‘It may be too late to contain virus outbreak killing Gir lions’

An American researcher, who worked on mitigating the canine distemper outbreak in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park in 1994, talks to Down To Earth about how many more Gir lions could have been exposed to the deadly virus

By Rajat Ghai, Ishan Kukreti Last Updated: Tuesday 30 October 2018

Three more lions died in the Dhari division of Gujarat on October 22, say highly placed sources in the Gujarat Forest Department. Credit: Getty Images

After the recent deaths of 21 Asiatic lions in Gir National Park owing to canine distemper virus (CDV), the administration, in a knee-jerk reaction, took several steps like forming 140 teams to comb the forest area for diseased lions, calling experts from Wildlife Institute of India, Delhi Zoo, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly, and quarantining around 30 lions in Jasadhar and Jamvada rescue centres. But all in vain. Three more lions died on October 22 in the Dhari division of Gujarat, say highly placed sources in the Gujarat Forest Department. “Bodies of three more lions have been found in the Dhari division, and it might be that they died of CDV,” said the forest official requesting anonymity. 
Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park, which is a Mecca for leonine aficionados and experts alike, has also been the site of tragedy. In 1994, an outbreak of the canine distemper virus (CDV) killed 1,000 of the 3,000 lions in the park. Still, the habitat is resilient. Within four years, lion numbers had come up. Serengeti offers lessons to Gir.

Craig Packer, director of the Lion Research Centre at the University of Minnesota in the US and part of a team involved in mitigating the CDV outbreak at the Serengeti sanctuary, spoke to Down To Earth. Excerpts:
How was the epidemic brought under control at Serengeti?
We knew of several. outbreaks, and they always ran their course Once infected, an animal either dies or develops lifelong immunity (just like we do with measles). It’s probably too late to do anything now to stop the current outbreak in Gir because many of the lions could have already been exposed to the virus but haven’t yet shown symptoms.
Have there been any outbreaks of CDV among Serengeti lions after 1994?
There have been outbreaks in the Serengeti every 5-13 years since the 1970s, but the disease only caused minor symptoms during most epidemics. The high mortality rates in the Serengeti in 1994 and in Ngorongoro Crater in 2001 resulted from co-infection with unusually high levels of Babesia, a tick-borne parasite that spreads from prey animals to lions during droughts.
Are Gir lions more vulnerable to CDV because they are genetically not very diverse?
Our studies of the similarly inbred lion population in Ngorongoro Crater suggest that these animals are more susceptible to infectious disease—as would be expected from our knowledge of the mammalian immune system.  Gene regions involved in protection against infectious disease are among the most diverse in our entire genome.  In a population with reduced genetic diversity, the parasite is more likely to find new victims with the same genetic susceptibility.
(This is the second section of a four-part series on the death of Gir Lions. It will also appear in Down To Earth's November 1-15 print edition under the headline 'Pride goes before a fall'. Reach the first section here)
https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/-it-may-be-too-late-to-contain-virus-outbreak-killing-gir-lions--61977

Europe offers last line of defence for the Asiatic lion

By Anand Chandrasekhar

• in depth: Indian intersection

This content was published on October 30, 2018 2:00 PMOct 30, 2018 - 14:00

There are close to 150 captive Asiatic lions in Europe.
(Keystone)

The recent death of 23 Asiatic lions in India – including three from the highly contagious Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) – has highlighted the risk of confining the species to a small part of the country. In a worst-case scenario, can captive animals in European countries like Switzerland help re-establish the species? 

It is lunch time and the suburban neighbourhood of Zurichberg reverberates with the guttural call of a male lion. A 20-minute tram ride from Zurich’s main station, Zoo Zurichexternal link is by far the biggest attraction here, especially during the school holidays. Visitors flock to the lion enclosure, drawn to the sounds of the king of the jungle.

A crowd favourite at the zoo

The Zurich zoo has four Asiatic lions: A 13-year-old male, a 15-year-old female and their two female cubs aged nine and eight.

• Environment

The four lions – one male and three females – do not belong to the African savannah but to deciduous forests of Gujarat state in northwestern India. Just over 600 Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) in the Gir Protected Area and surrounding region are all that is left of the wild Asiatic lion. The species once ranged from Greece in the west to India in the east but is now confined to a corner of an Indian state. Despite several proposals to relocate a few animals to other parts of the country, including an order from the Supreme Court in 2013, Gujarat has refused to part with “its lions”. It is a decision that could prove costly for the species.
Within a span of two weeks in September, 23 lions died in the Gir forest. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) was detected in five of 24 samples tested, which indicated at least three of the dead lions were infected. Further testing of 80 samples from 27 lions that were placed under observation at the nearby Sakkarbaug Zoo revealed that 21 animals had tested positive for CDV.
“This indicates active disease transmission among the Gir lions,” confirmed a statement from the Indian Council of Medical Research on October 9.
This could have a serious impact on the population if history repeats itself. In 1994, an outbreak of CDV in the Serengeti in Tanzania decimated a third of the lions there.
“When you only have a small population of Asiatic lions it would be a great risk to the survival of the species if a third were wiped out,” Robert Zingg of Zoo Zurich told swissinfo.ch.
According to him, the relatively large number of lions in a small area means the risk of spread is high as more interactions are likely.

Buffer population

Zingg is a strong advocate of creating a second population of Asiatic lions in India. The Zurich zoo had financially supported attempts to develop a second home for the lions in the Kuno wildlife sanctuary in central India. Funds sent by the zoo were used to create an inventory of plants and animals in the sanctuary. Six years on, Kuno still hasn’t received any lions despite being deemed a suitable habitat for the big cats.
“In a country with so many people, every place prepared for wildlife should be used. It is not easy to find large enough spaces to establish a certain number of lions,” says Zingg.
Apart from disease, Zingg is worried about the fact that many of the lions in Gujarat live near villages where people graze livestock. He is afraid that people will retaliate if lions kill many cattle or even attack people.
Zurich zoo was one of three zoos – along with London and Helsinki – lucky enough to obtain pure Asiatic lions in the 1990s from the Sakkarbaug Zoo in Gujarat. A pair named Bhagirath and Mena were a gift to commemorate the 700^th anniversary of the founding of Switzerland. Along with the London and Helsinki zoos, Zurich’s launched a European breeding programme and two decades later, 43 European zoos have a total of almost 150 Asiatic lions.

stats

Captive lions stats

“The programme was so successful that today, it is difficult to find places for the lions. So we do not breed any more at the moment,” says Zingg.
The females have a hormonal implant that prevents them from getting into oestrus. If called upon, the zoo is capable of resuming the breeding programme. But there is a slight hitch. The breeding female was born in 2003 and her age makes it uncertain she could have any cubs. The two younger females are the progeny of the current male, hence no breeding is possible. The zoo will have to exchange its females for another male to make it work. This is where cooperation with India is required.
“They can help us in ensuring the zoo populations in Europe are genetically healthy. This would mean that additional animals are sent from India to European zoos when necessary,” says Zingg.
The Indian authorities have said that they don’t have enough animals to send to Europe but suggested artificial insemination instead. According to Zingg, this method is difficult to implement successfully, and it is much easier to exchange animals. 

