18,000 wells still uncovered in Gir, govt tells HC

Open wells have always posed a danger to the lions

TNN | Updated: Jun 30, 2018, 05:16 IST

AHMEDABAD: Open wells have always posed a danger to the lions. In an affidavit submitted in the Gujarat high court the state government admitted that nearly 18,000 wells are yet to be covered in Gir, the last abode of Asiatic lions.

The government on Friday promised the HC that it will speed up the enclosing of open wells and fencing of a railway line in the protected Gir area by the end of 2019 so as to protect the lions and prevent their unnatural deaths.

Chief conservator of forests, wildlife circle, Junagadh, D T Vasavada, filed an affidavit giving details about the efforts taken to protect lions. The reply came in response to a PIL by the HC itself, after the state assembly was informed in March that 184 lion deaths had been recorded in the last two years, and many deaths were due to unnatural causes.

The government assured the HC, “The state government is alive to the situation and ensures that Asiatic lions, which survive only in the Gir landscape, being a national treasure, are well guarded and the species is well preserved under the aegis of the forest department.”

Open wells have always posed a danger to lions. The forest department stated that it has already spent Rs 22.30 crore on enclosing 32,559 open wells, of the 50,517 such wells in Gir. The government gives farmers assistance of Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000 for this. The remaining 17,958 open wells will be covered by the end of 2019, the department said.

The affidavit also stated that of the 86.8km Surendranagar-Pipavav railway track which passes through the protected area, 81.6km has been fenced off at a cost of Rs 38.89 crore. The remaining 5.2km of track in Amreli district will be fenced off in the next six months.

Interestingly, the HC in its PIL raised grave concerns about fences along the railway track, on the ground that it would blockade the lions’ natural corridor. It suggested installing devices in locomotives that could detect the presence of lions’ near the tracks.

On lion deaths by electrocution, the officer told the HC that a state committee has made recommendations to prevent unnatural deaths. Joint patrols of forest officials and officials of Paschim Gujarat Vij Co Ltd are carried out in several villages to identify electrified fences. The affidavit also stated that only two such lion deaths were reported in the last two years and action has been taken by the forest department in this case.

No plan to further restrict traffic on state highways

The forest department is not mulling further curbs on traffic on the six highways that pass through the forest. It said that four roads are completely closed at night because lion movements peak in the dark. State highways No. 26 and No. 98 witness minimal lion movement, so entry/exit points on these roads in the protected area are monitored. All vehicular movement is recorded.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/18k-wells-still-uncovered-in-gir-govt-tells-hc/articleshow/64799752.cms

Two more lion safari parks to be opened by March ’19

Nimesh Khakhariya | TNN | Jun 30, 2018, 04:00 IST

Junagadh: Next year onwards there would be much more than just booze in your vacation to Diu! Just about 40 km on the way to Gujarat’s favourite watering hole and vacation destination, tourists will get to see Asiatic lions from a close distance.
The forest department is planning to develop two more safari parks — one in Chikhalkuba near Diu and another in Chorvadala near Sihore in Bhavnagar district. The new safari parks are being planned considering the spread of this endangered species out of the protected areas of Gir National Park and Sanctuary.

At present, visitors can watch lions in Devalia Interpretation Zone besides Gir jungle trail in Sasan. The safari park in Chorwadala will not only have lions, but also other wildlife like black bucks, leopards and spotted deer. Currently, nearly 5 lakh tourists visit Sasan and Devalia park every year and two new options could reduce the load in these parks.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/two-more-lion-safari-parks-to-be-opened-by-march-19/articleshow/64798196.cms

Lion deaths: Will cover all wells in Gir by next year, Gujarat government tells High Court

Two weeks ago, the High Court had directed the state government to give specific details of the steps taken in the last couple of years to stop the death of Asiatic lions caused by open wells, electrocution and vehicular traffic among others. (File)In the fresh affidavit, the government claimed that it will cover the open wells, in which lions often get trapped and killed, with enclosures by the end of 2019.
By: Express News Service | Ahmedabad | Published: June 30, 2018 6:19:40 am

