AHMEDABAD: Big cats have restricted their movements in the Gir region. According to a report prepared by the forest department officials in Gujarat, lions
that moved in an area of 250-300 sq km outside the sanctuary, have
confined themselves within 30-40 sq km. Their movements were mapped with
the help of radio collars on 75 lions, 60 of them outside the Gir
sanctuary area.
This, according to experts, is a departure from an earlier research by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) where lions were documented to move in an area of 100-150 sq km within the sanctuary and 250-300 sq km outside the Gir. The home range for lionesses was around 50 sq km.
A senior officer said it has been noted that the lions have made several villages their permanent homes. Primary data reveals movement of lion prides in three-four villages. Some movement along the border is also noted between the sanctuary area and villages.
According to the May 2015 census, there were 523 lions in Gir, of which 168 were outside the sanctuary area. But the internal assessment of the state government hinted at the presence of 800 lions in the region — 340-odd within the protected sanctuary and the rest in rural areas of Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Bhavnagar, Porbandar and Junagadh. The lion population is spread in an area of 22,000 sq km. The experts say easy access to food could be the reason why the lions have made these villages their permanent abode.
According to a lion expert H S Singh, “If the lions have been moving in a small territory, it indicates that there is ample food for them there.”
Y V Jhala, the WII expert who has carried out several researches on lions, says, “In case of WII study, which has been documented, only the lioness had been moving in a territory of 40-odd sq km while the lion had been travelling in an area of 100-150 sq km within the sanctuary and 250-300 sq km outside. Jhala, however, refused to comment on the Gujarat government findings, stating that data was not available for analysis.
Chief conservator of forest, Junagadh, D T Vasavada, said “We are awaiting data for all three seasons — summer, monsoon and winter — and once the data is made available, a detailed analysis will be done. We are aware that easy availability of food restricts movement of lions in certain pockets. A watch will definitely be kept in these areas.”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/big-cats-in-gujarats-gir-forest-now-prefer-small-ventures/articleshow/70624767.cms
This, according to experts, is a departure from an earlier research by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) where lions were documented to move in an area of 100-150 sq km within the sanctuary and 250-300 sq km outside the Gir. The home range for lionesses was around 50 sq km.
A senior officer said it has been noted that the lions have made several villages their permanent homes. Primary data reveals movement of lion prides in three-four villages. Some movement along the border is also noted between the sanctuary area and villages.
According to the May 2015 census, there were 523 lions in Gir, of which 168 were outside the sanctuary area. But the internal assessment of the state government hinted at the presence of 800 lions in the region — 340-odd within the protected sanctuary and the rest in rural areas of Amreli, Gir-Somnath, Bhavnagar, Porbandar and Junagadh. The lion population is spread in an area of 22,000 sq km. The experts say easy access to food could be the reason why the lions have made these villages their permanent abode.
According to a lion expert H S Singh, “If the lions have been moving in a small territory, it indicates that there is ample food for them there.”
Y V Jhala, the WII expert who has carried out several researches on lions, says, “In case of WII study, which has been documented, only the lioness had been moving in a territory of 40-odd sq km while the lion had been travelling in an area of 100-150 sq km within the sanctuary and 250-300 sq km outside. Jhala, however, refused to comment on the Gujarat government findings, stating that data was not available for analysis.
Chief conservator of forest, Junagadh, D T Vasavada, said “We are awaiting data for all three seasons — summer, monsoon and winter — and once the data is made available, a detailed analysis will be done. We are aware that easy availability of food restricts movement of lions in certain pockets. A watch will definitely be kept in these areas.”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/big-cats-in-gujarats-gir-forest-now-prefer-small-ventures/articleshow/70624767.cms
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