Swiss lions in wild?

While it is the responsibility of zoos to have animals that are genetically sound, can they really offer the possibility of re-establishing a big cat species that has been lost in the wild?
“The zoo populations of lions and all big cats are relatively robust and serve as a backstop from extinction – but the priority must be in ensuring the wild populations like the Gir lions stay safe,” says Doug Cress, CEO of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariumsexternal link (WAZA).
That said, Cress underlines the role of zoos in the successful re-establishment of species that almost went extinct in the wild like the California condor, Black-foot ferret, Corroboree frog and the Golden Lion tamarin. Captive animals have acquired greater importance when evaluating the overall chances of survival of a species.
“Any population of wild animals could be re-established through the captive populations cared for in zoos and aquariums, and that is one reason the IUCN Red List of Threatened Speciesexternal link will now include captive populations when assessing the extinction threat levels for species,” says Cress.
Despite the sufficient numbers it is notoriously difficult to re-establish big cats from zoos into the wild. A ten-year old studyexternal link that examined over 45 attempts at re-establishing carnivores including cheetahs and tigers found that the success rate of projects using captive-born animals was a mere 13% compared to 31% from wild-caught animals.
The lions at the Zurich zoo have managed to kill birds like herons that entered their enclosure, but their hunting skills are not good enough to survive in the wild. Zingg estimates that it will take two generations to create animals that have these skills to transmit to their offspring – a process that would require sacrificing a lot of prey animals.
Depending on how India copes with CDV crisis, it might not come to that.
“It is important to be aware that when you are the only country with a species you have a great responsibility,” says Zingg.
https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/viral-disease_europe-offers-last-line-of-defence-for-the-asiatic-lion/44506140

Poachers killed a lion in 2016, admits Gujarat govt

The Rajya Sabha was told that 50 unnatural lion deaths were reported between 2015 and 2018

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Oct 28, 2018, 07:04 IST

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat government has always maintained that Gir is a safe haven for the Asiatic Lions, but in reply to a question in the budget session of the Rajya Sabha this year, the state government for the first time since 2007 admitted that a lion was killed by poachers in June 2016.

Giving details of lion deaths in Gir from 2015 to 2018, on a question raised by Congress MP from Andhra Pradesh, Dr T Subbarami Reddy, Union ministry of forest and environment informed the House that the poaching incident was reported in Vadal. The Rajya Sabha was told that 50 unnatural deaths were reported between 2015 and 2018.

Last year, one of the absconding accused in the 2007 lion poaching case, Sarfaraz Qureshi, was arrested from Fatehpur area in Allahabad (now Prayagraj) in Uttar Pradesh by a team of Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS). Eighteen persons have so far been arrested in the 2007 poaching case.

According to Sanjay Mehta, the chief conservator of forests (CCF), the incident had taken place in Vadal area and one Balu Moji, a resident of the village, was also arrested. "He had laid the trap in the revenue area. During investigation, Moji claimed that the trap was not for lions but for animals like neelgai," Mehta said, adding, "The case is pending in a court and Moji is out on bail." A former CCF, who had served in Junagadh, said that usually farmers lay such traps for catching neelgais and to keep them away from the fields. "We usually do not register such cases as poaching," he said.

Even IUCN has in its report in 2016 stated that though the lion population outside the protected area of the Gir sanctuary has increased by around 400%, these lions in Gujarat are under threat of illegal trade of body parts, similar to that in Africa.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/poachers-killed-a-lion-in-2016-admits-gujarat-govt/articleshow/66397695.cms

Forest department screens lions during full moon day

By Alok Brahmbhatt, Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Oct 25, 2018, 10:23 IST

The exercise comes at a time when 26 lions have died due to illness or infighting in the last 45 days.

Forest department celebrated Sharad Poonam (Wednesday) searching, sighting and screening lions in Gir and adjoining areas. Officials said it is a regular exercise every poonam night. Interestingly, senior officials too are camping in lion landscape while the screening is going on.

The exercise comes at a time when 26 lions have died due to illness or infighting in the last 45 days. Different teams comprising of trackers and beat guards in supervision of the officials undertook the exercise on Wednesday. Sources also confirmed that senior officials from Gandhinagar too have reached Sasan to monitor screening.

Chief Conservator of Forest D T Vasavada said, "It is a regular exercise whether there is any issue or not. Our team is in field every poonam as it is brightest night to monitor movement of nocturnal animals focusing on Lions." Vasavada did not comment about senior officials' visit but confirmed that they are in Sasan.

Along with 23 lions dead in Dalkhaniya of Gir east, three cubs were found dead in Khambha of Gir east recently. One lion was reportedly found sick in Ambardi near Dhari of Gir east range on Wednesday.
https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/forest-department-screens-lions-during-full-moon-day/articleshow/66358042.cms

Prosecute those who scuttled SC judgment to protect Gir Lions : Justice KS Radhakrishnan

Justice KS Radhakrishnan talks to Mathrubhumi Online

# G Shaheed

Published: Oct 25, 2018, 08:29 AM IST

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Asiatic lion in Gir forest. Photo:AFP/File

The sole objective of the SC judgment was to protect the endangered Gir Lions of Gujarat, concluded the court after detailed discussions with eminent wildlife biologists of India, apart from meticulously evaluating the scientific studies of the Wildlife Institute of India, said Justice KS Radhakrishnan.
But it seems that the judgment was scuttled without caring for the lions. Those who scuttled it should be brought before law for contempt of court proceedings as well as subjected to prosecution, he said in an interview to Mathrubhumi Online.
The judgment was delivered by a division bench of the court on April 15, 2013.
At least two decades back Dehradun’s Wildlife institute has been carrying detailed scientific studies to protect the lions. Asiatic lions are now living only in Gir.
The institute had felt that the Gir lions need a second home, because in case an epidemic spreads, the entire lion community would be wiped out. Such a frightening and unusual incident happened in 1994 in Tanzania when thousands of lions died as a result of viral infection.
If any such thing occurs in Gir, it would cause irrecoverable havoc. So in order to save the lions it was thought that a second home be provided.
After studies, the wildlife institute came to the conclusion that Kuno forest in MP is an ideal location with the same habitat like Gir with similar terrain, grasslands, water availability and enough prey.
The union forest ministry had approved the same while we considered a petition to translocate a few lions to Kuno and gradually implement the union ministry’s project so that a part of them can be shifted and protected. The Court had detailed discussions with wild life biologists who were present in the court.
We bestowed our anxious considerations to protect a species but the judgment was scuttled, Justice KS Radhakrishnan said.