In a fresh affidavit submitted to the Gujarat High Court in connection with the increasing incidents of lion deaths, the state government on Friday said that there are over 50,000 wells in Gir forest area, and out of them 17,958 are yet to be covered with parapet. Two weeks ago, the High Court had directed the state government to give specific details of the steps taken in the last couple of years to stop the death of Asiatic lions caused by open wells, electrocution and vehicular traffic among others.
In the fresh affidavit, the government claimed that it will cover the open wells, in which lions often get trapped and killed, with enclosures by the end of 2019. “The work of enclosing wells is in progress, and as far as possible it shall be the endeavour of the forest department that by the end of 2019, all open wells shall be enclosed,” stated the new affidavit signed by Dushyant T Vasavda, chief conservator of forest, wildlife circle, Junagadh.
It added that the government spent Rs 22.30 crore in covering 32,559 wells. The government had earlier informed the High Court that in the past two years, nine lions were killed in open wells. With incidents of lions getting killed in the open wells becoming frequent, the government had increased the subsidy given to locals to cover these wells by parapet from Rs 8,000 to Rs 16,000 this year.
The latest affidavit also assured the High Court that the chain-fencing of the 86.8-km railway track that passes through the lion habitat of Amreli district will be completed in six months. The government said that till now, fencing has been completed till 81.6 km of the track. The forest department also told the court that apart from nine deaths of lions in the past two years, three were killed by electrocution, two by poisoning, two in rail accidents, two in road accident, one in trapping, two drown in sea tide, while in the case of two deaths reasons are not yet known.
“It is again assured that the state government is alive to the situation and ensure that Asiatic lions, which only survive in the Gir landscape, are well guarded and the species is well preserved under the aegis of the Forest Department of the state of Gujarat,” the affidavit stated. According to government figures, there are 323 lions inside the Gir protected areas, while around 200 are outside it, and in the last two years — 2016 and 2017 — 184 lion deaths were reported.
https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/lion-deaths-will-cover-all-wells-in-gir-by-next-year-gujarat-government-tells-high-court-5239517/

Leopard attacks shepherd in Gir-Somnath village

TNN | Jun 28, 2018, 04:00 ISTRajkot: Leopard attacked a 20-year-old shepherd in Kareni village of Gir Gadhda taluka in Gir Somnath district on Wednesday morning. The injured was first taken to Una hospital and then shifted to civil hospital in Junagadh for further treatment. According to forest department, the incident took place when Deepak Vinja Degan had taken his goat into the forest area from grazing. Leopard tried to prey on the goat but when Deepak tried to protect it, the leopard attacked him. Deepak sustained injuries on the head. tnn
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/leopard-attacks-shepherd-in-gir-somnath-village/articleshow/64770301.cms

Gir zone opens at airport, lions roar welcome

Parimal Nathwani, Rajya Sabha member, inaugurated the forest zone called ‘The Gir’ at the city airport on Tuesday.

TNN | Updated: Jun 27, 2018, 06:33 IST

AHMEDABAD: Flyers who land in Ahmedabad will now be welcomed at the domestic terminal by the royal roar of Gujarat’s pride. The terminal offers a glimpse of Asiatic lions of Sasan Gir, their only abode in the world. A replica of Gir forest has been conceptualised by Reliance Industries Limited (RIL).
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has allotted an 11,000 sq feet area between the arrival and departure terminals. This forest zone features lifesize replicas of lions, black bucks, eagles, leopards, and few other animals that are found in Gir.

“Apart from the objective of giving a glimpse of the Gir forests, the replicas are a marketing tool and can facilitate mass awareness,” said Parimal Nathwani, Rajya Sabha member and group president (corporate affairs), RIL. Nathwani inaugurated the forest zone called ‘The Gir’on Tuesday. Accompaning him was Lok Sabha MP and actor Paresh Rawal. “Ahmedabad airport is likely to house an aviation museum in future,” Rawal said. “J R D Tata, considered the father of civil aviation in India, made the country’s maiden voyage from Juhu airport to Drigh airstrip, Karachi, via Ahmedabad in October 1932.”

On the Gir exhibit, Rawal said: “Instead of whiling away time in the waiting lounge, passengers can spend some time at this interactive exhibit.” He said it is probably for the first time that a special attraction belonging to any state has been displayed at an airport.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gir-zone-opens-at-airport-lions-roar-welcome/articleshow/64755201.cms

Lion found dead in Bhavnagar had come in contact with live wire: probe report

“Lion population has increased with the tolerance the residents. But more and more lions are moving out of protected forest areas and settling into revenue land. This has increased man-animal conflict,” said the officer. (Representational Image)The carcass of a male lion, aged 10 to 12 years, was found in the Shetrunji river in Talaja taluka of Bhavnagar district on June 6. At the time, the forest department did not reveal the cause of death and had said that the matter was being probed.
By: Express News Service | Rajkot | Published: June 27, 2018 8:55:05 am

The Asiatic lion which was found dead in the Shetrunji riverbed in Bhavnagar district earlier this month died after coming in contact with a live electric wire in an agricultural field, an inquiry by the forest department has concluded.
The carcass of a male lion, aged 10 to 12 years, was found in the Shetrunji river in Talaja taluka of Bhavnagar district on June 6. At the time, the forest department did not reveal the cause of death and had said that the matter was being probed.
However, a forest official in Bhavnagar informed The Indian Express on Tuesday that the lion was electrocuted. “A panel of veterinarians of animal husbandry department and forest department conducted the post mortem and concluded that the lion was killed due to electric shock. Burn injury marks were also visible on the animal’s body,” the officer said.
According to the officer, the forest department had withheld the findings of the post mortem report in order to identify the accused.
“The lion was electrocuted after it accidentally touched a steel wire which was connected to an electricity source in order to prevent wild boars and blue bulls from raiding the standing crop. When the farmers came to know about the death of the lion, they dumped the carcass in the riverbed,” the officer said.
Farmers in the area often erect such electric wires around their farms to prevent the entry of herbivores like wild boars and blue bulls or nilgais that often damage standing crop by raiding farms, especially at night
“We have already questioned a man who is a share-cropper on a nearby field. However, we suspect more than one persons were involved and efforts are on to identify them,” the officer added.
“Lion population has increased with the tolerance the residents. But more and more lions are moving out of protected forest areas and settling into revenue land. This has increased man-animal conflict,” said the officer.

