In Guj, woman delivers in ambulance surrounded by 12 lions

Press Trust of India  |  Ahmedabad  June 30, 2017 Last Updated at 22:57 IST

Manguben Makwana will never forget the night of June 29. The 32-year-old delivered a baby in the vicinity of the Gir forest in an ambulance after midnight -- but that was not all.

Even as she gave birth to a boy, a group of 12 lions emerged from the adjacent forests and surrounded the vehicle near a remote village in Amreli district.

During this ordeal, which lasted for around 20 minutes, the paramedic staff of the '108' ambulance tackled the situation with courage and helped Makwana in giving birth, while the lion pride, including three males, blocked the vehicle's passage.

The incident occurred at around 2:30 am on Thursday when the ambulance was shifting Makwana, a resident of Lunasapur village, to the government hospital in Jafarabad town, said Chetan Gaadhe, Emergency Management Executive of '108' in Amreli.

"When the ambulance was on its way to Jafarabad with Makwana, the on-duty Emergency Management Technician (EMT) Ashok Makwana realised that she would give birth anytime, as the head of the baby was protruding out. Thus, he asked the driver Raju Jadav to stop the ambulance mid-way to deal with the emergency," said Gaadhe.

While the EMT contacted a physician over phone to take directions, the pride of lions, sensing human presence, emerged from the nearby bushes and surrounded the ambulance.

"Though Jadav, who is a local and understood the behaviour of lions, tried to scare them away, the lions refused to budge. Some of them even sat in front of the vehicle, blocking its passage," he said.

Meanwhile, inside the vehicle, the calm EMT Ashok helped the woman deliver as per the directions given by the physician over phone while the driver Jadav monitored the movement of the "curious" lions, said Gaadhe.

"Later, Jadav started the ambulance and moved slowly so that lions would give way. Upon seeing the movement of the vehicle as well as the blinking of lights, the big cats eventually moved and gave way to the ambulance," he said.

The mother and the child are currently admitted to Jafrabad hospital. Both are hale and hearty.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/in-guj-woman-delivers-in-ambulance-surrounded-by-12-lions-117063001355_1.html

Lion that entered villager’s house near Khambha caged

• TOI
• Rajkot
• Thu,22 Jun 2017
• 
  
• 

Summary: "It had become very feeble probably because it was not able to hunt," said sources.The forest department team traced this lion near Mitiyala sanctuary and finally caged it. RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: The Asiatic lion, which had sneaked into a villager's compound and preyed on a calf in Bhad village near Khambha on Tuesday night, was caged near Mityala Sanctuary on Thursday.Sources said that the lion, which is believed to be around 8-9 years old, was ill and very weak. Range Forest Officer, Khambha, Rambhai More, who had rushed to the spot on Tuesday night, also confirmed that the lion was sick. It was taken to Jasadhar Animal Care Centre for treatment.The lion had jumped a nearly 8-foot-long wall of Bhabhlu Bharwad's house and preyed on the calves tied there. It was then decided to cage the lion.

RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: The Asiatic lion, which had sneaked into a villager's compound and preyed on a calf in Bhad village near Khambha on Tuesday night, was caged near Mityala Sanctuary on Thursday.Sources said that the lion, which is believed to be around 8-9 years old, was ill and very weak. While feasting on the calf, the lion had gone close to a mare that had pounded it with a couple of brutal kicks, which again left the wild cat injured.Interestingly, the lion went away into the forest area near by only to return on Wednesday night in the village. The lion sat right in the middle of the main village road but soon escaped into the wild after people raised an alarm.In the meantime, Khambha Lion Nature Club president Bhikhu Patawala informed chief conservator of forests, Junagadh wildlife , AP Singh that the lion had taken ill since many days and had become weak.

It was then decided to cage the lion. Range Forest Officer, Khambha, Rambhai More, who had rushed to the spot on Tuesday night, also confirmed that the lion was sick."It had become very feeble probably because it was not able to hunt," said sources.The forest department team traced this lion near Mitiyala sanctuary and finally caged it. It was taken to Jasadhar Animal Care Centre for treatment.The lion had jumped a nearly 8-foot-long wall of Bhabhlu Bharwad's house and preyed on the calves tied there.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/lion-that-entered-villagers-house-near-khambha-caged/articleshow/59273146.cms