A lion in Gir Forest. Photo: Mathrubhumi Archives

But from the very beginning, the Gujarat Government was objecting to the second home in Kuno. The Government said the lions were well protected but che Court on the basis of scientific studies approved the project as fully supported by the union Government.
The Union Government was directed to implement the judgment within six months from the date of pronouncing the order. A committee was formed by the union government to implement it. At first, at least 10 lions were to be taken to Kuno and gradually in a time bound project more lions would be shifted. But nothing happened, the committee was silenced.
In 2015, the then Forest Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Parliament that the implementation will take some more time though the Court had fixed six months. That sounded the death knell of the committee.
Justice Radhakrishnan opined that the union government should find out who were all responsible to scuttle the judgment. They have to be prosecuted for violating the judgment of the court which was wholly aimed to protect an endangered species called Gir Lions.
Now the scenario is alarming. 23 lions are dead due to viral infection. But unofficial toll rate were put at 60. Though the Gujarat forest department said that death was due to infightings among the lions, the Virology Institute of Pune has said that viral infection was the cause of death.

Lions in Gir forest. Photo: UNI/File

It has come out through press reports that Gujarat forest department has not taken due care and caution to protect the lions.
The judgment was delivered imbibing the spirit of the Wildlife Protection Act, Biological Diversity Act and numerous proceedings taken by the Union Ministry of Forests to protect the endangered species. But it was given scant respect, observed Justice Radhakrishnan.
Now a bench of the SC headed by Justice Madan Lokur is aware of the serious situation of non-implementing a well-considered judgment of 2013.
There are around 520 lions now in Gir.
https://english.mathrubhumi.com/features/specials/prosecute-those-who-scuttled-sc-judgment-to-protect-gir-lions-justice-ks-radhakrishnan-1.3251655

Amid claims of strict action, another video of illegal lion show surfaces

Veraval | Thursday, Oct 25 2018 IST

Despite claims of strict action against illegal lion-show organisers in Gir area to fight the spread of deadly Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) among the big cats, another video of such a show has gone viral.In the short video suspected to be shot somewhere in Gir forests in Gir Gadhada area of Gir Somnath district, a man sitting on a chair could be seen holding a hen in his hand and tempting a lioness standing quite close-by. The lioness, after first few attempts, succeeds in catching the hen. A forest official said that the matter is being investigated. It would also be checked as to whether it was an old or a recent video. Notably, in the same area seven people were jailed some time back for organising lions shows. Between September 12 and October 2, altogether 23 lions of a same group had died in Dalkhaniya range of Gir forests, the sole abode of Asiatic lions. The deadly CD virus was held responsible for it. The CDV had killed more than 1000 lions in a forest in East Africa in 1991. It was suspected that the infected meat consumed during the illegal lion shows could also be responsible for spread of CDV among lions. UNI RAJ SB 1351 https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/India/20181025/3461470.html

Recruitment of Van Mitras begins in Gir

Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Oct 25, 2018, 06:15 IST

Toadd ears and eyes to forest department in lion territory, a recruitment drive began on Tuesday.

Gir East division has begun the process to recruit 42 Van Mitras (friends of the forest) — 30 for recently sanctioned villages along with filling 12 vacant posts.

As many as 26 lions died recently in Dalkhaniya range of Gir East, while three cubs were found dead in Khambha on Monday and a sick lion was reportedly sighted near Dhari on Wednesday.
https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/recruitment-of-van-mitras-begins-in-gir/articleshow/66353406.cms

The Last Lions of India

Disease has struck the rare Asiatic lions of Gujarat, and other new threats have put their recovery in jeopardy. What will it take to save them?

October 24, 2018 - by Atula Gupta

Wild, Incisive, Fearless.

When most people think of lions, they probably think of Africa. But another, lesser-known subspecies of lion actually lives in India, where they represent a major conservation victory — for now, at least.
Asiatic lions are a distant cousin of the much bigger African lions that diverged from the African continent over 100,000 years ago. They once roamed throughout the Middle East, including Mesopotamia, Syria, Iran, Palestine, Arabia and Balochistan, along with much of Northern India to the Bay of Bengal. Sadly hunting caused the lion’s numbers and territory to shrink, until they were only found on the Indian subcontinent. After that, trigger-happy British colonialists and Indian maharajahs shot practically all of India’s lions except for a handful in the Gir deciduous forests in Junagarh, a district in Gujarat in western India.
By the beginning of 20th century only an estimated 20 Asiatic lions remained in the wild. Their fate would have been sealed forever if not for the timely act of the nawab of Junagarh who offered immediate sanctuary — from a king to the king of the jungle — and the lions finally found a safe haven. The nawab was succeeded by his son, an even bigger animal lover, who in 1922 totally banned hunting of lions in Gir and declared the region as a protected area.
Over the next 100 years, as colonial rule gave way to an independent democratic country, national parks and wildlife sanctuaries started sprouting across India especially to save the national animal — the tiger. Gir became a government-protected reserve and, as the last bastion of Asiatic lions, has continued to play a vital role in the conservation of the species.

