctuary — Asia's only abode of lions. There is one Osama Bin Laden which is known for its fearsome demeanor and, of course, a Karan-Arjun — siblings who roam the forest together, always.
Earlier this year, a ceremony was held to name five cubs born to Laxmi, a lioness. "Many feel that the lions should not be named but the beat guards and trackers who are associated closely with the movement of the big cats, feel that naming them helps develop a certain intimacy with the lions and makes them feel that the animals are part of their own family," said Anshuman Sharma, deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Dhari range.
He said that the lions are also named according to their behavior. In Dhari range, there is an old lion which is named Bhagat (priest) because it has never hurt anyone nor even tried to capture territory. He is satisfied in his area and hence the trackers have named him Bhagat.
Similar feelings were echoed by DCF (Gir west), Kasuladev Ramesh, who said that an old lion which lives in the tourism zone is known as Mullah. He is so named because of his priest-like behavior. It hunts for food but it has never attacked any other lion or cubs.
Very frequently, a lion gets is name because of a particular physical condition. For example, 'Bandi' — she had lost her tail — was a famous lioness in the tourism zone. She was always identified by the beat guards as Bandi. Another one in Dhari was known as Langado because it limped.
Karan-Arjun: Two brothers in Mahuva are identified by the villagers of the area as Karan-Arjun. The reason is that the two are always seen together and even hunt together. The two males follow each other closely. Also, in looks they resemble each other and, hence, the villagers have named them Karan-Arjun. A forest officer said that whenever they return to a village, the villagers say, "Mere Karan Arjun aa gaye", (our Karan Arjun have come).
Atankwadi or Osama bin Laden: The two names are popular for those lions who harm big cats not only of their own pride but even from nearby areas. In Mityala, a lion was known as Atankwadi as he would frequently visit others' territories and attack the cubs and the big cats of other prides. These 'terrorists' among lions even attack young adult males of their own group. No wonder, the beat guards have given them such names.
Collared: This lioness has a radio collar put around her neck by scientists for research purpose. People in Liliya village call her 'Collared'. The love for Collared is so strong that people had once launched an agitation to get her back when she was caught in Gondal town after she had wandered there while out on a long walk. The forest department decided to cage the lioness and keep her in Sakarbaugh Zoo. But the people of Liliya launched an agitation and wrote letters to the forest department, forcing the authorities to release the lioness and send her to Liliya.
Roopsundari and Gulab: These names have been given to two female cubs who are beautiful to look at. While Gulab is an attraction for tourists in Sasan, Roopsundari can be seen moving around in villages in Dhari and Savarkundla.
Tofani Kanudo: One often finds this phrase — it is used for naughty people — written on the back of vehicles in Amreli and Jungadh. In the coastal areas in Rajula, beat guards have named a cub as Tofani Kanudo because the cub is very naughty and goes missing often, forcing forest authorities to launch search missions for him.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Gir-Sanctuaryvillagers-from-Savarkundlatourism-zone/articleshow/38702082.cms
Project to provide second home to Gir lions gets stuck yet again.
BHOPAL : The proposal of relocation of Gujarat Lions to Palpur Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Chambal has stuck once again.
Forest minister Gaurishankar Shejwar,
replying to a question in the House on Thursday, said Supreme Court’s
technical committee, in its report, has pointed out that the area of the
sanctuary area was insufficient for lions. Shejwar told the House that a
plan to enhance sanctuary area has been prepared under which two
villages namely, Baghcha and Jahangarh would be included in sanctuary
area.
Shejwar said an amount of Rs 69 crore
would be spent on the sanctuary. He said presently the government would
spent Rs 30 crore and the same amount would be adjusted after getting
funds from the Centre.
Shejwar said 24 villages were relocated initially and the remaining 2 villages would be relocated soon.
MLA Satyapal Singh Sikarwar alleged that
as many as 1600 families have been relocated so far but none has been
provided basic amenities. Shejwar, in his reply said the displaced
families have been provided all facilities.
