English language news articles from year 2007 plus find out everything about Asiatic Lion and Gir Forest. Latest News, Useful Articles, Links, Photos, Video Clips and Gujarati News of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (Geer / Gir Forest - Home of Critically Endangered Species Asiatic Lion; Gir Lion; Panthera Leo Persica ; Indian Lion (Local Name 'SAVAJ' / 'SINH' / 'VANRAJ') located in South-Western Gujarat, State of INDIA), Big Cats, Wildlife, Conservation and Environment.
By Alok Brahmbhatt, Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Apr 29, 2020, 08:50 IST At least 15 Asiatic lions have died in Gir East due to ticks sucking their blood and age issues in the past two months
Ticks and age issues have claimed the lives of at least 15 Asiatic lions in Gir East, with 20 of them being shifted to a rescue centre in the past two months. Even as the state government machinery is fighting to control the spread of Covid-19, the death of over 15 lions in Gir East range has kept forest officials on their toes in the past two months. This is the same area where over 20 lions died of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) in 2018.
However, forest officials rule out possibilities of the viral infection at the moment despite 15 deaths in two months. Talking about the deaths and reasons, Chief Conservator of Forest D T Vasavada told Mirror, “These number of deaths is natural if we consider the annual average. However, we are taking utmost care of the lions and have taken several of them to the rescue centre as well. The ticks have been the cause for the low haemoglobin in the lions. They suck blood from the animal. Ticks get onto lions through either their kills or from the grass. The insects affect more depending on the age of the lion and its health condition.” Weaker, older or cubs get affected by ticks easily.
Two lion deaths were reported in Savarkundla range in the past three months, seven in Tulsishyam range in the past two months and eight in Jasadhar range in the same period. A statement by Deputy Conservator of Forest, Gir East confirmed the deaths. It also mentioned several lions were taken to Jasadhar rescue centre and some to Sakarbaug Zoo in Junagadh for further treatment.
Talking about addressing the issue, Vasavada said, “There is medicine and we have started administering it to the lions to boost their immunity.” The media statement also ruled out chances of CDV as of now. Source: https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/pride-under-threat-times-tick-ing-for-gir-lions/articleshow/75438483.cms
Some of the exceptional clicks of Tapan include his photographs of Asiatic Lion, leopards, vultures, peacocks and tiger.
BRAND-POSTUpdated: Apr 28, 2020 17:42 IST
India has been under lockdown due to COVID-19 since March 25 and everyone is affected by it. There is, especially, a large chunk of professionals, belonging to the outdoors, who are facing this setback with utmost patience and spiritedness. One of those is the nature and wildlife photographer, Tapan Sheth, who cannot wait for the lockdown to be over so that he can go back to the forests, to Mother Nature, and start clicking wildlife again!
Tapan is into clicking images of the natural surroundings and its inherent wildlife and since the lockdown has been invoked, he feels that the entertainment world is the one severely affected by it. Resident of Rajkot in Gujarat, Tapan has also been staying indoors for most of his days, which is in total contrast to how he used to spend all his time in the forests, obviously for work. He is now at home, having put all his assignments and projects on hold, due to the Corona virus pandemic.
He says, “I had many safari tours scheduled for my photography projects. Half of them got postponed and half of them got cancelled. The entertainment industry, in general, will incur major losses. I had also planned my visit to many national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, but I doubt it will happen anytime soon. Many other events of the artists have also been called off due to this pandemic.”
Some of the exceptional clicks of Tapan include his photographs of Asiatic Lion, leopards, vultures, peacocks and, of course, our national animal, tiger. Besides, he is also the owner of a reputed web design company, Sakshi Infoway Pvt. Ltd., based in Rajkot. Speaking about his ‘office hours’, Tapan gets nostalgic while saying, “I miss being in the forests surrounded by the wildlife creatures and the pleasant atmosphere. This phase too shall pass. The unity of humankind will rise above everything and I hope everything will fall back into its place.”
However, he is aware that staying indoors is the only right thing to do if we want to defeat this pandemic. In fact, Tapan has humbly requested everyone to keep indoors and follow the government’s instructions to handle the disease.
We hope every Indian listens to him and stays home & stays safe!
Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content. https://www.hindustantimes.com/brand-post/wildlife-photographer-tapan-sheth-is-itching-to-go-back-to-forests-post-the-pandemic-crisis/story-L4DwOUWpibQpJViUO8hHkN.html
28 APRIL 2020 Last Updated at 7:18 PM | SOURCE: PTI Junagadh, Apr 28 (PTI) A carcass of a lion was recovered from Tulsishyam range of Gir forest in Gujarat''s Junagadh district, a forest official said on Tuesday.
While the exact cause of the animal''s death could not be ascertained, preliminary examination of the carcass did not indicate any foul play, the official said.
As many as 21 lions have died in Gir east division in the last three months, chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Junagadh, Dushyant Vasavada said.
There was no reason to attribute any of these deaths to canine distemper virus (CDV) that had claimed lives of several lions in 2018, he added.
Babesia, CDV and other bacterial infections were responsible for the deaths of 34 lions in September 2018.
"I would like to clarify that there is no case of CDV here. In three months, we have recorded 21 deaths. We have also rescued sick lions, but it is a routine work for us, Vasavada told media here.
In the last one year, 286 wild animals were rescued and later released in the forest, he added.
Last week, the forest department had captured around 14 lions and shifted them to Jasadhar care centre, after some cubs in a pride fell ill. PTI COR KA PD ARU ARU
TNN | Updated: Apr 25, 2020, 10:11 IST RAJKOT/SURAT: The state government on Thursday transferred 2008 batch Indian Forest Service (IFS) Anshuman Sharma and appointed him as deputy conservator of forest (DCF), Gir (east) division of the Gir wildlife sanctuary. Sharma is presently the DCF, wildlife division, Banaskantha. Sharma’s appointment to this crucial area comes at a time when another canine distemper virus (CDV) outbreak looks imminent in three forest ranges - Tulshishyam, Jasadhar and Hadala - that fall under the Gir (east) division. It is suspected that at least 23 lions have died in these three ranges since January, reportedly due to CDV. The forest department has, however, denied any such outbreak. Sharma’s first posting as DCF was in Gir (East) division in February 2012. In October 2018, when 23 lions had died due to CDV in Dalkhania forest range, Sharma was appointed for crisis management. He was shunted out of Gir in 2015. It was on Wednesday that a group of wildlife activists had written to the Prime Minister Office (PMO) urging that several vacant posts in Gir, the last abode of Asiatic lions, should be filled up urgently, considering the recent lion deaths. Source:https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/finally-dcf-appointed-in-crucial-gir-east-division/articleshow/75361186.cms
The death of Kalpana, a white tigress in Delhi zoo, on Wednesday had set alarm bells ringing. However, the Ministry for Environment, Forests and Climate Change clarified late on Friday evening that the tigress died of renal failure and other complications related to old age.
With nine big cats in New York's Bronx zoo having tested positive for COVID-19, forestry and zoo authorities across India have been extra cautious about keeping the infection away from fauna. Elsewhere in the world, domestic animals like cats and dogs, too, have tested positive for the virus. However, there is still not enough information on whether the infection can spread back to humans through animals. There is not enough information either on how seriously animals could get sick with the infection, whether it can spread from one animal to another, or whether the infection has to be directly from a human.
Shortly after the first tiger was confirmed positive in New York, the Central Zoo Authority as well as the MoEFCC had promulgated rules on how to keep animals, both in captivity and in the wild, far from infection, and also a protocol on actions to be taken if an animal tests positive. Though Kalpana was asymptomatic, her body was tested for infection. “As such there were no symptoms or external conditions to suspect that her death is due to COVID-19. However, as per the Central Zoo Authority advisory issued in this regard, samples had been collected after ensuring all bio security measures and were sent to Indian Veterinary Research Institute (IVRI),'' said a statement from MoEFCC. “Later, the IVRI confirmed that Tigress Kalpana was found negative for COVID-19,'' the statement added. The IVRI is in Bareilly.
Nadia, a tigress in Bronx zoo, was the first reported case of a COVID-19 positive big cat. Her diagnosis was confirmed on April 5 after she took ill. The zoo had closed to visitors on March 16 itself, but the most likely theory of her infection is that she contracted it from an asymptomatic visitor. In the subsequent three weeks, eight more big cats--lions and tigers--tested positive for the infection.