New Troubles

The last census of the cats’ population in 2015 showed 356 Asiatic lions living in the Gir National park and another 167 in the unprotected forest and revenue areas of Gujarat state.
The lions owe their survival and recovery to the assiduous efforts of India’s Forest Department, the state and central governments, and the local communities who have revered the lions as the true king of their last abode. It came as no surprise when, in 2015, the Asiatic lions became the first big carnivores to be downgraded from “critically endangered” to “endangered” on the IUCN Red List of threatened species. They’re a rare conservation victory any nation would be proud of.
But is it all good news for Asiatic lions? Perhaps it seems that way when you look at their rising numbers, but it appears less so when you look at the bigger picture of a shrinking habitat. With more than 500 lions in the 8,494-square-mile park (22,000 sq. km), many experts feel there’s just not enough room for their population to continue to grow. Meanwhile, keeping them all in one place also leaves the lions vulnerable to the ravages of a future natural or man-made disaster like fire or floods, which could spell doom for the whole species.
In fact one of those disasters may have now arrived, as at least 23 Asiatic lions have died in the past few months. About half of the deaths have been linked to an outbreak of canine distemper virus, an infectious disease that has also threatened other wild cat populations. In response, the Gujarat State Forest and Animal Husbandry departments have started a program to vaccinate local cattle and dogs, from which the disease probably spread to lions, but it’s as-yet unknown how many lions remain at risk.

The People Problem

Meanwhile, there’s another threat: With millions of tourists flocking to see the animals each year, the villagers living on the fringes of the forest have found a new way to earn quick bucks by showing off “their state’s pride” to passing tourists.
In May this year seven people were arrested in Gujarat for planning an illegal lion show, where a somewhat tamed lioness was lured out of the forest with live chicken bait. The viral video — and many other such episodes of locals abusing wild lions through staged hunts and wild chases that surfaced one after the other — burst the bubble for the custodians of the forest, who had until then believed they were doing everything right to protect the lions.
The Gujarat state government immediately took stern steps. New rules include a ban on taking videos of the wild lions, which will now amount to hunting. Any individuals shooting a lion with a camera could get seven years of imprisonment and will be booked under section 9 of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
Other initiatives suggested are radio collaring each of the wild cats to track them constantly and the enrollment of local guardians into a troop called SinhMitras (Friends of the Lion) who, accompanied by dogs, would roam the forests to keep a watch not on the lions but the tourists and ensure no one uses any illegal means to get a glimpse of the lions. The state is also intent on adding two additional safari parks and turning them into protected areas to reduce the tourism pressure on the current safaris.

The Missing Step

However, a step the Gujarat government is reluctant to take is to give away its pride — or at least to share the responsibility of conservation by extending the lion’s territory to a neighboring state and thereby improving the lions’ chances of survival in the face of unexpected disasters like the current disease outbreak.
Five years ago the Supreme Court of India, the nation’s highest judicial body, issued an order to move some lions from Gir national park to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, but to this date no lion has been moved.
Gujarat claims that the translocation will happen only after 33 studies have been conducted in Madhya Pradesh under the IUCN guidelines. The Madhya Pradesh government, on the other hand, says it is ready for the lions, having expanded the size of the Kuno protected area from 133 square miles (344 square km) to 270 square miles (700 sq. km). They have also spent Rs. 90 crore (U.S. $13 million) for relocation of 24 villages in the core area, development of prey base and other infrastructure needs. Ravi Chellam, a member of an expert committee formed by the Environment Ministry, believes it is the complete unwillingness of the governments — both central and the states — to deal with the complexity and the urgency of the problem that is delaying the shift of the lions.
What is worrying is Gujarat’s unflinching belief that it is the only state in India capable of protecting the cats; this could turn catastrophic. A recent study showed that of the 184 deaths recorded of lions in 2016 and 2017, 32 were due to unnatural causes like falling into open wells, being hit by trains or vehicles, electrocution and poisoning. The presence of six highways, a railway line and about 18,000 open wells only increase the danger of continued accidents. “At the moment, all our eggs are in one basket and that is a huge risk,” warned Chellam.
Even the recent canine distemper outbreak has not swayed the government’s position. This month Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani emphatically stated that the lions were “completely safe in the forest” and “will not be relocated.”
The lions of Gujarat are admittedly doing relatively well overall despite the current threats, but Asiatic lions are still endangered and need a contingency plan that ensures they can roar beyond the boundaries of their lone territory. While at one time the resolute action of a nawab saved the lions by closing the boundaries of the state, what would do greater good today is to open dialogues, share expertise, encourage development of more secure habitats through translocations and give the kings of the jungle a chance to spread their kingdoms.
© 2018 Atula Gupta. All rights reserved.
The opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The Revelator, the Center for Biological Diversity or their employees.
https://therevelator.org/last-lions-india/

Russian wildlife experts to help Indian counterparts

Wednesday, 24 October 2018 | Archana Jyoti | New Delhi
Indian wildlife experts will be assisted by their counterparts from Russia in a study to check the health of big cats in the tiger reserves across the country.
A team of researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will kick-start the study soon with an aim to protect the beleaguered tiger population in the country from zoonotic diseases like Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), which has wiped out over 30 lions in the Gir Forest in Gujarat
 Following the Lions’ death, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), meanwhile, also issued an alert to all reserves to keep a close watch for symptoms of the CDV.
“Wildlife experts from Russia are being roped in for our study as the country is facing similar challenges as India on conservation front. Today, fewer than 500 Siberian tigers-- the largest of the tiger subspecies - survive. The Russians have experience in protecting and researching the Amur tiger, as well as outline a long-term, comprehensive system of conservation measures,” said a senior official from the NTCA, the top tiger conservation body of the government in the country.
He said that an agreement will soon be signed between Dehradun-based WII and A N Severtsov Institute of Ecology in Evolution Academy of Sciences, one of the leading biological Institutes of Russia. The Institute is a scientific research centre on ecology, biological diversity, ethology, evolutionary morphology and nature conservation.
One of the study’s objectives will be to formulate a strategy for the protection of the tigers from the fatal diseases, if any, the official said noting that emerging infectious diseases are a concern not only to humans but also to the conservation and welfare of wildlife species.
As per the proposed study, the researchers will test every tiger carcass they finds for the virus or any other threatening disease. Efforts will also be taken to vaccinate dogs around the periphery of the reserves against canine distemper.
According to a 2014 study from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), CDV has the potential to be a significant driver in pushing the tigers towards extinction. The authors evaluated these impacts on the Amur tiger population in Russia’s Sikhote-Alin Biosphere Zapovednik (SABZ), where tiger numbers declined from 38 individuals to 9 in the years 2007 to 2012. In 2009 and 2010, six adult tigers died or disappeared from the reserve, and CDV was confirmed in two dead tigers leading scientists to believe that CDV likely played a role in the overall decline of the population.
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/india/russian-wildlife-experts-to-help-indian-counterparts.html