Wandering Gir sanctuary lion captured

PTI

June 22, 2017 | UPDATED 20:20 IST

Vadodara, Jun 22 (PTI) A lion from Gir Sanctuary who strayed into Bhand village in Amreli district on June 20 and has been posing a threat to residents was captured alive from a forest area near the village today.
According to forest officials, the old and famished big cat walked into the backyard of a house of Babubhai Bharwad in the village on the night of June 20 in search of food, where it killed three calves.
The forest officials were alerted by villagers after the lion tried to attack a horse tied in the house backyard.
"Our first priority was to drive the lion out to the forest area so that there is no threat to villagers. We succeeded in driving it out and kept tracking its movements," said Range Forest Officer Rambhai Mor.
He said a prior permission of the chief conservator of forest (wild life) was mandatory to capture the lion alive.
Forest officials preferred setting up a trap over using a tranquiliser shot considering the old age of the lion.
The lion was sent to the Animal Welfare Care Centre located at Jasadhar in neighbouring Gir Somnath district today, Mor said. PTI CORR NSK
http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/wandering-gir-sanctuary-lion-captured/1/985192.html

Fake news about the jungle!

June 21, 2017 | LXXVII No. 13 | View PDF


Reading the recent piece about the circus visit, I found a statement to be two-thirds correct. “Jungle cats” is a misleading title for the three big cats that are part of the circus. Lions, specifically African Lions, are not jungle dwellers, unlike the tigers. Now, there is an exception. The Asiatic lion, a sub-species of lion, is found primarily in India. It does dwell in a jungle-like environment. When I visited the big cats before the circus shows began, I was not able to ask the lion if he was of Asiatic or African descent.
Given the tsunami of false, misleading, incorrect, half, quarter and eighth-truths that are pushed in all sorts of media designed to dumb down our population, I thought it was my duty to address this glaring impropriety.
I’ll close now; have to feed my two panda bears.
Bob Valen
Weather Hobbyist
http://www.grandcoulee.com/story/2017/06/21/opinion/fake-news-about-the-jungle/9017.html

Lion preys on calf, gets kicks from mare

TNN | Updated: Jun 22, 2017, 04.52 PM ISTRajkot: People spent a sleepless night in Bhad village near Khambha in Amreli district when an adult Asiatic lion sneaked into the compound of a house and preyed upon calves tied there.

However, the king of the jungle too had its share of woes when a mare that was also tied nearby delivered a couple of brutal kicks to the lion. "The lion entered by jumping the compound wall that was nearly eight feet high. There were five cows and three calves tied in the compound and the lion killed all the calves," said Bhabhlu Bharwad, the house owner.

Read this story in Gujarati

"However, while eating the prey, the lion walked towards the mare, which kicked it hard. The impact of the kick was so hard that the lion actually went into a shock for nearly 30 minutes," Bharwad said.

Even as villages raised a hue and cry, the lion didn't budge from the spot and kept feasting on the calf. Police and forest department teams, including ran-ge forest officer Rambhai Mor, reached the village and tried to shoo away the lion, but in vain.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/lion-preys-on-calf-gets-kicks-from-mare/articleshow/59257435.cms

Four persons who chased lion cub Junagadh arrested

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Updated: Jun 21, 2017, 08.44 PM ISTAHMEDABAD: In a major breakthrough, the forest department has arrested four persons from Bhavnagar, who had harassed a lion cub by chasing it for a long distance in their car.

The video of the chase had gone viral on social media, leaving the wildlife lovers incensed.

They were identified as Utpal Pandya, Devang, Parthiv and Brijesh while another person Lakhan Mer, who had facilitated their illegal lion show near Visavadar in Junagadh, was identified. They were working as medical representatives in Bhavnagar.

Chief conservator of forest AP Singh said that the state cyber-crime cell was roped in neither the faces of the accused nor the car number was available. They were only heard speaking in Gujarati.

"We began backward tracing of the origin of the video and rounded up one youth in Bhavnagar. The man broke down during interrogation and narrated the entire episode," said Singh.

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The four chased the lion cub till it escaped into the dark.

The arrested persons told the forest department that they were afraid of chasing the cub at a high speed, but Mer a resident of Javaladi (Badak) in Kankari Kunj, asked them to try and go as close as possible to the cub so that they could take a proper video.

The four had gone for their officials work and then Mer was their local contact who took them in the fields to show lion.

Ramkumar, additional principal chief conservator of forest said, "There was no lead and hence with the help of cyber officials we traced the origin of the video. The department wants to set such examples so that desist from such harassment of lions and illegal shows."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/four-persons-who-chased-lion-cub-junagadh-arrested/articleshow/59256839.cms

13 held for lurking in lion habitat

TNN | Jun 20, 2017, 11.59 PM ISTAHMEDABAD: The forest department detained a veterinary doctor from Rajkot and two teachers along with 10 others who were illegally moving around the Gir forest and watching an illegal lion show in Junagadh district.