Tiger deaths in Indian zoos are high, with the Association of Indian Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians claiming that around 20 tigers die across Indian zoos every year. The number of tigers in Indian zoos has dwindled in recent years and stands at around 245. The number of tigers in the wild has shown a healthy rise and the count is 2,967 (as of 2018). This is, however, still a very vulnerable population, and an epidemic could wipe the big cats out entirely. Even more vulnerable is the Asiatic Lion Population of Gujarat, with the last census of 2015 putting the count at 523. Given that they are restricted to one area, and lack in genetic diversity, they are a highly susceptible population of big cats. Source: https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2020/04/24/delhi-zoo-tigress-kalpana-didnt-die-due-to-covid-19-centre.html
Open access and peer reviewed, this monthly journal from Zoo Outreach Organisation has been publishing research and news about conservation and taxonomy for just over two decades
Do walls around open wells help reduce mortality of the Asiatic Lion? How do citizen science and digital art contribute to conservation? What’s the latest on the biodiversity records of insects, moss, fungus, plants, reptiles and birds? All this and more is answered in a monthly scientific journal published from Coimbatore. The Journal of Threatened Taxa (JoTT) is, according to Managing Editor B Ravichandran, “a platinum open access and print, peer-reviewed, monthly international journal on conservation and taxonomy.” JoTT, which turns 21 this month, is published by the wildlife conservation and research NGO Zoo Outreach Organisation (ZOO).
Originally called Zoo’s Print Journal (ZPJ), it was a 12-page pull out inside the popular Zoo’s Print (ZP) magazine. “The first issue was in April 1999,” recalls Sanjay Molur, the Executive Director of ZOO and Founder and Chief Editor of JoTT. “It was not difficult to get articles when we started. ZP’s popularity and regularity encouraged many people to send technical articles, which we processed for publication in ZPJ, which was peer reviewed from the beginning.” In December 1999, ZPJ also moved online. The idea was to have a “journal to promote scientific publications by wildlife and other experts involved in conservation research and action. The various species assessment workshops that Sally Walker [founder of ZOO] and I conducted in the 1990s pointed to the need for a regular peer-reviewed journal,” explains Sanjay. ZPJ was renamed JoTT in January 2009.
A special moment in JoTT’s timeline. Sanjay Molur presents Neil deGrasse Tyson, the renowned science communicator, with a copy of JoTT that featured a new species of Western Ghats frog named after him. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The reason for a journal like this “was to encourage more scientists to publish about natural history, ecology, wildlife, veterinary, taxonomy, and other allied fields of conservation from within regions of high biodiversity,” says Sanjay, pointing out that usually such regions were in countries where English was not the first language. Also access to international journals was limited. “So, Sally and I decided to set up a mechanism to encourage authors to publish scientific material after peer review free of cost.”
This has not come without its challenges; the main one being funding. “We have never been able to get a constant source of funding,” rues Sanjay. While he accepts that not putting up a paywall or charging authors to publish is not “financially savvy, our experience with assessing over 2,000 species in seven five-day workshops in 1997 to evaluate the status of many groups of wildlife in India opened our eyes to the urgent need to plug this lacuna of expensive, unreachable, unobtainable, and irregular journals. While the Internet has opened accessibility, some other issues especially to do with over-expensive publication charges or subscriptions continue and have assumed monstrous proportions.” Ravichandran, who describes funds as “either not regular or just not there”, says he would like to see JoTT funded well enough to “cater to the ever-growing requirements of additional staff, better reimbursements” so that they can continue to serve the cause of conservation.
The core team of JoTT — Sanajy Molur, B Ravichandran and Priyanka Iyer — with long-time volunteer and scientific and language editor, Dr Fred Pluthero of Toronto, Canada | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Monographs and special issues
Sanjay explains that monographs (a detailed study of a single specialised subject) came about because some articles were either big or had too much information. “Species checklists, taxonomic details, behavioural information, ecological data, natural history notes … are equally important to be published than be a mere statistic in a paper. This prompted us to look at descriptive papers with as much interest as academically inclined papers of data analysis.”
The first monograph was published in October 2005. The subject was Indian spiders.
While JoTT is published on the 26th of every month without fail, monographs and special issues are published as and when they are ready.
Citizen journalism is an important part of JoTT’s oeuvre. Sanjay explains that they mentor several authors and this is reflected not just in the growth of the journal but also by the fact the former/regular authors have been publishing in other well known journals. Ravichandran adds that each article goes through multiple edits — by subject editors, language editors and copy editors — before it is finally published. “Something we all learnt from Sally Walker was an uncompromising attitude on ethics of scientific publications and mentoring first-time writers and those for whom English was not a native language to present science to the world,” he adds.