Three lion cubs found dead near Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, infighting suspected

Earlier last month, as many as 23 lions died in Gir forest reportedly due to infighting, Canine Distemper Virus and Protozoa infection.
Published: 23rd October 2018 12:51 AM  |   Last Updated: 23rd October 2018 12:56 AM 

By PTI

AHMEDABAD: The carcasses of three lion cubs were Monday found from the outskirts of a village in Amreli district near the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, Forest department officials said.
Primary investigation has revealed that the three cubs, in the age group of 4 to 5 months, were killed by male lions during infighting between prides to establish dominance, said a statement from the department.
Locals had alerted the forest staff after spotting the carcass of a lion cub on the outskirts of Khadadhar village of Amreli district.
"Upon reaching the spot, the forest staff found two more carcasses of lion cubs from a nearby area. Forensic experts and veterinary doctors found deep wounds of canine teeth on their bodies. They also found pug marks of other lions in the area" the statement said.

"Carcass of a nilgai, killed by lions, was also found in the area. These signs indicated that the cubs might have been killed by other male lions during an in-fight" the statement said, adding that a panel of doctors would do post mortem on the carcasses.
Earlier last month, as many as 23 lions died in Gir forest reportedly due to infighting, Canine Distemper Virus and Protozoa infection.

http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/oct/23/three-lion-cubs-found-dead-near-gir-wildlife-sanctuary-infighting-suspected-1888693.html

Gir lion deaths: 36 lions under observation, time for release not decided

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Ravi Chellam, a wildlife biologist, said that keeping wild lions in captivity for long periods is risky. (File)

After the multiple deaths, the forest department launched an extensive drive to screen each lion in Gir forest and other protected areas from September 23.

Written by Gopal Kateshiya | Rajkot | Published: October 20, 2018 8:46:02 am

WHILE THERE has been no report of any lion death due to disease in the last 20 days, 36 Asiatic lions that were rescued after a spate of deaths in Dalkhaniya range last month are still under observation. Forest officers said they have not decided on any timeframe to release them back into the wild.
Between September 12 and 29, 23 Asiatic lions died in Dalkhaniya range of Gir (east) forest division. All the big cats that died had settled in Sarasiya Vidi, a 25 sq km forest patch in Dalkhaniya range. While carcasses of seven lions were found in Sarasiya Vidi, four others that had been shifted to rescue centres died while undergoing treatment.
After the multiple deaths, the forest department launched an extensive drive to screen each lion in Gir forest and other protected areas from September 23. During the drive, which covered 3,000 sq km, a lioness in Sarasiya Vidi was found to be ill and died before she could be treated. Another lion cub that was shifted to a rescue centre also died.
The forest department rescued the remaining 13 lions from Sarasiya Vidi and shifted them to Jasadhar Rescue Centre in Gir (east) forest division. As a precautionary measure, the department caged 31 lions from Semardi area and two from neighbouring Paniya range. The lions from Semardi were shifted to Jamwala Rescue Centre in Gir (west) forest division and those from Paniya were transferred to Babarkot Rescue Centre in Amreli social forestry division. However, 10 of the 13 lions rescued from Sarasiya Vidi died by September 29.
The remaining 36 lions have been under observation at the three facilities for almost three weeks now. After the National Institute of Virology, Pune announced that samples of some of the dead lions had tested positive for the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), veterinarians had given CDV vaccine to the lions under observation. The NIV later confirmed that samples of 21 out of 27 lions under observation had returned positive for the viral disease.
“They are all well,” Dushyant Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) of Junagadh wildlife circle, told The Indian Express on Friday when asked about the 36 lions under observation.
The forest department has imported 300 doses of CDV vaccine from the US and placed an order for 500 more doses. However, the CCF said they had not decided whether to give the two booster doses and when to release the carnivores back into their territories. “The first booster dose can be given only 21 days after the initial dose. The second booster can be given three weeks after the first booster dose,” Vasavada said.
Ravi Chellam, a wildlife biologist, said that keeping wild lions in captivity for long periods is risky. “Since lions are territorial animals, they mark their territories on a daily basis by roaring and scent marking. If territories are not marked, other lions will recognise that the territory is vacant… Some other lions will take over the territory without any challenge… This will significantly reduce the chances of the captured lions surviving after being released.” he said.
He also advocated eliminating potential sources of disease rather than rescuing lions and treating them in captivity. “The problem is our approach to dealing with wild animals as if they are semi-captive, rescuing them at will. We shouldn’t treat wild animals in that way. What we should do is prevent poaching, lions falling into wells, being run over by trucks and trains,” Chellam said, adding that regular disease monitoring and ring-vaccination of domestic animals is important.
He advocated a credible, multi-disciplinary and independent investigation into the disease outbreak
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gir-lion-deaths-36-lions-under-observation-time-for-release-not-decided-5410061/

False pride: Experts advise translocation

Picture for representational purpose only

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Oct 19, 2018, 06:30 IST

AHMEDABAD: While the Gujarat high court advised the state government to accept advice from experts on the conservation of lions, experts say it is time to implement the Supreme Court order directing that the lions be translocated.

The Gujarat CM has, however, categorically refused to translocate the big cats. Lion experts have also said that there is no need to vaccinate all wild lions. The Gujarat government has so far vaccinated 36 lions that had been caged from a range near that of the pride which had lost 23 of its 26 members. The high court, acting on a petition, on Wednesday directed the state to follow advice of experts to tackle the outbreak of disease. "There is an order of the Supreme Court from April 2013, which mandates the translocation of lions to Kuno. It clearly states that translocation should be done in six months. It has been more than five years now, and the governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, and the Centre should now cooperate and make this happen in the next 12 months. This will provide some geographical separation between two populations of wild lions and reduce the risk of the sub species going extinct through events like the recent disease outbreak," said Ravi Chellam, a lion expert and the driving force behind the translocation project.

Chellam said, "It is crucial that we fully understand the recent disease outbreak, and this requires a credible, multi-disciplinary and independent investigation of the outbreak. This knowledge will inform the management of the crisis and help us plan more effectively for the future."

Chellam further said that it is important that the sources and paths of infection are identified quickly. Domestic animals, especially dogs and livestock in and around Gir, should be ring vaccinated for all potential diseases as standard practice. For this to be effective, vaccination and disease monitoring programmes should be implemented regularly.