The 13 people were detained and each person were asked to Rs 2,000 each as penalty for the crime on Sunday night.

The forest officials are also looking at the possibility of involvement of the local people for arranging the lion show in Jamudivala beat of Devaliya Range.

A senior forest official said that the 13 people from Rajkot had stayed at a farm house and got the location of the lion from the local lower staff. This has raised the suspicion of involvement of a local staff or a local resident from the area.

On Sunday, the group was spotted and caught by the staff when they were moving around in the forest area, looking out for lions.

The officer said that it was possible that the group was returning after seeing the lion show.

The group was allowed to go after paying Rs 26,000 fine. Forest officials said such illegal activites are bound to increase now that the lion safari in Sasan Gir is closed for monsoon from June 15 to October 15. Chief conservator of forest, Junagadh (wildlife), AP Singh confirmed the crime and said that all the group members were educated people.

EC comic on poll process draws out lone voter in Gir forest, other tales

Lawtoons is a unique project...This compilation contains stories from the length and breadth of India and has attempted to give a glimpse of what makes the Indian elections so unique” - Nasim Zaidi (Chief Election Commissioner)
Written by Avinash Nair | Gandhinagar | Updated: June 20, 2017 10:01 am

At a time when several political parties have targeted the electoral process in the country with allegations of EVM tampering, the Gujarat office of the Election Commission of India has prepared a comic book with seven stories about the electorate to spread awareness about the voting process. The book, titled Sentinels of Democracy, also touches upon the lives of officials who conduct the polls in remote corners of the country.
Most characters in these stories are fictional. In one of the stories, Rajasthan-based politician Muralilal gets caught up in various activities on the polling day and forgets to send his driver to bring his aged mother and wife to the polling station. He ends up losing the election by one vote. In another story, a Singapore-based investment banker shows his dedication to democratic process by visiting India to cast his vote.
Some of the stories containe real-life references too. One story mentions Guru Bharat Das, the solitary voter who lives near Banej village in the middle of the Gir sanctuary, but has never missed the chance the cast his vote. During elections, a small room of the forest department turns into a polling station where Das casts his vote. The book also narrates how some polling officials in 1999 trekked 45 km in knee-deep snow to reach Ralakung and Phema villages in Jammu and Kashmir, which have only 37 voters. The polling stations, located 13,500 feet above the sea level, recorded 100 per cent vote that year.
This book has been put together by the office of the Chief Electoral Officer of Gujarat in collaboration with Ahmedabad-based Research Foundation for Governance in India (RFGI), an institution that describes itself as a think-tank aimed at research, promotion and implementation of various reforms to improve the legal and political process. “The lawtoons have been created keeping young voters in mind. It is a simple way of explaining complex processes,” B B Swain, Chief Electoral Officer, Gujarat, told The Indian Express.
The sister duo of Kanan Dhru and Kelly Dhru from RFGI are behind preparing the book containing 40-odd pages. “The sisters have past experience in creating lawtoons,” Swain added.
The book is currently available in English and Hindi languages. “Initially, we plan to print about 1000 copies. We will also prepare an e-book which can be downloaded from the EC website,” Swain added.
The comic book also emphasises the importance of women voters and how their votes make a difference in poll outcomes.
“Lawtoons is a unique project, perhaps the first-of-its-kind, to simplify laws of India in an interesting and humorous way. This compilation contains stories from the length and breadth of India and has attempted to give a glimpse of what makes the Indian elections so unique,” Nasim Zaidi. Chief Election Commissioner, has stated in the foreword.
Kanan Dhru said they sought help from the National Institute of Design to help incorporate voices, lingo and body language from different parts of the country. “We created characters who were relatable and realistic. We have tried to bring out several issues faced by women in India, a large number of whom fail to get themselves registered as voters,” Dhru said.
 http://indianexpress.com/article/india/ec-comic-on-poll-process-draws-out-lone-voter-in-gir-forest-other-tales-4712639/

Cub chased by car; video goes viral

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Jun 20, 2017, 04.58 AM ISTAHMEDABAD: A video of a car chasing an Asiatic lion cub outside the sanctuary limits, probably in Amreli district, has gone viral. The occupants of the car, who speak Gujarati, chase the cub till it escapes from its tormentors.

On Monday, the video was posted on a Facebook group called Gujarat Forest, which is run by an NGO. The chase incensed wildlife lovers. Ravi Raj, who administers the group, said: "I wanted to bring the video to the notice of officials so that action is taken." A senior officer of the forest department said that in the absence of night vigil and patrolling, such illegal shows are rampant. He said that the cub faced the risk of being run over.