While Ravichandran dreams of seeing JoTT as a fortnightly or even a weekly “to keep up with the excellent submissions from around the world”, Sanjay’s “only wish is that funding agencies see this as an integral part of conservation action and help support JoTT for its platinum open-access publication ethic. We really require monetary support to carry on with the model.” Source: https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/for-21-years-the-journal-of-threatened-taxa-has-been-publishing-research-and-news-about-conservation-and-taxonomy/article31413717.ece
RAJKOT: Wildlife activists have filed over 50 complaint on the portal of Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) expressing concern about the recent deaths of lions in Gir region. They have also alleged apathy on the part of forest department and the state government over the issue. The activists have also demanded filling up of vacant posts of forest officials in crucial area of lion conservation in Gir region.
These activists include organizations like Wild Saurashtra and Sky Forest Youth Club have also made representations to the state government through emails. The activists have requested PMO to direct the forest department get the lions tested for CDV. “It’s learnt that no test samples were sent for virus examination. What is the harm in confirming it by prompt testing at standard lab?” the complaint stated. They also refused to accept the theory that the entire pride of lions was rescued as one of the cubs was ill. They argued that it has been a well accepted practice to capture only the unwell lions or cubs and release them with their pride after treatment. Dharmesh Kargathara, member of Wild Saurashtra said, “Our demand is clear. One, get the lions tested for CDV and second is fill the vacant post of senior officials in wildlife circle. A big division like Gir east where there are significant numbers of lion cannot have an in-charge head. There should be full time head for this division.” According to the complaint, the post of deputy conservator of forest (DFC) in Gir east division has been vacant since last one year. Important Gir ranges like Tulsishyam, Hadala, Dalkhaniya falls under this Gir east division where more then dozen lions have died because of some disease. More than 23 lions had died due to canine distemper virus (CDV) in Dalkhaniya range in 2018. As many as 33 lions were captured, which are yet to be released in the wild. The activists claimed that the post of assistant conservator of forest in Visavadar and Sasan was also vacant, besides the post of deputy conservator of forest (task force), since last one year. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/activists-flag-concern-over-crucial-vacant-posts-in-gir/articleshow/75332388.cms
At least 14 lions were captured from Gujarat's Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and shifted to Jasadhar care centre in the forest, after some cubs in a pride fell ill, a senior official from the state forest department said on Tuesday. PTI AhmedabadUpdated on: April 21, 2020 20:40 IST
Gujarat: 14 lions captured in Gir forest, after cubs fall ill
At least 14 lions were captured from Gujarat's Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and shifted to Jasadhar care centre in the forest, after some cubs in a pride fell ill, a senior official from the state forest department said on Tuesday. One of the sick lion cubs was infected with babesia, a protozoan parasite, while two others were found to be anaemic, chief conservator of forest of Junagadh Wildlife Circle D T Vasavada said.
Babesia, canine distemper virus (CDV) and other bacterial infections were responsible for the death of 34 lions in September 2018.
Refuting media reports that the 14 rescued lions may be infected with the deadly CDV, Vasavada said only four of the animals were sick, including a cub suffering from babesia infection, and clarified that reports of 10 lions dying of serious illnesses in Gir were false.
"I want to assure you that no lion has died due to CDV in recent times. I also disagree with the death figures. If a lion is sick, then we have to capture the entire pride and keep them together till we treat that lion," he said.
A pride of 10 lions were captured to treat two sick cubs, one of which is anaemic and the other has contracted babesia, he said.
Forest staff have also captured another pride of three to treat a sick cub, said Vasavada, adding that the cub is also anaemic.
"A lioness was also rescued from the forest after she was found to be suffering from age-related ailments. In all, 14 lions were captured from Tulsishyam and Jasadhar range of Gir forest. Out of these, only four are sick," he said.
The animals will be released after treatment, he added.
In February last year, the state government had informed the state Assembly that 34 lions had died in 2018 due to diseases including CDV, babesia, streptococcal bacteria and gram-negative bacilli infections.