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/rajkot/lion-found-dead-in-bhavnagar-had-come-in-contact-with-live-wire-probe-report-5235065/

Leopard attacks farmer in Gir-Somnath village

Farmer Raju Ghelabhai Jadav, sleeping in an open field in Fareda village, was attacked by the leopard early morning on Thursday

TNN | Updated: Jun 22, 2018, 08:47 IST

RAJKOT: A 25-year-old man was attacked by a leopard in the wee hours of Thursday while he was sleeping in an open field in Fareda village of Gir-Gadhda taluka of Gir-Somanath district. He was admitted to Junagadh civil hospital after treatment in Gir-Gadhda primary health centre.

According to forest officials, Raju Ghelabhai Jadav, resident of Fareda village, was attacked by the leopard when he was sleeping in the farm of Dilip Parmar. Jadav suffered injuries on his head and cheek.
Another person who was sleeping besides Jadav woke up on hearing his cries and started throwing stones at the leopard to drive it away.

Jadav was first taken to the primary health centre in Gir Gadhdhda and later to Junagadh civil hospital for further treatment.

Forest officials have set up cages at various places in the village to nab the leopard.

Attack on humans by leopards have become frequent in Gir-Somnath and Junagadh districts. In April, a five-year-old girl was killed in Sutraparad in a leopard attack. According to the forest department, between April 2017 and March 2018, nearly 110 leopard attacks have been reported from Gir-Somnath, Junagadh and Amreli districts.  

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/leopard-attacks-farmer-in-gir-somnath-village/articleshow/64688229.cms

From Kanha to Odisha, moving a tiger with care

MB2, a sub-adult tiger at Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh, was tranquilised before being taken on a 680-km journey to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha in the first such inter-state relocation. (Express Photo)
The tiger was tranquilised before being taken on a 680-km journey to Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha in the first such inter-state relocation. (Express Photo)
MB2 being shifted from Kanha to Satkosia. The project involves relocating six tigers from MP to Odisha. (Photo: MP Forest Department)

Camera traps had already identified MB2, a sub-adult tiger aged a little over three years, as the first potential target, after it emerged that it had a kill and was not likely to move from the area.

Written by Milind Ghatwai | Bhopal | Updated: June 22, 2018 9:34:25 am

IN THE first such case of inter-state relocation, MB2, a 195-kg tiger, was shifted from the Kanha Tiger Reserve in Madhya Pradesh to the Satkosia Tiger Reserve in Odisha on Thursday.
This is part of an ambitious project conceived by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests, National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, that involves shifting six tigers (three pairs) from different reserves in the central state to the eastern state.
Camera traps had already identified MB2, a sub-adult tiger aged a little over three years, as the first potential target, after it emerged that it had a kill and was not likely to move from the area. On Wednesday afternoon, MP to Odisha: first inter-state tiger relocation it was tranquilised by wildlife veterinarians from Pench and Kanha. It took two darts to immobile the big cat. Elephant-mounted staff then poked the tiger to check for any signs of activity. When it did not move, it was blindfolded and taken on a special stretcher. The team then measured all parameters, from its temperature to its canines, neck girth and length. The tiger was collared and later shifted to a cage.
While the cage was loaded on to a truck, three other vehicles with doctors and experts accompanied MB2 during the 680-km journey, which took about 22 hours. The tiger was finally released in Satkosia around 1.30 pm on Thursday.
“The operation was first planned for Thursday but was preponed by a day as the conditions were favourable,’’ said Dr Sanjay Shukla, Chief Conservator of Forests and Kanha park director.
While the intra-state tiger relocation experiment has been hugely successful in Madhya Pradesh — the Panna Tiger Reserve (PTR), where tiger sightings stopped in 2009, now has over 30 tigers — this is the first such case of inter-state relocation.
Confirming this, Madhya Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Shazbaz Ahmed said this was the first time that a tiger had been relocated from one state to another for being released into the wild.
Wildlife conservationist Belinda Wright also said this was the first such inter-state relocation, adding that the experiment “is a viable idea as long as they don’t shift breeding animals’’. “Satkosia is a lovely tiger habitat. I hope they will take every measure to keep the tigers safe,’’ she said.
While a lot will depend on how MB2 adapts to its new home, which has a good prey base, the next relocation, of a tigress, is likely to be undertaken only after monsoon. Kanha has about 105-107 tigers. The other pairs are likely to be be sent from Bandhavgarh and Pench.
Meanwhile Madhya Pradesh is still waiting for lions from Gujarat. A project to find an alternate home for the Asiatic lion outside the western state was conceived nearly three decades ago. A new site has been created in Palpur Kuno in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, but Gujarat has not parted with the lions. In 2013, the Supreme Court had asked Gujarat to share the lions.