The officer, who has analyzed the video, said: "It appears that the car was moving at a speed of around 35-40 kmph and the cub was made to run at a greater speed." The officer said that the vehicle chased the cub for nearly 45 seconds.

A former principal chief conservator of forests, C N Pandey, said: "Chasing lions is an offence under the Wildlife Protection Act. I have not seen the video but if people are chasing the cub, then action must be taken against them."

Ram Kumar, the additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife), said: "We have sent the video to all senior officers and the DCF in Gir and have asked them to identify the area and the people." Action will be taken when the accused are caught, he said. Chief conservator of forests A P Singh said, "We have ordered an inquiry. The department is also ascertaining the location where the video was shot." He said that since Gujarati is heard, it is clear that the video was shot in Saurashtra.

Last year, Ravindra Jadeja, a cricketer who plays for India, had posted photographs on the social media in which he is seen standing near lions. The forest department had announced then that it would take up a massive awareness campaign to prevent such occurrences. Nothing much has been achieved since then.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/cub-chased-by-car-video-goes-viral/articleshow/59225045.cms

Demand for lion shows puts big money in play

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Updated: Jun 19, 2017, 05.52 AM ISTAhmedabad: The uproar over the suspension of two forest department staffers has brought to light the fact that illegal lion shows are rampant outside sanctuary areas. On average, 10 shows are organized every day. The business of illegal lion shows across Saurashtra region is estimated to be worth about Rs 3 crore a year, which is equivalent to about 70% of the revenue through official lion safaris.

Senior forest officials, on condition of anonymity, said, "For each show, farmers on the periphery of Gir Sanctuary charge Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000 depending on the size and paying capacity of the group. If spectators want to see a lion feed on cattle, it could cost between Rs 8,000 and Rs 15,000. If someone just wants to see a lion, the price is about Rs 2,000 for a single person or between Rs 750 to Rs 1,000 per person for groups."

Another senior officer in Gandhinagar said that ever since the department got strict and stopped multiple safari vehicles converging at the site of a sighting, the lion show business has flourished. This is because barely 50% of visitors now actually get to see a lion.


Some jeep drivers and beat guards have also got involved, by joining hands with local farmers who have a lion presence in their fields.

The modus operandi is simple. The farmers provide bait every second day to make sure that the pride does not leave and the shows go on uninterrupted.

Another senior forest officer said two other untoward incidents had come to light in the last three months. In March, a forest trekker on patrol was stabbed to death by seven men, during a crackdown on an illegal lion show on the border of the Gir forest in Amreli district.

A tourist from Mumbai had alerted the Prime Minister's office, about ostensible poaching of a cub by a resident of Talala. The alert sent the forest department scurrying from pillar to post. When the Talala resident, a taxi driver, was arrested, he confessed to having made a false promise to earn some money.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/demand-for-lion-shows-puts-big-money-in-play/articleshow/59209313.cms

Forest department staffers call off strike

TNN | Updated: Jun 17, 2017, 10.49 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: The forest department staff at Gir, who had struck work since Thursday, called off their strike after being assured that the suspension of forester M M Bharwad would be revoked in a week. The department on Wednesday had suspended a range forest officer, P T Kaneria, and a forester, M M Bharwad. The duo had a complaint lodged against them at Talala police station after a man they had detained, Bharat Kalsaria, attempted suicide. Kalsaria had been arrested for his alleged involvement in organizing illegal lion shows.


The department was silent on Kaneria's suspension. Forest staff including rescue teams had struck work and gone on a fast, demanding that the suspensions be revoked. Senior officers from Gandhinagar, including principal chief conservator of forests and head of the forest force Kuldeep Goel, had rushed to Junagadh. The officials held closed-door meetings with the staffers and the strike was called off late on Friday evening.

Mahavir Sodha, vice president of Gujarat State Forest Protection Staff, said officials had assured them that they would revoke the suspension in a week and the strike was hence called off. He said that the range forest officers' association had also supported them with many of them taking mass casual leave and reaching Junagadh to protest.

Goel said "We accepted the demand of the staff and they, in the interest of conservation of the Asiatic lion, called off the strike."