He said delay has been caused in the
matter as Gujarat government was reluctant to part with the lions and
the matter was being dealt with by the Supreme Court.
He further added that Lion project was
launched in 1996 and a sum of Rs 49.07 crore has been spent on it.
Shejwar also admitted that deadline of relocating Lions in Kuno could
not be given as the matter is in the Supreme Court.
http://freepressjournal.in/project-to-provide-second-home-to-gir-lions-gets-stuck-yet-again/
4 lion deaths on rail tracks.
Press Trust of India |
New Delhi
In the current year, there have been four deaths of lions or lion cubs upto June 2014 on railway line passing outside notified area of Gir Reserve Forest, Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha said in a written reply.
There was no death of lions in 2011 and 2013 and there was only one death of a lion in 2012.
He said metre gauge (MG) line from Visavadar to Talala passes through notified Gir Forest on which there are no incidences of death of lions.
Sinha said several measures have been taken for the MG track passing through Gir Forest which include speed of trains is restricted to 30 km per hour, no train operation during night and cautious drive in the forest area.
For broad gauge lines where incidents of lion deaths have occurred recently, he said measures like whistle boards have been provided at the locations advised by the Forest Department.
Information about the movement of lions is being shared by the Forest Department with the Railways and loco pilots are informed to be careful.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/google+alerts/147487230d359d74
July 18, 2014
Last Updated at 17:19 IST
Four lions including cubs have been killed on the rail tracks in Gir Forest till June this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.
In the current year, there have been four deaths of lions or lion cubs upto June 2014 on railway line passing outside notified area of Gir Reserve Forest, Minister of State for Railway Manoj Sinha said in a written reply.
There was no death of lions in 2011 and 2013 and there was only one death of a lion in 2012.
He said metre gauge (MG) line from Visavadar to Talala passes through notified Gir Forest on which there are no incidences of death of lions.
Sinha said several measures have been taken for the MG track passing through Gir Forest which include speed of trains is restricted to 30 km per hour, no train operation during night and cautious drive in the forest area.
For broad gauge lines where incidents of lion deaths have occurred recently, he said measures like whistle boards have been provided at the locations advised by the Forest Department.
Information about the movement of lions is being shared by the Forest Department with the Railways and loco pilots are informed to be careful.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/google+alerts/147487230d359d74
MP government chips in Rs 30 crore for lion conservation.
Shashikant Trivedi |
Bhopal
July 17, 2014
Last Updated at 20:57 IST
Much-awaited reintroduction of Asiatic lions from Gir forests of Gujarat to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary of Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh will take off again as state government has allocated Rs 30 crore from its own resources to expedite the project.
To ensure safeguards to the endangered species from natural disaster, epidemics and other anthropogenic factors “Reintroduction of Asiatic Lion project” was initiated by the Central government.
Currently, the population of the Asiatic lion is found only in Gir forests of Gujarat state.
Following, an objection of Gujarat government and a petition filed in Supreme Court the project remained standstill for sometime.
In a reply to a question of BJP MLA Satyapal Singh Sikarwar, state forest minister Gauri Shankar Shejwar informed the state assembly today that during a recent Wildlife Board meeting, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ensured a fund of Rs 30 crore for the project though an amount of Rs 69 crore is needed to expand the sanctuary and subsequently resettle and rehabilitate two more villages from it.
The minister further informed that a special committee had been constituted following a April 15, 2013 order of Supreme Court in this regard.
The committee, which had to approve a plan, in its latest report said that the existing area of the sanctuary needed to be expanded in order to introduce the lions and a fund of Rs 69 crore was required for the purpose.
The fund was awaited from Central government but state chief minister
had announced that state can invest to an extent of Rs 30 crore in
further expansion in a recent Wildlife Board meet. The amount of the
fund would be adjusted when Central government releases the fund,
Shejwar informed further.To ensure safeguards to the endangered species from natural disaster, epidemics and other anthropogenic factors “Reintroduction of Asiatic Lion project” was initiated by the Central government.