As per the last census carried out in 2015, Gir forest had 523 lions, while the current estimates have put the count at 600. Source: https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/gujarat-gir-forest-14-lions-captured-cubs-fall-ill-babesia-609929
Vijaysinh Parmar | TNN | Updated: Apr 23, 2020, 05:21 IST SURAT: While the global lockdown has been good news for the wildlife including flora and fauna, making conservationists happy, it has not be so for Gujarat as intermittent forests fires continued to be a major cause of concern here. According to the Forest Survey of India (FSI), between March 25 and April 22 this year, (the lockdown period), altogether 1,360 forest fire alerts have been issued across the state. In fact, FSI’s Forest Fire Alerts System 3.0 states that for the same period last year, the number of forest fire alerts were only 1,087 in Gujarat.
Forest officers say that almost 99 percent of the forest fires are man-made and are done intentionally by the forest dwellers or nearby residents to avenge their grudge against the forest department over strict implementations of various forest laws. According to the forest officials, forest fire is one of the major causes of degradation of forests in many parts of the country. The FSI has been alerting the State Forest Department and other registered uses of forest fire locations detected by the MODIS sensor onboard Aqua and Terra Satellites of NASA since 2004. From 2017, the FSI has also started disseminating alerts obtained from SNPP-VIIRS sensor, which has a better resolution (375 m X 375 m) compared to MODIS (1 km X 1 km). Alerts are disseminated up to beat level in the forest areas. Talking to TOI, head of the Forest Forces (HoFF), D K Sharma, however, said that these small fire incidents reported from many parts of the state are harmless and everything in under control. “There is absolutely nothing to worry as far as forest fires are concerned as adequate measures are in place,” Sharma added. A senior forest officer said that the forest fire alerts which the department receives from the system, aren’t necessarily fire happening inside the forests. The forest fire system keeps detecting such fires and sends alerts to the forest division concerned and after a team rushes to the spot, they find that it many a time, it is the farmers living in the fringe areas burning stubble.
“A few days ago, forest fire alert system reported a fire in Gir East division but when our staff went there, they found that fire was occurred in revenue area. In another incident, fire occurred in a farm inside the forest area and it was brought under control,” he said. "In many cases, tribal farmers traditionally burn their stubble after harvesting crops and these farmlands are located inside the forests. Moreover, farming activity around the forests in remote villages are going on in most parts of the state. Forest fires are mostly the result of conflicts between locals living inside and around the forest areas and the forest department. The lockdown will not stop these locals from harming the forests,” another senior forest officer, who did not wish to be named, rued. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/amid-lockdown-forest-fires-rage-across-gujarat/articleshow/75303638.cms
Nimesh Khakhariya | TNN | Updated: Apr 21, 2020, 10:06 IST RAJKOT: Is another epidemic, similar to canine distemper virus (CDV) that had left 23 Asiatic lions dead in 2018, stalking Gujarat’s pride again? For the past two days, top forest officials of Gir sanctuaryand near-by ranges are huddled in the Jasadhar range of Gir (east) division, reportedly concerned over some serious infection that is possibly spreading. They are particularly worried about three forest ranges - Tulsishyam, Hadala and Jasadhar - where at least 10 lions have died since January.
Four have died in Tulsishyam-Khambha range, three in Jasadhar, two in Savarkundla and one in Hadala range. Of these, seven are lionesses, aged between five and 14 years, according to official data. The forest department has rescued a pride of around seven lions including cubs from Dedan village in Tulsishyam range since Saturday. They have been shifted to Jasadhar animal care centre. Officials, however, denied any possibility of a virus outbreak in the lion’s abode. Tulsishyam range has maximum lions When contacted, D T Vasavada, chief conservator of forest (wildlife circle), claimed that the pride of seven lions was rescued because one of the cubs was weak. “We don’t know who is the cub’s mother, so it’s necessary to rescue the lioness for treatment,” said Vasavada, brushing aside possibility of CDV or a similar outbreak. “It’s a rumour. A similar rumour of CDV was spread a couple of months ago too when we had rescued a pride,” he claimed. In fact, it is reliably learnt that some forest department staff working in the field had flagged the possibility of a virus outbreak among lions in Gir (east) to the senior forest officials around three weeks ago. But the warning went unheeded, and now, the department has woken up to the seriousness. Interestingly, these three forest ranges are core areas of Gir sanctuary and relatively there is less human disturbance here. Also, Tulsishyam range has the highest number of lions in the entire Gir forest. In October 2018 too, the forest department had initially denied any disease when lions in Dalkhaniya starting dying one after another. But ultimately, they conceded that CDV was the killer. In the state Assembly last year, the government had conceded that of the 413 lions that died in Gir forest and other protected areas, 35% had died due to ‘illness.’