Meanwhile, senior officials said the forest department was forced to act as Kalsaria, who attempted suicide, belongs to the Patel community. Officials said that the government didn't want to take any chances and face another agitation. It hence decided to immediately suspend the staffers. The government usually first conducts a departmental inquiry.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/forest-dept-staffers-call-off-strike/articleshow/59185457.cms

Foresters go on flash strike in Gir

TNN | Updated: Jun 16, 2017, 07.44 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: Field staff at the Gir Sanctuary in Sasan, who are responsible for the conservation and protection of the last abode of the Asiatic lion, have struck work. The forest department staff are protesting the suspension of two forest officials, against whom a police complaint had been lodged after a youth from Hadmatiya village had been arrested for holding illegal lion shows.

Meanwhile, a senior range forest officer (RFO), said that RFOs from all over the state will go on mass casual leave and go to Junagadh to register their protest and press for revocation of the suspension.

The strike in Sasan brought forest department work to a standstill in Gir and its vicinity. There were no staffers at check posts and the routine morning counts on various beats were not conducted. Officials said that fortunately, no major rescue calls were received. Forest department staffers, including rescue teams, sat on a dharna at the Junagadh office of the chief conservator of forests. The staffers are demanding that the suspension be revoked.

A recording of a voice message—asking forest department staff to unite against the politics being played out through the suspension—had gone viral on social media groups of forest department staffers.

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The Gujarat forest department had suspended a range forest officer, P T Kaneria, and a forester, M M Bharwad, when a complaint was lodged against them at Talala police station after a detainee of theirs, Bharat Kalsaria, had attempted suicide. Kalsaria had been arrested for alleged involvement in organizing illegal lion shows.

On April 29, seven residents of Harmatiya village, including Kalsaria, were accused of holding an illegal lion show in Talala. "Kalsaria had been on the run ever since. On Tuesday, a forest department staffer had spotted him and he was detained. On finding him guilty of holding illegal lion shows, the officer fined him Rs 7,000 and then let him go. The department filmed his release as well," said a senior forest official.

Forest minister, Ganpat Vasava, said, "We are talking to the staff and the strike will soon be withdrawn. The staff want the suspension to be revoked. We had to take action as the person concerned had attempted suicide and made the allegations in his suicide note."

Non-government organizations association with conservation have also demanded that the suspension be revoked. Kishore Kotecha of Wildlife Conservation Trust, in a letter to the PCCF, said, "Our trust strongly condemns the unwarranted suspension of RFO Talala Kaneria and forester Bharwad. They have a strong record of having performed their duty diligently even at risk to their lives. Now,they are being punished. In support of our Gir and its lion conservation, we humbly request that their suspension order be revoked and an impartial inquiry be ordered. The department should file a petition in the high court for quashing of the FIR against the two forest staffers."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/foresters-go-on-flash-strike-in-gir/articleshow/59168400.cms

Gir protection staff strike work to protest suspension

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Jun 15, 2017, 07.06 PM IST
AHMEDABAD: The field staff of the Gir Sanctuary responsible for the conservation and protection of the world's last Asiatic lion in its abode in Sasan have struck work. The staff is protesting the suspension of two forest officials against whom a police complaint was lodged after a youth from Hadmatiya was caught for illegal lion show.


The staff including the rescue team sat on dharna at the office of the Chief Conservator of Forest in Junagadh and demanded that the suspension be revoked. The suspension had led to unrest in the department. A voice message had gone viral in groups of forest department staffers, asking them to unite against the politics that was playing out in the suspension incident.

The Gujarat forest department suspended a range forest officer, P T Kaneria, and a forester, M M Bharwad, against whom a complaint was lodged at Talala police station after a detainee of theirs, Bharat Kalsaria, attempted suicide. Kalsaria had been arrested for his alleged involvement in organizing illegal lion shows.

On April 29, seven residents of Harmatiya village including Kalsaria were accused of holding an illegal lion show in Talala. "Kalsaria had been on the run ever since. On Tuesday, a forest department staffer spotted him and he was detained. On finding him guilty of holding illegal lion shows, the officer fined him Rs 7,000 and he was then let go. The department filmed his release as well," said senior officials from the department.

Even the Non-Government organization association with the conservation have demanded that the suspension be revoked. Kishore Kotecha of the Wildlife Conservation Trust in a letter to the PCCF said, "Our trust strongly condemns the unwarranted suspension of RFO Talala Kaneriya and Forestor Bharwad. They have a very strong record of having performed their duty diligently even at risk of their own life. Now for the sake of better known reasons they are being punished. In the support of our Gir and it's lion's conservation we humbly request that their suspension order should be revoked and an impartial inquiry should be order in the issue and instead the department should file a petition in the high court for quashing of the FIR against the two forest staffers."
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gir-protection-staff-strike-work-to-protest-suspension/articleshow/59160778.cms

Shetrunji is rising, but forest dept has no plans yet to keep Asiatic Lions safe

by Alok Brahmbhatt, Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Jun 12, 2017, 09.41 AM IST
It was only two years ago that flash floods wreaked havoc in Amreli and Bhavnagar districts, killing 10 Asiatic lions, more than 1,600 blue bulls and around 90 spotted deer. But Gujarat forest department has yet not learnt its lesson.