Currently, the population of the Asiatic lion is found only in Gir forests of Gujarat state.
Following, an objection of Gujarat government and a petition filed in Supreme Court the project remained standstill for sometime.
In a reply to a question of BJP MLA Satyapal Singh Sikarwar, state forest minister Gauri Shankar Shejwar informed the state assembly today that during a recent Wildlife Board meeting, chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has ensured a fund of Rs 30 crore for the project though an amount of Rs 69 crore is needed to expand the sanctuary and subsequently resettle and rehabilitate two more villages from it.
The minister further informed that a special committee had been constituted following a April 15, 2013 order of Supreme Court in this regard.
The committee, which had to approve a plan, in its latest report said that the existing area of the sanctuary needed to be expanded in order to introduce the lions and a fund of Rs 69 crore was required for the purpose.
The Kuno sanctuary area presently is 344 sq km and a buffer of 890 sq km around it thus the total area of the sanctuary is 12,34 sq km. But according to the minster it was not sufficient for reintroduction of the lions.
As many as 24 villages have been resettled from the sanctuary. Sikarwar also raised the issue of basic amenities. He alleged that 1,600 affected families are deprived of basic facilities. The minister however, said once the expansion and resettlement of two villages is complete and the fund from the Central government released, the Asiatic lions would be introduced into the sanctuary. However he did not give any time frame for process.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/mp-government-chips-in-rs-30-crore-for-lion-conservation-114071701075_1.html
66 lions died in Guj last year; not a single one poached: Govt.
Press Trust of India |
Gandhinagar
Gujarat government today informed the state Legislative Assembly that 66 Asiatic lions from the Gir wildlife sanctuary and the surrounding areas died in the last one year, though not a single death occurred due to poaching.
During the question hour today, Congress MLA Punja Vansh sought details about the deaths of these felines in the state.
In his written reply, state Forest and Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava said a total of 66 Asiatic lions died in the past one year in Junagadh, Amreli and Gir Somnath districts.
Out of these, 55 lions died natural deaths, the minister said adding while three were run over by speeding trains in Amreli district, eight others died in various incidents, like falling into open well.
"Not a single lion was poached last year," Vasava claimed.
Out of the 66 dead, 21 were adult males, while 16 were lionesses and 29 cubs, he informed.
As per the 2011 census, there were total 411 lions in the Gir forest. "Out of these, around 114 lions are also found in the surrounding areas of Gir forest due to increase in their population," Vasava said in his reply.
The Forest Minister also listed some steps taken by government to stop unnatural deaths of lions, like construction of fence along the of railway tracks where these lions are usually spotted; constructing underpasses beneath these tracks to facilitate the felines to go across; conducting training for loco-pilots and guards and putting signboards at such rail routes to avoid/ minimise accidents.
The Gir forest national park and wildlife sanctuary, also known as Sasan-Gir, is known as the "last abode" of Asiatic lions. The park is located in the north-east from Somnath, south-east of Junagadh and south west of Amreli.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/66-lions-died-in-guj-last-year-not-a-single-one-poached-govt-114071101255_1.html
July 11, 2014
Last Updated at 20:40 IST
Gujarat government today informed the state Legislative Assembly that 66 Asiatic lions from the Gir wildlife sanctuary and the surrounding areas died in the last one year, though not a single death occurred due to poaching.
During the question hour today, Congress MLA Punja Vansh sought details about the deaths of these felines in the state.
In his written reply, state Forest and Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava said a total of 66 Asiatic lions died in the past one year in Junagadh, Amreli and Gir Somnath districts.
Out of these, 55 lions died natural deaths, the minister said adding while three were run over by speeding trains in Amreli district, eight others died in various incidents, like falling into open well.