Nimesh Khakhariya | TNN | Updated: Apr 17, 2020, 06:47 IST RAJKOT: Their friendship is being described like that of Jay and Viru of blockbuster Sholay. The two lions, who had found a new habitat in Chobari grassland near Chotila in November last year, are now moving together inside the deep sanctuary area of Gir. Till now, they haven’t encountered any other lion which could lead to a much-feared territorial fight.
Forest department officials now suspect that these two lions could have separated from this parental pride in Gir sanctuary itself, unlike the earlier theory that they had ventured into Chotila from Babra in Amreli district. On Sunday, the two had reached Junagadh near the Girnar mountain. Now, they are moving deep inside the sanctuary in the direction of Gir-Somnath district. They are in search of a lioness and in order to do so, they may acquire the territory by defeating some old lion in the area. Officials tracking these radio-collared lions are surprised to note that the duo are well-versed with the routes not just from Gondal side, but also the entire sanctuary area. Talking to TOI, chief conservator of forest (Junagadh), S K Srivastava said, “The lions are moving downwards in Gir sanctuary area. When they came in Chotila, we were not sure from where they had come, but they way they are moving on a predetermined path, indicates that they have their origins in the Gir sanctuary itself.” According to sources, the forest department will get a clear picture about their origin in a couple of days by studying their movements. The lions are continuing to move downwards from Gir mountain ranges, but forest officials are eagerly waiting to see that continue moving on same path or return back. The lions were moving around in the peripheral areas of three districts- Surendrangar, Rajkot and Amreli - when they came to Chotila in November. They had also killed a leopard to prove their supremacy over the territory. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/chotila-lions-may-have-origins-in-gir-sanctuary-itself/articleshow/75189283.cms
Nimesh Khakhariya | TNN | Updated: Apr 13, 2020, 15:57 IST RAJKOT: In what comes as a straight lift from some vintage royal movies, the pride of Gir, Asiatic lion couples, too were given the rare luxury of having their own ‘ekant grih’ (read enclosure) inside the Sakkarbaug zoo. After the royal couple gave birth to four healthy cubs on Saturday, thus ended another round of successful mating experiment conducted by the Junagadh zoo authorities. Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/sakkarbaug-zoo-gives-privacy-to-big-cats-4-more-cubs-born/articleshow/75113097.cms
The lions entered Chotila range of Surendranagar forest division on November 19, 2019, via Hingolagadh Nature Education Sanctuary in Vinchhiya taluka of Rajkot. Forest officers say the two carnivores were from Babra in Amreli district. Written by Gopal Kateshiya | Rajkot | Updated: April 13, 2020 12:35:57 am
TWO ASIATIC lions that had been camping in Chotila range in Surendranagar district since November 2019 returned to the established home of the species in Gir forest on Sunday with forest officers saying that the two carnivores may rejoin their pride.
“The two lions travelled approximately 140 kilometres over the past seven days and reached Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary on Sunday. Their location was traced near Mount Girnar on Sunday morning,” SK Srivastava, chief conservator of forests of Junagadh territorial forest circle, told The Indian Express.
The sub-adult lions entered Chotila range of Surendranagar forest division on November 19, 2019, via Hingolagadh Nature Education Sanctuary in Vinchhiya taluka of Rajkot. Forest officers have been maintaining that the two carnivores were from Babra in Amreli district.
The two big cats explored grasslands and revenue areas in and around Chotila, going as far away as Doliya in neighbouring Sayla taluka of Surendranagar in the north and till Gondal in Rajkot in the south during their five-month long expedition, forest officers said. The topography and ecology of Chotila range has a high degree of resemblance to Gir forest, they added.
One of the lions was radio-collared on December 3 and since then, the forest department had been receiving hourly updates on the location of the two carnivores. The lions reached Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary — an established habitat of Asiatic lions and is part of greater Gir landscape — near Junagadh city at around 7 am on Sunday, they said.
“Lions are social animals and it is possible that these two sub-adult ones could have come back to rejoin their pride. They could also have come back in search of mating partners,” Srivastava added.
Surendranagar division is part of Junagadh territorial forest circle but is not known as an established habitat of lions. Asiatic lions are an endangered species of big cats and their only wild population is surviving in Gir forest and other protected areas of Junagadh, Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar districts in Saurashtra. Their population was pegged at 523 individuals in 2015.
