RAJKOT: Asiatic lions, who have ventured near Chotila in Surendranagar, have become fiercely protective about their new-found habitat. In a rare occurrence in Gujarat, a male lion killed a sub-adult leopard in Chobari grassland near Chotila on Monday morning. Two lions had ventured into this area just four months ago and are frequently spotted in the villages.
Pug marks of lion and marks of its nail were found near the leopard’s body,
According to experts both carnivores compete for the same predator, but lion is a big predator. In many cases if leopard has hunted an animal and lion appeared it has to leave it for lion. It happens when co- predator are existing at the same place.
Talking to TOI, Sandeep Kumar deputy conservator of forest Morbi said, “In wildlife parlance, this phenomenon is called kleptoparasitism , where leopard leaves its hunted prey for the lion on spotting it.”
“The lion felt that the leopard was dominating on its territory and therefore killed it. This also indicates that lions are determined to make this are their new home and settle down permanently.
It’s possible that a lioness may also venture into this area,” he added. Priyvrat Gadhvi, member of state wildlife board said, “Interspecies relations among the big cat or carnivore is usually one of hostile and intolerance. Lions generally don’t get a chance to kill leopards as the latter avoids confrontation by fleeing quickly or climbing trees.
This one is an accidental encounter and lions don’t leave any opportunity to kill the leopard. The leopard also kills lion cubs if it gets a chance.”
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/lions-establish-supremacy-near-chotila-kill-leopard/articleshow/74448105.cms
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