For four days now, it has been raining incessantly in Amreli and other parts of east Gir, where the density of Asiatic lions is the highest. By now a monsoon action plan should have been executed to keep these animals safe. However, forest officials are yet to meet and discuss the plan. There seems to be no urgency even now -the officials are in no mood to meet before the scheduled date of June 15.

Savarkundla, Liliya and surrounding areas of Amreli have the highest density of lion population according to the census conducted in 2015. The same year, during the torrential rains, carcasses of around 10 lions were found around the banks of Shetrunji river. The flash floods, with water level rising up to nine feet, badly affected and disturbed the riverine ecosystem of Shetrunji and surrounding areas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts. As per the lion census, there were around 80 lions in Savarkundla, Liliya and adjoining areas of Amreli.

In the past four days, heavy rainfall has been recorded in these areas. These areas have a flat terrain with bushes on both sides of the river, making it an ideal habitat for the lions to breed and hunt. A flat terrain, however, is more risky during the floods as it turns marshy. When that happens, neither can the lions move out nor can forest officials venture in to rescue them.

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Manoj Joshi, who has been active in environmental conservation and protection activities in Liliya for over 15 years said, “It is mandatory to have a foolproof monsoon plan ready before it rains because the soil in the area is such that even if there is a 2-inch rainfall, the place becomes marshy and slippery. So, it gets difficult to rescue lions or safeguard the lionesses and the cubs."

Wildlife enthusiast and photographer Rajan Joshi said, “I checked with forest offices in the region, but the officials were all busy in some government function. I am told it has already rained about 4 inches in the past couple of days. If no measures are taken immediately it may become impossible to safeguard the lions that are easily sighted in this area."

Every year, during monsoon, forest department takes stock of its wireless communication systems, emergency vehicles and equipment as part of its disaster-preparedness plan. They also service and sharpen the saws because there are several instances of trees getting uprooted. However, there is no plan specific to lion conservation, said sources. The forest department team keeps track of lion movement during the monsoon and ensures lives are not at risk due to flooding.

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Locals in Liliya and Krankach say that it is easier to spot lions here than in Gir sanctuary because the feline population is dense here.

AP Singh, Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh Wildlife Circle, told Mirror, “We execute an action plan every year. There is a set process to do it. This year we have not executed it yet because the officials were busy with Shala Praveshotsav. We will conduct a meeting on June 15 and implement it."

Criticising the forest department for inaction, environmental activist Bhikhubhai Batwala said, “The monsoon plan should have been prepared before the rains. There are a few measures I have been suggesting to ensure the lions are safe." His suggestions include artificial hills so that during flood-like situation, the lions can climb up to a safe location instead of getting trapped in marshy fields.

He added, “There are no trees in the area as the water is saline. But there are some trees that can grow in such soil. These should be transplanted here from other location so that the lions can climb to safety during floods. Besides, these trees can also provide them shelter during summer."
http://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/cover-story/shetrunji-is-rising-but-forest-dept-has-no-plans-yet-to-keep-asiatic-lions-safe/articleshow/59103485.cms

Guj HC seeks govt's clarification on PIL challenging proposed

Press Trust of India  |  Ahmedabad  June 13, 2017 Last Updated at 21:07 IST

The Gujarat High Court today sought clarification from the state and the central governments on whether technical committee of the Central Zoo Authority can give final permission to start Ambardi Lion Safari in Amreli district.

A division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi also asked the governments to clarify if the report finalised by the technical committee on the proposed project has been submitted to the main body of the CZA.

The court said this while hearing a PIL challenging the Gujarat government's lion safari proposal on around 400 hectares of fenced areas on the eastern side of Gir National Park for tourists.

The PIL, filed by environmentalist Biren Pandya, has sought court's direction to the government to set aside the plan to convert the forest area into lion safari as it will damage the eco-sensitive zone.

The state government had said that a committee headed by additional director general of wildlife of Union Ministry of Environment and Forests on June 5 gave final permission to start lion safari at Ambardi.

The petitioner told the court today that so far only the technical committee of CZA has finalised a report on the proposal to start the lion safari, and this cannot be construed as a final nod as the committee is not empowered for the same.