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https://indianexpress.com/article/india/from-kanha-tiger-reserve-to-odisha-moving-a-tiger-with-care-5227993/

Katraj zoo to begin breeding programme for Indian giant squirrels in July

The squirrel, which is the state animal of Maharashtra, is an endangered species.
Updated: Jun 21, 2018 16:34 IST Prachi Bari Hindustan Times, Pune
There are five Indian giant squirrels in the Katraj zoo.(Kedar Bhatt)

The Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Research Centre will begin the exclusive conservation breeding programme of Indian giant squirrel which is an endangered species and also, the state animal of Maharashtra, from July. The Indian giant squirel is otherwise known as the Malabar Giant squirrel or ‘Shekru’.
“ This programme will help us understand the breeding pattern, lifestyle and lifespan of the Indian giant squirrel,” said DrRajkumar Jadhav, director. Rajiv Gandhi Zoological Park and Research Centre.
The central zoo authority has identified 73 endangered species across India for the exclusive conservation breeding programme. The programme began across zoos in India in 2008. The breeding for larger cats like Asiatic lion, Royal Bengal tiger and Cheetah, and smaller cats like leopard and spotted cats have begun in some of the schools.
Last year, the zoo began its trial on a pair of Indian giant squirrel and they gave birth to two young ones, within a span of a year. The zoo authorities are confident about rearing the new squirrels. A new cage of around 125 square metres with 25 feet height is being set up for the breeding programme. “ We have a total of 5 Indian giant squirrels, including the young ones.The newly-born young ones are female,” said Jadhav.
The zoo authorities added that they will now be able to work on the squirrels in a scientific manner in a separate breeding facility and they will be able to assess whether the squirrels are compatible and are able to adjust to the climatic conditions.
Conservation breeding is being carried out to restore the population of wild animal species. The animals selected for conservation breeding will not be displayed and will be kept in isolated places. They need special care.
“It is an honour to be selected for such a breeding programme where we are also contributing towards an important conservation. This kind of programme will play a vital role in studying about these endangered animals,” said Jadhav.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/pune-news/katraj-zoo-to-begin-breeding-programme-for-indian-giant-squirrels-in-july/story-7NjniQELGNSNswKaPWmdDO.html

Is Gujarat Govt’s Action Plan for Lion Conservation Enough?

Rahul NairUpdated: 21.06.18

When a video of locals harassing a lioness with a bait in the unprotected areas of Sasan at Gujarat's Gir went viral recently, social media lit up with outrage.

The Gujarat High Court had already pulled up the state government in March over poor measures to save Asiatic Lions – the pride of Gujarat, and of India – after reports of 184 deaths recorded between 2016 and 2017 were made public.
As many as 32 had perished due to unnatural causes, such as lions falling into open wells, electrocution by barbed wires, and road and rail accidents. The PIL is still being heard in the HC.
As the backlash of the viral video rattled the state government, they pulled out an "affirmative action" plan to silence their critics.

Although the action plan includes increasing forest land cover for lions, serving harsher punishments to miscreants who illegally film lions, and better infrastructure, whether any of these plans will work towards protecting and conserving the lions is highly debatable.

Confining Excess lion Population Within Gujarat

There are over 523 lions living in Gujarat as per the 2015 census. Three years on, the number could be well over 600, according to some wildlife experts. One of the major issues that the lion conservation movement in Gujarat faces, is that around 54.6 percent lions live outside the protected areas of the wildlife sanctuary.
As a result, lion and human interactions are at an all-time high, with videos of locals riding bikes in the lions’ vicinity or tourists chasing them around in vehicles disturbing the feline’s ecology making it to social media frequently.
One of the solutions that conservationists swear by is translocation of lions to new territory outside Gujarat.

For starters, the Supreme Court on 15 April 2013, had issued an order to move certain number of lions out of Gir to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. However, five years have passed, and not a single lion is on the prowl in Kuno.

Gujarat Not Keen on Inter-State Translocation?

An Asiatic lion rests in Gir forest. 

(Photo: Reuters)

Five years on, the Gujarat government claims that lions will be translocated, but under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) guidelines. These guidelines state that 33 studies need to be conducted before translocation is undertaken.
When The Quint asked the Principal Chief Conservator of Forest GK Sinha by when the translocation process will be completed, he passed the buck on to the Centre, and said only they will be able to reply.
Now, the state government is keen on moving lions to newer sanctuaries within the state.

“We are considering the translocation of lions but within the state. We have already identified new alternative sanctuaries; one in Porbandar called the Barda Sanctuary and one near Rajkot named Rampura Sanctuary. As of now we are building a prey base for lions in these sanctuaries. Once we have enough game to go around for the lions, the wild cats will be moved out.”