HV Makwana, deputy conservator of forests, Surendranagar forest division, said the two lions started moving towards Junagadh on April 6, crossed into Vinchhiya taluka, then to Jasdan taluka of Rajkot and to Babra in Amreli district before entering Rajkot district via Gondal taluka. Eventually, they crossed over to Junadh district via Bhesan taluka to enter the protected forest of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary.
Their only direct conflict in the last five months with human was reported from Keshvala village of Gondal on April 9 when they attacked a cattle-herder who sustained minor injuries.
The DCF said that that they could manage the two animals well during their stay in Surendranagar district. “There was no incident of direct man-animal conflict. We could sensitise and convince people… and farmers were even keeping water for the lions in their farms,” Makwana said, adding there was a probability of the two nomads returning to Chotila again.
The lions had preyed on 24 blue bulls and also attacked 35 livestock heads for which the forest department has paid Rs 5.15 lakh compensation, while a few claims are being processed. “We also surveyed open wells in agricultural lands in the lion territory and got paraptes constructed around 100 wells by paying farmers Rs 16 lakh assistance,” said the DCF. Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/india/lions-walk-back-140km-to-reach-home-in-gir-from-surendranagar-6359540/
There is some good news coming out of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) lockdown. Two giant pandas, Ying Ying and Le Le have mated after having inhabited the same enclosure in a Hong Kong zoo for more than 10 years, according to a media report.
The administration at Ocean Park Zoo is excited as the chance of pregnancy through natural mating in giant pandas is higher than through artificial insemination.
Both pandas arrived in the zoo in 2007. Attempts to get them to mate were begun in 2010 but had not succeeded thus far.
Giant pandas are notorious for their poor chances of mating and reproducing. Female pandas only ovulate once a year.
In addition, a male panda apparently has only about 36 to 40 hours to inseminate the female while she has an egg that's ready to go.
Asiatic lion census postponed
The much-awaited Asiatic Lion census that was to take place in mid-May has been postponed owing to the national lockdown over novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), according to a media report. Gujarat’s forest and environment minister Ganpat Vasava has confirmed the news.
The census has primarily been postponed since there has not been enough time to make necessary preparations. Usually, the appointment of volunteers and their training is supposed to be completed 15 days before the census begins. This time, the registration has not even begun.
According to forest department officials, the census will now be held in November or December.
National Board for Wildlife hasn’t met even once since 2014
India's National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) hasn't met in six years. Policy decisions and clearances have, meanwhile, come from a standing committee, to the dismay of experts.
On April 7, 2020, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Prakash Javadekar tweeted about giving wildlife clearances to projects in 11 states.
“I chaired the meeting of the Standing Committee of NBWL today through VC (Video Conference) and approved wildlife clearance for a number of developmental project proposals submitted by 11 states,” the minister tweeted.
The projects were cleared by the Standing Committee of the NBWL.
“Under the provisions of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 (WLPA), the NBWL can constitute a Standing Committee, but the board has to meet at least twice a year. But the board hasn’t met even once since 2014,” Ritwick Dutta, environment lawyer, said.
The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister according to the WLPA. The NBWL has 47 members including the chairperson. Among these, 19 members are ex-officio members. Every new government constitutes a new board, based on the provisions of the WLPA, with the new PM as the chair.
The Standing Committee’s function is to regulate land diversion within Protected Areas and Eco Sensitive Zones, making it a purely project clearance body. The NBWL, on the other hand, has the power to deal with policy-level decisions on wildlife.
Elephants killed 527 humans in Odisha in 6 years: Wildlife group
Wild elephants in Odisha have killed 527 people in the last six years and this year, it may only get worse, statistics by a non-profit have shown.
The 527 people were killed between April 1, 2014 and March 31, 2020. The state has already reported eight human deaths just six days into the current year — 2020-21.
In the year through March 31, 204 human-elephant encounters happened in Odisha in which 115 people were killed and 132 were injured. “These figures could well be one of the highest human casualties ever recorded in a particular year in any state in India. Last year’s figures are very alarming considering the fact that on an average, the year witnessed approximately one human-elephant encounter every two days and a human got killed every three days,” Biswajit Mohanty, secretary of Wildlife Society of Odisha, said. Source: https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/global-eco-watch-two-giant-pandas-mate-at-empty-hong-kong-zoo-70395
By Rekha Dixit April 24, 2020 22:56 IST