The petitioner also claimed that CZA officials never visited the site where the safari is proposed to come up, despite a HC order in the past directing it to do the same.

The state government had originally proposed a Chinkara Park at the spot but deviated from its original plan to plan a lion safari to attract tourist, the petitioner further claimed.

The park would be in violation of eco-sensitive zone norms and fencing will affect the natural corridor of several other wild animals and hence should be realigned or removed, the petitioner claimed.

The proposed lion safari aims to take tourist load off the existing Gir National Park.

As per the latest census carried out by the state forest department in 2015, Gujarat is home to 523 lions in Gir forest and other areas in Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/guj-hc-seeks-govt-s-clarification-on-pil-challenging-proposed-117061301292_1.html

Railway retiring room grabs lion land

• TOI
• Ahmedabad
• Thu,08 Jun 2017
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  Summary: "If the retiring room was not to be used for guests or even family members of railway officials, then there was no need for the retiring room, as officers on duty are given rooms at government-approved rates. "Vyas went on to say: "I had written to the national board members, urging them not to approve the 8,000 sq ft retiring room." The retiring room project was mooted by the Indian Railways at Sasan; and the hotel project by a well-known brand in Sasan Gir.Forest officials, activists, and even State Board for Wildlife members were against building a retiring room at the Sasan Railway station. "The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife has restricted the use of the retiring room to officials and staff," said Rohit Vyas, a member of the State Board for Wildlife. A senior officer said that since the area is frequented by wild animals, the threat of human-animal conflict will rise if a retiring room were to built within the sanctuary.

  
  Ahmedabad: The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife has cleared the proposals for a retiring room and a hotel — as a consequence, around 7,600 square metres of Gir Sanctuary land will be diverted for the projects. The retiring room project was mooted by the Indian Railways at Sasan; and the hotel project by a well-known brand in Sasan Gir.Forest officials, activists, and even State Board for Wildlife members were against building a retiring room at the Sasan Railway station. "The standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife has restricted the use of the retiring room to officials and staff," said Rohit Vyas, a member of the State Board for Wildlife.
  
  "If the retiring room was not to be used for guests or even family members of railway officials, then there was no need for the retiring room, as officers on duty are given rooms at government-approved rates."Vyas went on to say: "I had written to the national board members, urging them not to approve the 8,000 sq ft retiring room." Sasan does not need one, he said."The railways proposes to build it at the station even though only two-metre gauge trains operate in daytime — the need for a night halt for passengers does not arise," he said.Vyas said that the Sasan station buzzes with wildlife around the clock. There have been sightings of even leopards at the station. The movement of vehicles and construction activity will affect the movement of wildlife, he said.
  
  Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/railway-retiring-room-grabs-lion-land/articleshow/59042626.cms

world's last Asiatic lions

http://www.millenniumpost.in/sundaypost/routes/sundaypostroutes-246437

G. Brindha | 10 Jun 2017 7:39 PM | New Delhi

Read more at: http://www.millenniumpost.in/sundaypost/routes/sundaypostroutes-246437

G. Brindha | 10 Jun 2017 7:39 PM | New Delhi

Read more at: http://www.millenniumpost.in/sundaypost/routes/sundaypostroutes-246437

G. Brindha | 10 Jun 2017 7:39 PM | New Delhi

Read more at: http://www.millenniumpost.in/sundaypost/routes/sundaypostroutes-246437

Lion’s pride at cubs

Posted By: Eva Astreinidouon: June 02, 2017No Comments

Birthdays are fun whatever your age as this proud dad showed when his three cubs celebrated their first year.
Kali, Sita and Sonia marked their birthday by getting their teeth stuck into some meaty presents – once they’d tackled the wrapping paper.
Mum and dad Kanha and Rana couldn’t resist joining in the fun too as Cotswold Wildlife Park marked the birthday of its first Asiatic lion triplets on Thursday last week.
Hayley Mullaney, section head of large mammals at Cotswold Wildlife Park, said: “We are extremely proud of our beautiful lion cubs. To see them grow in the past year and watch them develop is amazing – it makes our jobs as keepers so rewarding.
“Initially, they were very funny and hesitant about the new boxes in their enclosure. In the end, their father Rana had to show them how it was done but the cubs loved playing with the boxes afterwards.”
The pair made history with the birth, as the cubs were the first lion triplets to be born at the park since it opened in 1970.
Rana and Kanha formed an instant bond when they were introduced in 2014.
Last year on May 25, Kanha gave birth to the cubs in the park’s birthing den.
Asiatic Lions are one of the world’s rarest big cat species, and are considered to be vulnerable to extinction.
Their population in the wild has declined drastically over the last century.
In 1900, just 200 were left in the wild due to trophy hunting and habitat destruction.
Once found throughout much of South-West Asia, they are now only found in India’s Gir Forest, which has shrunk to less than half its size since 2000.
http://www.oxfordshireguardian.co.uk/lions-pride-cubs/

Gujarat: Outsourcing on hold, lion trackers end strike

 By: Express News Service | Rajkot | Published:June 6, 2017 4:20 am

The Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society had issued a circular asking officials to do away with hiring workers on contract basis. 