"Not a single lion was poached last year," Vasava claimed.
Out of the 66 dead, 21 were adult males, while 16 were lionesses and 29 cubs, he informed.
As per the 2011 census, there were total 411 lions in the Gir forest. "Out of these, around 114 lions are also found in the surrounding areas of Gir forest due to increase in their population," Vasava said in his reply.
The Forest Minister also listed some steps taken by government to stop unnatural deaths of lions, like construction of fence along the of railway tracks where these lions are usually spotted; constructing underpasses beneath these tracks to facilitate the felines to go across; conducting training for loco-pilots and guards and putting signboards at such rail routes to avoid/ minimise accidents.
The Gir forest national park and wildlife sanctuary, also known as Sasan-Gir, is known as the "last abode" of Asiatic lions. The park is located in the north-east from Somnath, south-east of Junagadh and south west of Amreli.
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/66-lions-died-in-guj-last-year-not-a-single-one-poached-govt-114071101255_1.html
2 lion cubs found dead near Rajula.
RAJKOT: Two lion cubs were found dead on the outskirts of Uchaiya village in Rajula taluka of Amreli on Monday.
"Preliminary report suggests that the cubs were about 15-day-old and they may have died 24 hours ago. It seems that two cubs were abandoned by their mother (lioness) and they died of hunger,'' veterinary doctor, Gir (East division) of Junagadh wildlife division, Hitesh Vamja said.
Sources said the lioness had given birth to two cubs about a fortnight ago near Uchaiya village. One of the cubs may have died 48 hours ago, while the second may have died 24 hours ago.
Forest officials are searching for the lioness that was not found in and around the area where cubs were found dead. The lion cubs can't hunt their prey themselves and are dependent on their mother for food.
Wildlife activists and nature lovers along with officials are concerned over the large number of lion deaths in the last five years. Sources said more 255 lions have died in the last five years in and around Gir wildlife sanctuary, the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world. According to the May 2010 census, there were 411 lions in the state. Experts say that many of the lions have died unnatural deaths.
A pride of 12 lions enters Amreli village.
RAJKOT: A pride of 12 lions entered Virpur (Gadhiya) village in Khambha taluka of Amreli district on Saturday night. They were seen roaming the streets of Virpur village which is located close to Gir forest in Gir east division.
'Lions regularly come to our village in search of prey especially domestic animals. However, this is first time that 12 lions were seen at a time roaming the village streets," a villager said.
Villagers here generally do not venture out on the streets in the night hours as lions and other wild animals are often found roaming the streets.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/City/Rajkot/A-pride-of-12-lions-enters-Amreli-village/articleshow/37944762.cms
Gujarat: 13 'unnatural' lion deaths within a year.
Press Trust of India
Jul 04, 2014 at 05:39pm IST
Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government on Friday admitted that 13 Asiatic lions died due to unnatural causes within last one year in and around the famous Gir Wildlife sanctuary in the state.
During the question-answer session on the fourth day of budget session in the Gujarat Assembly, Congress MLA Jasu Barad asked the government to provide details about unnatural deaths of lions in the districts of Junagadh, Amreli and Gir-Somnath within one year.
Barad also asked the government to provide causes of their deaths and action taken to prevent such cases in future. In his written reply, State Forest and Environment minister Ganpat Vasava said that a total of 13 Asiatic lions died within last one year in these three districts.
Among these, nine deaths were registered in Amreli, three in Junagadh
and one in Gir-Somnath. Out of nine deaths registered in Amreli region,
four lions died after being run over by trains, two died after they
fell in an open well and three lions died in road accidents.
In Junagadh, one lion died after falling in an open well and two died of electric shock. Similarly, one lion in Gir-Somnath region died of electrocution.
Vasava also listed some preventive measures taken by the government to stop such incidents. These measures include constructing fence on both sides of railway track where these lions are usually seen; constructing underpasses to allow movements on both sides of track; training for Loco pilots and guards, putting signboards on such railway routes etc.