About vaccinating the wild lions, he said that it is best to restrict vaccination to lions that have been captured and all lions in the wild should not be vaccinated. Care should be taken over the use of recombinant vaccines, as there are legitimate questions over their efficacy.

H S Singh another lion expert and a member of the National Board for Wildlife, who never openly advocated translocation, stated that in his individual opinion, lions should be translocated to Kuno Palpur.

Singh also said all the wild lions should not be vaccinated. He said, "After the virus outbreak, the state was quick to react. In Tanzania, the action began only after 30% of the population was wiped out."

WII lion expert Y V Jhala said, "It appears that mortality in lions was not as expected and the deaths of 23 lions is insignificant. The forest department has vaccinated all lions that were caged. People like Richard Kock and other experts who have worked in the Serengeti should be roped in and their advice should be heeded.

A leading expert on lion conservation, Dr Craig Packer, when contacted after the deaths of 23 lions from canine distemper
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/false-pride-experts-advise-translocation/articleshow/66279525.cms

Deaths Of Gir Lions Spark Political Row In Gujarat

In a letter written to Vijay Rupani on the issue, Paresh Dhanani sought action against those responsible for not devising a proactive action plan to deal with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), believed to be the main reason for the deaths.

All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: October 19, 2018 03:24 IST

Congress alleged Gujarat government's lax attitude resulted in the deaths of the lions at Gir (File)

Ahmedabad: Alleging that the Gujarat government's lax attitude led to the death of 23 lions in Gir forest, Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly Paresh Dhanani on Thursday sought explanation from Chief Minister Vijay Rupani on this "man-made tragedy".
In a letter written to Mr Rupani on the issue, Mr Dhanani sought action against those responsible for not devising a proactive action plan to deal with Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), believed to be the main reason for the deaths.
He alleged that although the government knew that the disease has killed a large number of lions in Africa in the past, the vaccine for CDV, which was imported at the last moment, was not brought in advance.
"The government knew that a vaccine is available to deal with CDV. However, we imported it (from the US) only after 23 lions succumbed to the infection. Such last minute arrangement led to this man-made tragedy. Why didn't we bring the vaccine well in advance?" asked Mr Dhanani in the letter.
"Lions could have been saved had the vaccine been made available well in advance. I firmly believe that action must be taken against those who were responsible for this man-made tragedy," the Congress leader said.
He asked Mr Rupani to probe whether the unavailability of vaccine was a "conspiracy".
Referring to the provisions enlisted in the Gir Management Plan for conservation of lions, Mr Dhanani alleged that senior forest officials are not carrying out their duty properly.
He claimed that the plan mandates that officials need to walk inside the protected forests for at least 50 kms in a month.
"In reality, officials hardly follow this provision of conducting foot patrolling. They only roam around in vehicles. As a result, health status of lions living inside deep forest is not known immediately," Mr Dhanani claimed.
Referring to a 2013 Supreme Court judgment asking the state government to find a new home for lions, Mr Dhanani asked Mr Rupani what steps his government had taken since then in that regard.
He alleged that the state government had only given assurances to the Supreme Court, but failed to undertake any concrete step to save the lions.

2 COMMENTS

Earlier, the state government had admitted that CDV and Protozoa infection is responsible for the death of at least 11 of 23 lions in Gir forest last month.
https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/gir-sanctuary-gir-asiatic-lion-deaths-gujarat-gir-lion-deaths-spark-political-row-in-gujarat-1934241

Lion around! Zoo's playful pride roll in a huge mound of leaves that have been scented with spices as an autumn treat

• Lions Heidi, Indi, Rubi and Bhanu playfully rolled around in mountain of pumpkin-spiced colourful leaves
• Zookeepers arranged for the special leaves to be scented with spices cinnamon, cardamom and cloves
• Adorable big cats at ZSL London Zoo licked the leaves and waved their paws in air while enjoying scent
  By Bryony Jewell For Mailonline
  Published: 15:45 GMT, 18 October 2018 | Updated: 15:45 GMT, 18 October 2018
  A playful pride of lions have been filmed rolling around on a mountain of pumpkin-spice inspired leaves after they were specially scented with a blend of warming spices.
  The zookeepers at ZSL London Zoo arranged for the Asiatic lions to enjoy the autumnal smells today in their enclosure.
  In the adorable footage Heidi, Indi, Rubi and Bhanu can be seen rubbing their faces all over the leaves and gleefully rolling around in the special pile.  
  

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  Bhanu waves his paws in the air as he rolls in the leaves which have been scented with cardamon, cinnamon and clove

  

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  The eight-year-old male big cat made sure to rub his face into the leaves and soak up all of the warming autumnal smells

  ZSL London Zoo lion keeper Tara Humphrey said: 'Just like kids around the country this half-term, Heidi, Indi, Rubi and Bhanu dived right into the massive mound of leaves - scented with cinnamon, cardamom and cloves.

  'Cardamom in particular is Bhanu's favourite smell, and after waiting patiently for the girls to finish rolling around he spent hours nestled in amongst the leaves, basking in the warm autumn weather.

  
  

  'All the lions loved using their incredible sense of smell to explore the new aromatic scents in their territory – who doesn't love rolling around in the autumn leaves.' 

  Bhanu, a male lion who was born in Germany in 2010 and moved to Canada before coming to ZSL London Zoo in 2016, can be seen kicking the leaves with his paws and making a comfy spot for himself to enjoy the aromas.

  He even tries to eat the leaves at one point and licks at the spices, clearly enjoying his special treat. 

  

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  One of the three female lions at London Zoo takes a break from rolling to show off her belly and huge paws on the leaf pile

  

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  Zookeepers arranged for the special leaves to be put in the enclosure to mark the change of the season to autumn

  

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  One of the three sisters, who are called Rubi, Heidi and Indi, licks at the leaves during play time and makes herself comfy on the mound

  The lionesses can also be seen rolling around and putting their legs in the air as they relax into the leaves and kick start the autumn season.

  Rubi, Heidi and Indi are sisters and all three were born at ZSL London Zoo. Seven-year-old Rubi is the oldest of the girls and usually the shyest but she didn't hide away from rolling around in the leaves on Thursday morning.

  The sisters got in first and made male lion Bhanu wait so they could make the most of the leaves and absorb all of the warming autumnal smells.

  The females are seen sitting proudly on top of the pile in the adorable footage, making it clear that Bhanu had to wait for his own pumpkin-spice fix.