  Trackers end hungerstrike outside CCF office of Junagadh on Monday. Express Photo.

Around 300 contract workers, mostly forest trackers helping in rescuing and treating endangered Asiatic lions, ended their day long hungerstrike on Monday after the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society (GSLCS) agreed to postpone the implementation of its decision to outsource their jobs from next month.
Five days ago, the GSLCS had issued a circular, asking the Deputy Conservators of Forest (DCF) of Gir (East), Gir (West), Sasan, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Blackbuck National Park to do away with the system of hiring workers on contract basis. The circular stated that the outsourcing agencies will be hired through a tendering process and people will be hired from July. Earlier, the society hired its staff, mostly local villagers with knowledge of the behavior and habits of the Asiatic lions, on a contract for 11 months.
On Monday, workers staged a dharna outside the office of the Chief Conservator of Forest (CCF) of Junagadh Wildlife Circle.
“There is a possibility of increase in man-animal conflict if specialised work is entrusted to inexperienced persons sourced from agencies. The work carried out directly under the supervision of GSLCS has yielded positive results. Therefore, we have objections to the outsourcing plan which can be exploitative,” the memorandum stated.
The workers gave GSLCS a deadline till 6 pm to revoke its decision.
In the evening, GSLCS secretary issued a letter to the striking trackers, stating that the implementation of the decision of hiring manpower through outsourcing agencies has been postponed till another decision is not taken about it.” The trackers then ended their strike.

 http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/gujarat-outsourcing-on-hold-lion-trackers-end-strike-4690844/

Union forest ministry clears Ambardi lion safari

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Updated: Jun 6, 2017, 11.41 AM IST

AHMEDABAD: The Union ministry of environment forest and climate change has given its final nod to the second lion interpretation zone in the state at Ambardi in Dhari. The new interpretation zone will come as a boon for tourists heading to Diu, and who want to have a glimpse of the majestic lions.

The Interpretation zone had hit a roadblock after officials from the Central Zoo Authority of India (CZAI) refused to give final approval to the park due to inadequate fencing.

The interpretation zone will develop eco-tourism on Ahmedabad-Bhavnagar-Rajkot-Amreli-Dhari-Una-Tulsishyam-Diu route. Visitors will now have an option to enjoy the view of lions; either at Gir Forest National Park or at Ambardi safari park.

The park at Ambardi will be located 6km away from Dhari and will be a part of protected forests. In addition it is situated near the Khodiyar dam with the river Shetrunji flowing through it.

Officials said that the state government had decided to create another lion interpretation zone at Ambardi, on the lines of Devaliya Park in Junagadh, to ease the tourist pressure on Sasan and Devaliya Park during peak season.

The zone is being developed with the assistance of the Centre across an area of 400 hectares. State forest department officials said the new zone will have lions in a closed but natural environment also inhabited by other animals.

The zone will attract tourists arriving directly at Bhavnagar and Amreli, and even heading towards Diu from Ahmedabad. "Earlier, such tourists had to travel all the way to Sasan Gir in Junagadh to see lions," a forest department official said.

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The Gujarat forest department had been ready with the Ambardi Interpretation Zone in 2013, but CZAI's objection had halted further progress. Final inspection of the zone made by CZAI officials had revealed that the fencing fell 12cm short of the approved 4.52-meter height, and work of shifting lions to the zone was stalled.

After failing in successive representations to convince CZAI that a minor difference of 12 cm didn't matter, finally the forest department decided to raise the fencing to approved height.

The officials said that they would now be able to shift zoo-bred lions within no time and hope to start the zone soon, after the monsoon.

Earlier, the killing of three people by lions in Ambardi village had led to an inquiry, where the report found that the park had effectively blocked the natural corridor of a pride of lions, which used to move from Gir-east up to Dhari in Amreli district. This blockage forced the lions to venture into human inhabited areas, thus making the people there vulnerable to attacks.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/union-forest-ministry-clears-ambardi-lion-safari/articleshow/59007528.cms