As per the 2011 census, there are total 411 lions in the Gir forest, said Vasava while answering another question raised by Dhari MLA Nalin Kotadia. The next census will be carried out in 2015, he said.
Around 114 lions are also found in surrounding areas of Gir forest due to increase in their population, said Vasava in his written answer while replying to a query raised by Vejalpur MLA Kishorsinh Chauhan.
Chauhan wanted to know about lion habitats found outside Gir forest in Junagadh. In his answer, Vasava said lions are also found in Girnar, Matiyala and Paniya sanctuaries.
Apart from these sanctuaries, lions are also found in several parts of Gir-Somnath, Bhavnagar and Amreli districts, such as Una, Kodinar, Sutrapada, Savarkundla, Liliya and sea shore near Chhara. According to the minister, 114 lions were found to be living in these areas when last census was conducted.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/google+alerts/14701d8c8818b5f1
Jul 04, 2014 at 05:39pm IST
Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government on Friday admitted that 13 Asiatic lions died due to unnatural causes within last one year in and around the famous Gir Wildlife sanctuary in the state.
During the question-answer session on the fourth day of budget session in the Gujarat Assembly, Congress MLA Jasu Barad asked the government to provide details about unnatural deaths of lions in the districts of Junagadh, Amreli and Gir-Somnath within one year.
Barad also asked the government to provide causes of their deaths and action taken to prevent such cases in future. In his written reply, State Forest and Environment minister Ganpat Vasava said that a total of 13 Asiatic lions died within last one year in these three districts.
State Forest and Environment Minister said that a total of 13 Asiatic lions died within last one year in 3 districts.
In Junagadh, one lion died after falling in an open well and two died of electric shock. Similarly, one lion in Gir-Somnath region died of electrocution.
Vasava also listed some preventive measures taken by the government to stop such incidents. These measures include constructing fence on both sides of railway track where these lions are usually seen; constructing underpasses to allow movements on both sides of track; training for Loco pilots and guards, putting signboards on such railway routes etc.
As per the 2011 census, there are total 411 lions in the Gir forest, said Vasava while answering another question raised by Dhari MLA Nalin Kotadia. The next census will be carried out in 2015, he said.
Around 114 lions are also found in surrounding areas of Gir forest due to increase in their population, said Vasava in his written answer while replying to a query raised by Vejalpur MLA Kishorsinh Chauhan.
Chauhan wanted to know about lion habitats found outside Gir forest in Junagadh. In his answer, Vasava said lions are also found in Girnar, Matiyala and Paniya sanctuaries.
Apart from these sanctuaries, lions are also found in several parts of Gir-Somnath, Bhavnagar and Amreli districts, such as Una, Kodinar, Sutrapada, Savarkundla, Liliya and sea shore near Chhara. According to the minister, 114 lions were found to be living in these areas when last census was conducted.
https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/#search/google+alerts/14701d8c8818b5f1
he last resort.
Jun 29, 2014 :
In the dense forests of Gir in Gujarat live some of the most beautiful and treasured creatures of the animal kingdom — Asiatic lions. Ashis Dutta embarks on an adventure to spot the elusive king of the jungle...Shafiq raised his hand and beside him the driver slammed the brake pedal. Shafiq was my guide for the early morning safari in Gir forest in the Kathiawar peninsular of Gujarat. We were some half an hour into the jeep trail inside the jungle. He got off the jeep and followed the dirt trail like a sniffer.
“Look, pug marks,” he said. I leaned out from my seat to see. “Lioness, sir. With cubs, one, two… at least two cubs. Gone that way,” he pointed at 11 o’clock from us. The sun rose and put on flame the treetops and the hills of the arid deciduous teak forest, while the valleys and the gorges were still dull. Like two separate pictures joined horizontally. Crusts of dried teak leaves like pale cotton-candy covered the ground.