  However once Bhanu got his turn with their new play toy he wasted no time rubbing his fur into the leaves and spent hours on the leaf pile.

  Asiatic lions are use to a dry forest habitat and their last remaining stronghold in the wild is in the Gir Forest and surrounding area in Gujuart, India. There are just over 600 Asiatic lions left in the wild.

  

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  The female lions enjoyed the leaf pile first meaning that male lion Bhanu had to wait patiently for his turn while the girls played

  

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  Once Bhanu (pictured) got on the pile he spent hours there sniffing the cardamon, cinnamon and clove spices

  

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  One of the females can even be seen taking a nap on the leaves (left) while her protective sister watches over the sleeping lion

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  Zoo's playful pride roll in huge mound of leaves that have been scented with spices as autumn treat
  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6290467/Zoos-playful-pride-roll-huge-mound-leaves-scented-spices-autumn-treat.html

  
  

Going Beyond Duty, These 5 Citizen Heroes Are Fighting to Save Gir’s Dying Lions!

The majestic Asiatic Lion in Gir, is facing a crisis, and ordinary citizens have stepped in to help. Image Credit: K Bhargava, Wikipedia

The pride of Gir is in danger, and citizens are doing all they can to help.

by Rayomand Engineer October 17, 2018, 6:27 pm As reported across several publications, approximately 23 Asiatic lions have died in Gujarat’s Gir forest since September 12, due to the Canine Distemper virus (CDV) and Babesiosis.

While the authorities scramble and try to find a way to help these magnificent animals, ordinary citizens like you and me are going above and beyond their scope of duty, to put in an effort to save the Asiatic lion from extinction.

Here are five of them:

1. Purvesh Kacha
A registered medical practitioner, Kacha travelled 100 km from his home turf in Amreli, to Sasan, to assist the staff of the forest department in removing misconceptions about CDV and Babesiosis among local resident.
2. Jalpan Rupapara
Jalpan is also a registered medical practitioner, who travelled to Sasan along with Purvesh Kacha to help remove misconceptions about CDV. Speaking to the Times of India he said that in some villages, people were worried that CDV would spread to them, so he and Kacha carried out a mass awareness drive to quash such baseless rumours.
3. Mahendra Khuman
Khuman is the sarpanch of the Liliya village, in the Kakarach area of Gir. Taking time out from his busy schedule, he provides vital information about the health of the lions to forest officials.
4. Babu Dhola
He is the trustee of the Jab Gaushala in Gir and was the person who set off the first alarms about a disease outbreak hitting the Gir lions. Speaking to TOI, he said, “On September 10, one of my employees spotted a weak lioness. I instructed my employees to keep a watch on the 29-member pride, who were the first victims of the viral epidemic. We had accompanied forest officials in their rescue missions. However, we could save only three.”
5. Manoj Joshi He is a wildlife enthusiast, who was the first to inform forest authorities about Rajmata, the sick lioness who had a septic wound near her tail. Thanks to his efforts, she was treated on time. Joshi also informed the authorities that another cub went missing as well.
(Edited by Gayatri Mishra)
https://www.thebetterindia.com/162460/gir-gujarat-lions-citizen-saviours-news/

Shared pride: Gujarat saved the Asiatic lion but must give it new sanctuaries to insulate from epidemics

October 17, 2018, 2:00 am IST TOI Edit in TOI Editorials | Edit Page, Environment, India | TOI

The death of 24 lions in Gujarat since early September and another 21 lions reportedly testing positive for canine distemper virus (CDV) rings warning bells for the state government. In 2013, Supreme Court had ordered relocation of some Gir lions to the Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. This makes eminent sense given the risk of extinction facing endangered species that is clustered in a single geographical region. While Gujarat has cited the lack of adequate facilities at Kuno, many wildlife experts are not willing to buy this explanation.
The conservation of the Asiatic Lion at Gir even as it disappeared in other countries is an Indian success story. The lions have also come to be identified closely with Gujarati pride and prestige and local politicians balk at the idea of sharing the limelight with other states. Yet there comes a point where vanity must yield to reason and science. Successful conservation led to population increase and fanning out of lions into neighbouring Saurashtra districts but created fresh complications. Infections like CDV and Babesia protozoa were possibly contracted when the lions came into contact with cattle and dogs outside the Gir sanctuary.
While the lion population increased 27% from 411 in 2010 to 523 in 2015, mortality is also high: 184 lions had died in 2016 and 2017. After the first 10 deaths in September, Gujarat claimed these were territorial deaths but was forced to backtrack after more deaths surfaced. It exposed the state’s casual approach to medical monitoring of lions. The dilution of environmental norms to allow construction, mining, tourism and other human activity in the vicinity of Gir is also facing questions. Gujarat must not live in denial. Neighbouring MP, with which it has cooperated on the Narmada project, can be its partner in this prestigious project to save the Gir lions.

This piece appeared as an editorial opinion in the print edition of The Times of India.
https://blogs.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toi-editorials/shared-pride-gujarat-saved-the-asiatic-lion-but-must-give-it-new-sanctuaries-to-insulate-from-epidemics/