Dushyant Vasavda, Chief Conservatorof Forests,

By when? He did not respond.

Onus of Translocation Lies on Govt: Conservationist

Ravi Chellam, who is a member of an expert committee formed by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF & CC) based on the SC Order to implement translocation pointedly said it is the complete unwillingness of the governments to deal with the complexity and urgency of the problem.

“It is the governments of India, of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, who need to answer whether they will adhere to the SC Order or not. In fact, a contempt petition was filed in the SC which was heard in March this year and the government said that a committee meeting will be held in a week’s time based on which the SC did not take any further action. It is three months since the SC hearing but till now there is no indication of any progress.”

Ravi Chellam, Conservation Scientist

The Quint Spoke to Madhya Pradesh-based wildlife activists Ajay Shankar Dubey who had filed the contempt Petition in Supreme Court in 2014.

“Though the petition was filed in 2014, the first hearing was held on November 2017. In March 2017, the central government gave an assuranance that the translocation process will be undertaken soon and the matter was discharged. But three months have already passed and now we will again file a contempt petition in court.”

Ajay Shankar Dubey, Wildlife Activist

"If they want to translocate lions within the state, why has that step not been taken, what has stopped the Gujarat government so far? Do we respect the SC order or not? Because it was supposed to be implemented in six months’ time after the order was issued, and now five years down the line, and we are still talking about translocation," he added.

https://www.thequint.com/news/india/gujarat-jumps-to-action-after-criticism-of-conservation-methods-fire-from-all-corners

Now, teasing Gir lion can get you seven years’ imprisonment

The forest department will also institute a network of informers who will tip off the authorities on illegal activities such as filming of the Asiatic lion.
Updated: Jun 20, 2018 16:35 IST HT Correspondent Hindustan Times, Ahmedabad

As many as 523 lions were detected at the Gir National Park and Sanctuary in the 2015 census.(AP File Photo)

Teasing or illegally attracting an Asiatic lion’s attention at the Gir National Park and Sanctuary, the last abode of the big cat, can now attract punishment on the lines of poaching.
Stricter rules announced recently by the Gujarat government have prescribed seven years’ imprisonment for offenders. The step was taken after authorities came across several instances of people offering bait in order to lure the endangered animal into the open for the benefit of tourists. “The new decisions were taken to provide a safety net for lions and ensure that they are conserved,” said Gujarat forest minister Ganpat Vasava.
Other decisions included declaring an area of around 109 square kilometres in Amreli and Bhavnagar as a “conservation reserve”. Of the 523 lions detected in the protected zone during the 2015 census, around 200 inhabit these two districts along the coastal route.
The Gir National Park and Sanctuary is spread over an area of 1,500 square kilometres.
The forest department will also institute a network of informers who will tip off the authorities on illegal activities such as filming of the Asiatic lion. Wildlife guards and drivers were found arranging for illegal sightings of the animal in peripheral areas of the national park in recent times.
The state government is also taking steps to enhance tourism at the Gir National Park and Sanctuary. Given the spike in visitor count, the forest department has decided to increase the number of permits from 30 to 50 during weekdays and 50 to 60 during weekends. Additionally, it plans to launch safaris in the area around Mount Girnar in Junagadh city.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/now-teasing-gir-lion-can-get-you-seven-years-imprisonment/story-mfRxj72oFo1acMItc1xf7M.html

In Gujarat govt’s blueprint for saving lions: hiring informers, increasing safaris

The state government is also considering to fit radio collars on every lion to track their movements.

In the last two years, at least 38 cases of illegal activities, like conducting lion shows and harassing the felines by chasing them by vehicles in and around the Gir wildlife sanctuary have come to light.