This jungle remains the only home of the Asiatic lion — the animal glorified by Greeks, Romans and Persians over millennia in their sculptures and folklore. Sometimes as griffin, with wings. Sometimes as Nemeus Lion in Greek mythology. Once lording over the vast landmass of Eurasia, from the Adriatic in the west to the Bay of Bengal in the east, this magnificent creature, always a symbol of nobility and strength, has been wiped off the face of the earth by mindless human greed. And in that crispy morning in the jungle of Gir, I needed favour of all the Greek and Roman gods to sight some of the only 360-odd left in the world.
Call of the wild
“I shall try my best to sight a lion sir,” Shafiq said, “but this is 730 square miles of jungle. No one can guarantee a sighting.” Then as an afterthought, added, “But sir, you will see plenty of spotted deer, blue bull, sambar, wild boar, four-horned antelope, which is found only in Gir, and may be flying fox and even a python. I saw a 15-feet-long python three days ago.”
“So, the lion is the most elusive one here?” I asked.
“No sir, it’s the leopard. Leopard sighting happens only once in some 15 safaris.” We drove deeper inside the forest. A flock of spotted deer looked up from grazing and then swung around and scampered off. Three peacocks were busy pecking their breakfast from the ground and did not bother to look up from their chore. Shafiq pointed deep inside the jungle. “See there, dark.”
I strained to see between hundreds of tree trunks. Beyond a distance everything looked dark. But far away, something seemed darker. “Looks like a thick girth of a tree,” I said.
Then all of a sudden that thick dark girth started moving… leisurely towards us, on four feet, veering now and then. It was now like an enlarged horse, more meaty and rounded. At one point the rays of the sun pierced through the canopy of the jungle and fell on its back, like a spotlight. An electric blue tinge sparkled from its skin.“The blue bull sir, locally called Nilgai,” said Shafiq.
“How did you spot the animal from so far away?” I asked.
Shafiq gave a tooth-full smile traversing from ear to ear. We moved on. Now and then he pointed at some bird, monkeys, a sambar.“That’s a crested hawk eagle.” “That’s the pygmy woodpecker.”“Crested swift, there.”
At one place the jeep-trail narrowed. We stopped to give right of way to three wild boars that hurtled down the slope from our left and disappeared beyond the ledge to the right.
An hour-and-a-half in the jungle and no sign of lion as yet beyond those pug marks. Our trail came out of the forest and into a savannah. Shafiq pointed at a cluster of huts huddled tightly.
“Huts of Maldharis, the jungle people,” he said.
“Are they traditional hunters?” I asked.
“No, Sir. They are strict vegetarians. They rear cattle and trade in milk and butter. “Aren’t their cattle hunted down by the lions?”
“Yes, they are. But that’s the law of the jungle.”
Our trail bended back into the jungle. Shafiq raised his hand and stopped the jeep.“What do we…” I was about to ask. “Shhh,” Shafiq silenced me, finger on his lips. He stepped out of the jeep and stalked slowly, like a cat, scanning the branches of the trees around. From the jeep, I followed his gaze. He was staring hard at the branches of a banyan tree. Moments passed in silence. Only the occasional rustle of the wind and the tweeting and chooing and kweeking of the birds kept the symphony on. For how long?
Eventually, Shafiq returned to the jeep, shaking his head in dejection. I wasn’t sure if I should still remain silent. Shafiq said, “A leopard around, somewhere. But I cannot spot.”
“Leopard?”
“Yes, I heard the deer call and the monkeys shriek. All other signs are there.”“But you were looking up.”
“The banyan tree is the leopard’s favourite perch.”
I scarily looked up the branches right above my head. Shafiq laughed.
“Sir, you will ride right below the nose of a leopard and will never get to know it’s up there.”