A peaceful living for the leopard

Wednesday, 17 October 2018 | Hari Shanker Singh

Amid the sorrowful story of the two super cats — the Asiatic Lion and Royal Bengal Tiger — is the story of the smartest big cat, the Indian leopard, which is on the path to re-capturing its lost habitats...
The two super cats, the Asiatic lion and the Royal Bengal tiger, drew the maximum attention of conservationists in India. But the third largest cat, the Indian leopard, has its own story under the shadow of its two big tribes. Two recent stories — one, the death of 23 lions in Gir due to CDV and Protozoa infections and second, the hunt for a man-eating tiger in Maharashtra  — grabbed headlines in Indian newspapers and electronic media.
But this story is about the smartest big cat — the Indian leopard (Panthera pardus fusca), a sub-species of the nine subspecies of all leopards in the world. It is widely distributed across the country — from Jammu & Kashmir in the north-west to the southern part of Tibet in China in the north-east Himalayas to Cape Comorin in the south and from the Gir forest (Saurashtra) and thorn forest in the arid zone of Kachchh in the west to the moist forest of Myanmar in the eastern border of India.
Although a majority of the leopards are confined in India, small populations are also found in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan and small areas of southern China adjoining Myanmar. Each of the other seven sub-species of the Asian leopard has a small population, below one thousand, in different Asian countries.  After the African leopard, only the Indian leopard has a viable population. The Indian leopard occurs up to a height of about 5,200 meters in the Himalayas where their habitat meets the lower altitude of the snow leopard.  A study revealed that the distribution range of the Indian leopard reduced to 28 per cent of its historical distribution range, although the big cat enjoys the highest protection level in our country as it is placed in Schedule-I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
According to an article published in the Indian Forester in January 1907, a total of 811 leopards and 1,355 tigers were officially killed in 1905 to reduce their menace. Level of killing in the preceding year (1904) was also at the same level. Thus, about 800 to 900 leopards were killed annually in the beginning of the 20th century which increased subsequently later.
It was also mentioned that leopards killed 401 human beings and 44,845 livestock in 1905. Hunting licenses were issued freely to kill wild animals, including leopards. A total of 37,720 hunting licences in 1904 and 37,833 in 1905 were issued in India.  As per records, 150,000 leopards were hunted in British India during a span of 50 years (1875-1925) at an annual rate of 3,000 leopards. It was estimated that 100 years ago, India had over 10 times the present population of the tiger.  By extending similar logic and studying hunting records, it can be said that the Indian forests had a high population of the leopard before the Second World War. Thereafter, they were killed in thousands, which pushed them to become near extinct. However, conservation measures have reversed the trend.
Distribution range:  In a majority of the Indian States, the leopards are dispersing in new areas due to which its population is recovering. Until a few years ago, Punjab was considered to be a non-tiger State as the animal occasionally visited in the winter from the hills of Himachal Pradesh. But in recent times, the Leopards have made a come back in the lower Shivalik hills of Punjab,  bordering Himachal Pradesh.
Similarly, about two and a half dozen of leopards marked their presence in the Shivalik of Haryana a decade ago. The animal dispersed from the Shivalik of Himachal Pradesh and from the Aravallis hill ranges of Rajasthan to the forests of Haryana. At present, forests in 10 districts in Shivalik and the Aravallis of Haryana have been captured by the leopards in good numbers.
At present, the Indian leopard is distributed in 29 States and one Union Territory.  Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh have over two-thirds of the total leopard population of the country. In the 1990s, the leopard’s presence was recorded in 196 sanctuaries and national parks across 26 States of the country.
Since then, the number of States and protected areas has increased and expanded. As per latest reports, the animal’s presence has been registered from 384 national parks and wildlife sanctuaries across the country, although few other protected areas are seasonally or occasionally visited by the leopard.
Area of these leopard supporting national parks and wildlife sanctuaries is about 136,550 km. Of this, about 50 tiger reserves and their buffer zones in 17 States are occupied by the Tigers and five national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat by the Asiatic lion. In the rest of the leopard supporting protected areas, the leopard is a top predator but compete with the hyena.  Experts believe that though the sanctuaries and national parks accommodate a good number of the animal, a large number of them are found outside these boundaries than those within, and some are using non-forest areas, including scrublands, tea garden, ravines, sugarcane fields and another vegetation cover.
In the State of Gujarat, as per the leopard census report in 2011, about 38.2 per cent of the leopard population was counted in the protected areas, 18.0 per cent in the sugarcane field, agricultural lands, plantations and ravines, and the rest in the forest areas beyond the boundaries of the protected areas. Leopard population in protected areas of Uttarakhand, Maharashtra and Odisha were about 25.2 per cent, 44.1 per cent and 35.3 per cent respectively.  An analysis of data from 12 major leopard States reveals that about one-third of the total leopards were found in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. Also, based on census reports of a few States, about 15 per cent of the leopards used habitat beyond the boundaries of the forests.
Leopard’s occupancy in the major part of 14 tiger States was 173,900 km in 2014. As per the rough leopard distribution range, provided by the Chief Wildlife Wardens and wildlife experts in the States, the leopards occupy about 114,000 km in other 15 States and Union Territories. Thus, the leopards occupy over 287,900 km forest areas of the country.
Tea gardens have become a major man-leopard conflict zone because a good number of them breed and hunt in these areas. At least 5,670 km area of the hilly terrain or slopes in Nilgiri hills (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka), Darjeeling hills, drained land of Dooars and Terrai down the hills in West Bengal and moderate hills and slopes in Assam and other such lands in the North- East States, Uttarakhand and Himachal are under tea cultivation. Presence of leopard and human-leopard conflict in these tea gardens have been recorded for over 100 years. Most of these areas form contiguous leopard habitat with the adjoining forests.
Recently, maximum human-leopard conflicts were recorded in and around the sugarcane fields in some States. Sugarcane cultivation has expanded with the expansion of irrigation network. The adaptive big cat has successfully exploited the dense sugarcane crop for littering. During the last five years, the extent of sugarcane cultivation in India ranged from 44,360 Km to 50,670 km. Leopards are frequently seen in the sugarcane fields. Majority of such dense tall crops in the four States — Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, which cover about 31.9 per cent of the sugarcane cultivation area in the country — are inflicted by the leopard. The animal is also seen in the sugarcane fields in Terai belt in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
A recent paper, ‘Big Cat in Our Backyards’, published by the journal ‘Public Library of Science’, made headlines by reporting up to six resident leopards per 100 km in the sugarcane fields in Sangamner region of Maharashtra. The big cats hide in the dense cover of sugarcane crops during the day, preying on dogs, pigs, cattle and poultry in the night in the villages and towns. When one or two leopards killed five people in Mandvi Taluka of Surat district, Gujarat in the post-monsoon and early winter in 2010, while hunting and trapping the man-eater, about two dozen leopards, including cubs, were eliminated from the sugarcane areas of the villages in three months. When a leopard killed four people in sugarcane zone in Veraval in Junagadh (Gujarat) in March 2012, a total of nine leopards were trapped and removed from the area. There are several such stories in the sugarcane belt.
The extent of forests cover with canopy density of more than 10 per cent is 683,925 sq  km in 29 States and one Union Territory which support leopards. The shrublands and ravines outside the forests also support leopards. In the leopard State, about three-fourth of the forest cover is expected to be potential habitat, although present occupancy area of the leopard is lesser than the potential habitats.  The analysis indicates that the leopard occupancy area in India may be in an extent of over 300,000 km, although potential habitat is high.
(This is the first article in a two-part series on Indian leopards. The second part will appear in these columns on Thursday, October 18.  (The writer is Member, National Board for Wild life)
https://www.dailypioneer.com/2018/columnists/a-peaceful-living-for-the-leopard.html