By: Express News Service | Gandhinagar | Updated: June 20, 2018 8:26:20 am

Nearly a week after the Gujarat High Court sought “specific information” on the steps taken to prevent lion deaths, the state government on Tuesday announced a range of decisions for the conservation of Asiatic Lion in Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
Stating that in the last two years, at least 38 cases of illegal activities, like conducting lion shows and harassing the felines by chasing them by vehicles in and around the Gir sanctuary have come to light, the government has decided to employ police department like “informers” to curb such incidents.
“The government is sensitive and committed to the conservation of lions in the state. And for that a committee headed by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has taken a number of decisions… Like police department, we have decided to employ informers to curb such incidents. It has also been decided to impose strict criminal sections of hunting with maximum punishment of seven years against such miscreants who harass lions,” Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava told mediapersons at a press conference here, adding that harassment of lions by such illegal activities was one of the important issues addressed by the committee.
Vasava said that the Forest Department, in collaboration with the Tourism Department, has also decided to increase the number of lion safaris in the protected areas for tourists. “People tend to see lions through illegal activities like lion shows when they cannot see them in (legal) safaris. So, we have decided to increase the number of such safari permits from 750 to 1,110 in a week,” he said.
The Forest Minister also announced to develop a new tourism zone at Chikhalkuba village of Amreli district in order “to decrease the load of tourists on Sasan Tourism Zone”. “The lion safaris will start in the sanctuary area of Girnar mountain. Simultaneously, new safari routes will be added to Sasan zone,” he added.
Meanwhile, the PTI reported that the state government is also considering to fit radio collars on every lion to track their movements. “The issue of placing radio collars on each lion (in the sanctuary) is under consideration and a decision to this effect will be taken soon,” the PTI quoted Minister of State for Forests and Environment Ramanlal Patkar as saying.
The government is also set to declare an area of 109 square kilometre from Amreli and Bhavnagar districts as Conservation Reserve under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act. These are the areas which have been witnessing movement of lions outside the sanctuary area.
Under the Act, four kinds of protective areas can be notified — sanctuary, national park, conservation reserve and community reserve.
In another important administrative decision, Vasava said that the entire area of lion habitat will be brought under the single Junagadh Circle. Till now, the areas of lion habitats fell under three circles — Junagadh Wildlife Circle, Junagadh Regional Circle and Rajkot Circle. Vasava said that apart from the Gir Sanctuary, lions have settled or mobility in revenue areas and small forest areas. And therefore, a new division will be set up in Amreli under the control of Chief Conservator of Forest (Junagadh Wildlife Circle), covering nine talukas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts.
Gir Wildlife Sanctuary covers total area of 1,625 square kilometre. However, lions have spread their habitat even in revenue areas surrounding the sanctuary and the forest area, totalling around 2,2000 square kilometre.
The government’s decisions follow the High Court’s order last Wednesday, which directed it to file a fresh affidavit, giving details of the specific steps taken in the last couple of years to stop death of lions in and around the Gir forest caused by open wells, electrocution, vehicular traffic among others.
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/in-gujarat-govts-blueprint-for-saving-lions-hiring-informers-increasing-safaris-5225011/

 

Every Gir lion to be radio-collared

The Gujarat government decided to use radio-collars the way they are for tigers in various sanctuaries of the... Read More

Ashish Chauhan | TNN | Updated: Jun 19, 2018, 06:32 IST

AHMEDABAD: Every movement of Asiatic lions in the Gir forests — their only abode in the world — will be registered with the state government, which will soon fix a radio-collar on every big cat in the sanctuary spread across Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, and Amreli districts.
In a meeting held on Monday, the state government decided to use radio-collars the way they are for tigers in various sanctuaries of the country.

“In a meeting headed by Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, it was decided that it has become necessary to intensify the protection drive for the lions.

The use of radio-collars will be an essential part of the plan,” said minister of state for forests, Ramanlal Patkar. “The device will be GPS-enabled and will contain records of each lion, including its age and territory. By tracking the lions, we will be able to protect them.”

Patkar said that the plan will be implemented in a month, with over 600 Asiatic lions being radio-collared. Highly placed sources said that the project cost will cross over Rs 2 crore.

If anything suspicious is noticed in the movement of lions — for instance, if a lion seems stuck at one point for too long — forest guards or cops will be sent to rescue the animal.

The minister said that the lion population has risen to over 600 from 513 (census 2015 figure). Sources said that the initiative had become necessary in the wake of 57 unnatural deaths of lions over the past five years. Recently, a video went viral in which a lioness was seen being lured with chicken in the jungle.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/every-gir-lion-to-be-radio-collared/articleshow/64640151.cms

Gujarat: Making video clips of lions will now amount to hunting

Asiatic lion at Kankaria zoo in Ahmedabad.

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Updated: Jun 19, 2018, 20:56 IST

GANDHINAGAR: The Gujarat government on Tuesday declared that anybody harassing the Asiatic lions by organizing illegal lion shows, chasing lions on vehicles and making illegal video clips of the Big Cats will now attract serious penal action under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Government warned that those caught disturbing the king of the jungle will invite imprisonment of up to seven years.

The government also announced to form a single authority to manage the entire lionscape which is currently governed by four different authorities.

State forest minister Ganpat Vasava said: “We have asked forest officials to invoke hunting charges under section 9 of the act as any illegal activity such as holding illegal lion shows, harassing lions in speeding vehicles and even making clips of the Big Cats on mobile phones falls in the ambit of hunting."
"Hunting, as per the act does not mean only killing of lions, and also applies to harassing of the Schedule I animal. Until now, we were only imposing section of trespassing," Vasava added.

Gujarat governent faced severe criticism recently after series of videos showing locals pestering lions by offering them chicken or live bait as part of illegal lion shows went viral. Earlier, videos of youths chasing lions on speeding bikes and cars also had gone viral underscoring that the king of the jungle was constantly troubled by humans.

In wake of vocal attacks from different stakeholders, Vijay Rupani-led state govenrment held a review meeting to chalk out better strategy for conservation of lions on Monday.