Fruits of patience
A chill crept through my spine. But Shafiq was enjoying my predicament. These guides are people from the surrounding villages who have grown up with the hills and the jungle and the animals. They have sharp eyes and ears and instincts that match that of the predator and the prey they co-inhabit with. Their natural skills are further honed by formal training as approved guides for the safaris. Shafiq apprehended my disappointment with the elusive lions and the leopard. “Two things the city-folks lack, Sir,” he said.
“What?” I asked.
“Patience.”
I nodded smilingly, little knowing that I would soon get a crash course on it. “What’s the other?” I asked.
“Gracefully accepting what is offered by nature.”
This time I did not smile. Only reflected. The calisthenics of philosophy that we may delve in while easing in our armchair, these simple people walk them through every day without pretence. The jungle is a great teacher.
At a bend of the trail our jeep stopped. Shafiq signalled me to keep quiet while, from his seat, he scanned the jungle to the right that sloped down. I followed his gaze but saw nothing beyond tan and light brown trunks of trees which got darker by the distance. Shafiq stretched up from his seat, his neck and shoulders taut, like a cat on a mission. He stared at a distance to our right with singular attention. Minutes passed. Be patient, be patient — I kept muttering the jungle mantra. After what seemed to be eternity, Shafiq whispered, “Keep your camera ready, Sir. We may be in luck.” He turned back towards the jungle again. Time kept trudging in its own leisurely pace in the jungle. Then suddenly Shafiq pointed with his fingers.
I did not see anything. Then something seemed to be moving. Oh, yes! Almost blended with the colour of dried teak leaves, a lioness was lumbering up the slope. Tagging with her were one… two… no, three cubs. I was about to click but Shafiq stopped me. There was another lioness hulking behind, and another.
The pride walked up some 30 feet from our jeep and squatted. The cubs jumped around, rolled over and played cuddly. Shafiq cleared me to click on my camera, but without the flash. Standing up from my seat I marvelled at the family saga of lions. A little one rolled belly up and the mother tickled with her mouth. The cub was ecstatic. I giggled. I became one of their family too.
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/416495/last-resort.html
Fascinating moments of Gir forest in pictures!
Bhaskar News
| Jun 26, 2014, 11:25AM IST
Rajkot/Ahmedabad: Influential photographers
from Indian state Gujarat are earning fame all around the world in the
field Photography. An enthusiastic photographer, Tapan Seth, captured
some of the most fascinating moments of animals at the Gir forest.
A software engineer by profession Tapan is extremely passionate about photography. He bought an expensive high resolution camera so that he can capture such beautiful picture and work on his skills.
He has been trained in photography from Surendranagar and here are some captivating photographs taken by this amateur photographer.
Image: Gir Forest
http://daily.bhaskar.com/article-hf/GUJ-AHD-have-a-look-at-9-most-captivating-pictures-of-gir-forest-4659691-PHO.html
Stop grass cutting in Gir, HC directs chief conservator.
AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat high court on Monday directed the chief conservator of forest to redress the issues of people residing near the Gir wildlife sanctuary.
In response to a PIL filed by Amreli-resident Nuruddin Chavda, the court has given four-week time to the foresters to deal with the issues like cutting of grass in the protected areas, which forces lions' prey base and subsequently big cats to move out of the sanctuary.
The petitioner raised several problems. Besides removal of grass, he also raised the issue of corruption, laxity on part of the forest department's staff and illegal encroachment in Karamdadi forest area of Dhari range.
Chavda submitted before the HC that the illegal cutting of grass from reserve forest area results in migration of animals that are prey base of lions. The forest officials do not stop this activity despite the knowledge that scarcity of grass forces other animals and resultantly the lions to come out of the protected area.
The petitioner has alleged corruption in construction of boundary wall. He claimed that there is deviation in implementation of the Sanctuary Park project due to the poor quality of construction of boundary walls.
The petitioner also highlighted a case of suspicious death of a lioness in forest area. The carcass was not disposed of for nearly three weeks. Despite complaints, no FSL reports were obtained by the forest department to ascertain reasons for the death.
