PHOTO COURTESY DEVANSH TRIVEDI
Are Gir lions paying the price for bruised political pride? Following the death of 23 big cats in Gir East, the Gujarat
government on Thursday deputed two officials – Ram Ratan Nala and Dr
Anshuman -- on special duty to help contain the crisis. This move has
raised several eyebrows as Nala, who was posted as deputy conservator of
forest in Sasan, had been shunted out of Gir sanctuary just three
months ago after he objected to the chief minister’s initiative to
deepen waterbodies inside the reserve.
Expressing concern that movement of vehicles and humans will disturb the eco-system, Nala had refused to permit desilting of Singhoda dam. As punishment, he was given a side posting to the publishing department in Gandhinagar. His charge was given to an assistant conservator of forest. This was the first posting for the 2015-batch IFS officer.
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Expressing concern that movement of vehicles and humans will disturb the eco-system, Nala had refused to permit desilting of Singhoda dam. As punishment, he was given a side posting to the publishing department in Gandhinagar. His charge was given to an assistant conservator of forest. This was the first posting for the 2015-batch IFS officer.
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Now that lions are dying in the sanctuary, the government has brought back Nala to rectify the situation. Sources revealed, “Earlier too, Nala refused permission to conduct a religious programme when the chief minister was to visit the sanctuary. Then, when the State faced a severe water crisis earlier this year, the CM ordered for lakes and dams in the State to be deepened. Shingoda dam lies in the sanctuary. Nala objected to this. So, the government transferred him to the publishing department in March,” said sources, adding, “In his place, the government brought in a greenhorn to take charge of lion reserve which is so important to the State.”
Manoj Joshi, an activist and resident of Amreli, blamed the lion deaths on politicians. He said, “Most of the farms around the sanctuary are owned by politicians, be it Gir East or West. People who enjoy political influences also carry out lion shows and damage ecosystem because they fear no one. If political leaders do not hinder work of lion conservation and protection, much better work can be done.”
He added, “The current DCF took over a couple of months ago. It might be difficult for him to understand the demographic of the place. This is why the government was forced to send two officials who had good experience with lion territory to handle the situation.”
Dr Anshuman worked as DCF Gir East until 2015 before being transferred to Godhra. According to sources, he had a strong connection with locals in Gir East. Joshi said, “Dr Anshuman is a strict official. He can get the cowherds around Dalkhaniya to stop throwing cow carcasses outside, in order to prevent lions from contracting infections. He has a thorough understanding of lions and this area.”
Speaking of why Nala was brought back, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Forest Forces G K Sinha said, “Nala is a veterinary doctor as well. So, we have roped him to help PCCF and wildlife warden who have been camping in Dhari for past 20 days.” Chief Conservator of Forest (Junagadh) D T Vasavada, too, acknowledged Nala’s contribution. He said, “As a veterinarian, Nala has been helping our teams. Dr Anshuman used to serve as DCF Gir East and has expertise handling the locals. So, he is helping us in this situation.”
DCF Gir East was unavailable for comment. Talking about politics being played over lions, Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani alleged that the lions were “killed to win elections in Madhya Pradesh”.
Dhanani, who is a resident of Amreli district and farmer in the Dalhaniya range, claimed, “It is a conspiracy to win the upcoming election. MP has been making several efforts to get their hands on the Asiatic lions from Gir, without any success. The BJP government here can use the death of the lions to translocate them to MP and win the favour of the public ahead of elections.”
However, Forest minister Ganpat Vasava refuted there was politics at play. He said, “Nala and Anshuman are experienced officials so we are taking their help. All our officials are capable. We are going to vaccinate cattle in the area so we require additional force.”
Anshuman and Nala are quite experienced
officials so we are taking their help. We are going to vaccinate cattle
in the area soon so we require additional force for the exercise
It is a conspiracy to win upcoming election
in MP which has been trying to get their hands on the Asiatic lions. The
BJP government can use lion deaths as excuse to translocate them to MP
E African virus cause of deaths: ICMR-NIV
The Indian Council of Medical Research and the National Institute of Virology on Friday said they have found that the virus which wiped out 30 per cent of total lion population in East Africa, was responsible for the death of five out of the 23 Asiatic lions in Gir forest since September 12.
The ICM has found that Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) was responsible for the death of five Asiatic lions and asked the Centre to take immediate steps to save the big cats, including shifting them to different sanctuaries. It has also suggested that 300 shots of CDV vaccine be imported from the US. CDV causes a highly contagious and life-threatening disease in dogs and also affects wild carnivores such as wolves, foxes, raccoons, red pandas, ferrets, hyenas, tigers, and lions.
https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/cover-story/did-political-pride-claim-lives-of-lions-in-gir-sanctuary/articleshow/66092482.cms
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