On Tuesday, Vasava declared 13-point conservation plan to put a stop to menacingly rising man-animal conflict in Asiatic lion's habitat which has a population of 523 lions as per Census 2015 spread over 22,000 sq km across 1500 villages in Gir sanctuary in Junagadh and adjascent districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Gir-Somnath and Porbandar.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/making-video-clips-of-lion-will-now-amount-to-hunting/articleshow/64652336.cms

Guj govt mulls radio-collaring of every lion in Gir sanctuary

Press Trust of India  |  Ahmedabad  Last Updated at June 19, 2018 19:45 IST

Alarmed by the deaths of 32 lions in and around Gir wildlife sanctuary due to "unnatural causes" in the last two years, the Gujarat government is now considering to fit radio collars on every lion to track their movements.

Talking to PTI, Minister of State for Forests and Environment Ramanlal Patkar today said that the issue of using radio collars on each lion was discussed during a meeting held yesterday.

"The issue of placing radio collars on each lion (in the sanctuary) is under consideration and a decision to this effect will be taken soon," he said.
Besides, for the protection of these felines, the government is also taking some other measures, like cracking down on unauthorised agents who organise illegal lion shows and people trying to take selfies with the animals. The government is also trying to create a network of informers.
These decisions were taken during yesterday's meeting, which was also attended by Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, state Forests and Environment Minister Ganpat Vasava told reporters in Gandhinagar today.
He said for better co-ordination of security-related issues, the Gir forest, which is spread over the area of 109 square kms covering three different districts, will now be brought under the jurisdiction of Junagadh forest authorities.
"Lions are also found residing outside the forest area, and therefore a special division will be created under Chief Conservator of Forest Junagadh (at Amreli district). That division will look after areas such as Lilya, Kukawav, Jafrabad and Rajula of Amreli district and Mahua, Jesar, Palitana and Talaja of Bhavnagar district," he said.
"With the increased flow of tourists at Gir we have come to know that some people are organising illegal lion shows for tourists. Incidents of harassment of lions or being chased on vehicles have also come to our notice," Vasava said.
"Now, those found indulging in any such activities will be charged under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which has a provision of imprisonment of up to seven years," he said.
A network of informers will be created to find out about people indulging in such act, he said.
The government has also decided to increase facilities for tourists by creating new tourists zones like Chikhalkuba and areas near Girnar mountain. Earlier, tourists were only allowed to enter Sasan Gir and Devalia forest areas to see lions.
"Also, the state government has decided to allow more number of visitors and vehicles in the forest areas now," Vasava said.
Recently, the Gujarat high court had also taken suo motu cognisance of the number of lion deaths in Gir and sought the government's explanation.
As per the figures, as many as 184 lions- with 32 due to 'unnatural causes'- had died in two years- 2016 and 2017 and the high court had issued notices to the state and central governments over the issue.
As per the 2015 census, there were 523 lions in the state, the only abode of Asiatic lions.
The government had told the state Assembly that there are four reasons behind the "unnatural" death of lions-- road accidents, railway tracks passing through the forest areas, wells with damaged or no parapets and electric fences around agricultural lands.


(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
https://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/guj-govt-mulls-radio-collaring-of-every-lion-in-gir-sanctuary-118061900972_1.html

Gujarat govt to have more tourims zone and increased permits

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Jun 18, 2018, 19:02 IST

AHMEDABAD: The state government in order to curb illegal lion show outside the forest area has decided to increase the number of tourist permits and has also decided to have two new tourism zone one in Chital Kuba and another one in Girnar Sanctuary.

Senior officials who were part of the meeting, held on Monday in Gandhinagar, said, “the chief minister Vijay Rupani had a meeting with the senior officials and during the meeting it was decided to increase the number of tourists permit to 150 on regular days and 180 from the existing 150 on weekdays.”

The official said that it was decided that there are three trips during the day in Sasan, the first one at 6am second one at 9am and the third in the afternoon at 3pm. The official said that instead of permitting 30 vehicles at 6am, 9am and 3pm, the department will permit 50 vehicles at one go. Similarly, on weekends the same will be increased from 50 to 60 vehicles.
The officials said that this was being done to ensure that tourist get more permit and hence they stay away from such illegal shows.

Meanwhile it was also decided to carry out a feasibility study for setting up a tourism zone on the lines of Sasan one each at Chital Kuba near Tulsishyam and another one at Girnar. The government has asked the forest department to carry out the study and send a proposal to the government of India for approval at the earliest.

The government has been under pressure after a viral video had exposed how locals and other miscreants harass and exploit the pride of the state of Gujarat, its Asiatic lions. The video not only shows locals insulting the proud animal and teasing it for their entertainment, it also shows glimpses of illegal lion shows that are allegedly conducted by residents of the region.

However, there has been a resistance from the forest department against increasing the number of permits.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gujarat-govt-to-have-more-tourims-zone-and-increased-permits/articleshow/64636374.cms

Gir at airport: Lions roar when provoked!

Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport (File Photo)

TNN | Jun 18, 2018, 04:48 IST 

AHMEDABAD: Flyers at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International (SVPI) airport in the city will soon hear the roar of lions amid the roar of jet engines.
Ahmedabad airport authorities have recreated Gir jungle in the area between the arrival and departure zones of the airport. Models of Asiatic lions, deer, leopard, and birds have been installed in the airport jungle. The display also features chital and blackbuck. A pride of lions drinks from a waterhole.

Manoj Gangal, the airport director, said that the display is interactive. If visitors gesture at these lions, they roar while one can hear the cries of other Gir dwellers. The Gir jungle has been planned on the lines of the butterfly park at the Singapore airport, where the butterflies are real. Gangal said that Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani helped in implementing the concept of the Gir jungle at the airport.

The airport authorities had earlier decided to open a Gir lion museum on June 5 on the World Environment Day. It will be now be inaugurated at an informal function in the next couple of days.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/gir-at-airport-lions-roar-when-provoked/articleshow/64626954.cms

Byculla zoo gears up for Rs 127 crore revamp with 17 enclosures

 The zoo will get new animals like Asiatic lions and tigers

THE ASIAN AGE.

Published : Jun 18, 2018, 6:24 am IST

Updated : Jun 18, 2018, 6:23 am IST

Animals like leopard, jackal, hyena, wolf, sloth bear, otter and nilgai among others will be shifted to the new enclosures.

Mumbai: The Veer Jijamata Udyan, popularly known as Byculla zoo, is gearing up for the second phase of the Rs 120-crore revamp as the construction of new enclosures for animals has already started. The zoo is set to get 17 new enclosures along with new animals like Asiatic lion, tigers and swamp deer among others. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has already approved seven enclosures while the remaining are awaiting approval.
Animals like leopard, jackal, hyena, wolf, sloth bear, otter and nilgai among others will be shifted to the new enclosures. The swamp deer will be brought from the Kanpur zoo, which has already been approved. “The Asiatic lion from Junagad and tigers from Kanpur and Aurangabad are still awaiting approval which we are expecting soon. The seven new enclosures that we have started constructing will have these animals including the nilgai and aviary among others,” said Dr Sanjay Tripathi, director of Byculla zoo. Under the revamp’s first phase, the zoo’s exterior like the entrance and the periphery boundary, among others, were renovated.
The new enclosures will integrate animal-holding areas, exercise areas for animals, water bodies, viewing areas and artistic acrylic glass — as a barrier for visitors to view the animals from a distance.  “The funds for bringing in new animals will be assisted by the Central government and by inter-zoo transfers,” added Dr Tripathi.
Meanwhile, the zoo recently upgraded its animal hospital facilities, as new equipment like ultrasound machines, X-Ray machines and Gascon anaesthesia were introduced.

http://www.asianage.com/metros/mumbai/180618/byculla-zoo-gears-up-for-rs-127-crore-revamp-with-17-enclosures.html

Lion harassment: Gujarat government plans to shift big cats from human habitats

Chintan Acharya Updated: Jun 17, 2018, 04:32 AM IST

Gujarat government is mulling to shift the Asiatic lions of the state from revenue areas to sanctuaries for their safe living. The government is planning to do so after an incident was reported in Gir national forests of teasing a lioness with hen. The government's efforts would be to relocate the lions in Gir Gadhada sanctuary in place of revenue area that includes villages and farms.
The shifting will be on an experimental basis as the carnivores will not be relocated forcefully in jungles, but will be done only after positive results of the trails. The minister for forest and environment department of Gujarat government Ganpatsinh Vasava said, "Shifting lions from revenue areas to sanctuaries is the only solution to stop illegal lions' shows. We have identified Gir Gadhada sanctuary as a suitable location, but we will have to make sure that big cats also find it suitable to live."
"It is difficult to relocate lions from one place to another as they are habitual to live in open fields in place of dense jungles. We will try to relocate a pair of lions in Gir Gadhada sanctuary and that will be under constant observation of our staff. If that pair successfully starts living in sanctuary area and acclimates there, we will try to shift other pairs gradually," Vasava added.
The minister said he and secretary of forest and environment department officials had visited the place and held a meeting with foresters, hotels and resort operators in Gir and police. The government has also asked the hotel managers and report operators not to entertain illegal shows.
"We have asked the hotel owners to put banners that illegal lion show is prohibited. The foresters will have a team of local police also so that they can raid the places where illegal shows are held and legal actions can be initiated against those who hold it," Vasava said.

NEW POLICY

• Government has also decided that the farmers nearby Gir sanctuary will get special assistance to increase the height of protection wall around the wells as lions have been moving in farms.   
• The honorarium of Rs. 1,000 has been increased to Rs.2,000 for the volunteers who help forest staff in villages.
  http://www.dnaindia.com/ahmedabad/report-lion-harassment-gujarat-government-plans-to-shift-big-cats-from-human-habitats-2626223