Chavda has complained that the forest officials do not part with information even if it is repeatedly sought under the RTI Act. As they managed to keep their affairs secret from public knowledge, huge public money spent over this sanctuary goes to waste.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Stop-grass-cutting-in-Gir-HC-directs-chief-conservator/articleshow/37127841.cms
250 lions dead over past 5 years in Gujarat.
AHMEDABAD: Is the world's only abode of Asiatic lions in Gujarat under threat? The Gir wildlife sanctuary and its periphery have witnessed no less than 250 deaths of lions in the last five years. This has raised concerns over the safety of the big cats.
According to the May 2010 census, there are 411 lions in the state spread in the area of 10,000 sqkm. But according to 2013 statistics, lions are now spread in an area of 20,000 sqkm. Experts feel that the death of 250-odd lions is alarming. In 2012-13, the number of deaths was 48, which increased to 53 in 2013-14. Also, in the first three months, approximately 20 lions have died, including eight in accidents. Of these eight, six were run over by trains.
Experts feel that the increase in number of such cases is mainly in the category of unnatural death. This includes electrocution or falling in wells. Officials said that the death of 20-odd lions — over 40% — were because of unnatural deaths in the state.
Forest officials said "The death of 50-odd lions in the area is totally normal as the figures include that of the new born cubs where the survival rate was only 50%. Earlier, the maximum of two cubs were born to a lioness, but now the number has increased and it is on an average three to four cubs and hence the deaths are also more."
"There are high turnover rates (20%) in high density tiger populations that is lots of individual can die if lots are present. As long as the population shows a positive growth, individual deaths are not a cause of worry for the conservation of a species that has numbers over 150 individuals. Besides only deaths of prime age lions are of concern, in cubs 50% mortality is to be expected. Old lions will die by one cause or other, so when we have over 400 lions large number of deaths is expected, outside of forests most lion deaths get detected and reported.
Therefore, unless population shows a decline (estimated by a rigorous scientific method) individual deaths are not a cause of worry," said Yadvendradev Jhala, a scientist with Wildlife Institute of India and a researcher on big cats.
Pride endangered
Year No. of deaths
2009-1045
2010-1144
2011-1237
2012-1348
2013-1454
Total 228
Figures from April 1 to March 31
Lion cub run over by vehicle near Gir National Park.
RAJKOT: A nine-month-old female lion cub has died after being run over by a vehicle near Gir National Park in Junagadh district.
Sources said that cub was run over on Wednesday night around 9pm but the forest department ensured that the news is kept under tight wraps. The incident occurred near Sangodra village, some seven km from Talala. Forest officials are more worried as the accident has occurred in the heart of lions' abode just near the national park. This is the first such lion death near the Gir National Park, the last abode of Asiatic lions.
Earlier, six lions have died in road and rail accidents in just last six months in Amreli district alone.When asked about the incident, range forest officer, B K Parmar, told TOI that they are analyzing the registration numbers of all vehicles that have passed through this route on Wednesday night. It is mandatory for all vehicles to register their details at an entry point at Vaniya naka near Devaliya.
"In the past, we were successful in tracing a vehicle that had run over a spotted dear on the basis of vehicle number," said Parmar.
A senior forest officer told TOI "We have repeatedly written to the roads and building department to construct speed breakers at every 50 meters on certain stretches of the roads in the forest areas where movement of lions is frequent near Gir National Park. But they have not heeded to our requests."
PRIDE ENDANGERED
January 22: Two lionesses, one of them pregnant with three cubs, crushed by goods train near Pipavav port
February 22: A lion run over by goods train near Bhammar village in Savarkundla
April 1: Two lions run over by vehicle on Bhavnagar-Somnath highway
May 11: Seven-month-old lion cub run over by goods train near Bherai in Rajula
(Lion deaths in road, rail accidents in 2014)
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