Orphaned lionesses learn motherhood at Junagadh zoo.

Vijaysinh Parmar, TNN Mar 4, 2012, 05.49AM IST

RAJKOT: This may well be called the mother of all experiments in conservation of Asiatic Lions. Sakkarbaug Zoo officials in Junagadh have successfully taught motherhood to four lionesses that were orphaned as cubs.
Forest officials observed that when orphaned female cubs turned adult in captivity and gave birth, they did not know how to take care of their little ones, as they had never lived with their mothers. "As a result, almost half of the cubs born to an orphaned lioness during the first littering died," said a senior forest official. The cubs died due to malnutrition as the mother did know how to feed them. Many died when she tramped upon them or did not lift them properly.
Sakkarbaug Zoo officials observed this behaviour of such lionesses through CCTV cameras placed in enclosures. In 2008, a lioness gave birth to three cubs but did not care for them and they were left to fend for themselves. "These cubs were brought out of the cage and given hand rearing to reduce the mortality," said R L Meena, chief conservator of forests, wildlife division, Junagadh. However, as hand rearing and artificial feeding is not advisable, the zoo officials began an experiment. They kept a four-year-old orphaned lioness close to another female which was raising its cubs normally.
"The orphaned lioness started observing how the other lioness took care of the cubs, fed them milk and lifted them. We achieved a major success when this orphaned lioness, whose first three cubs had died, later properly raised her three other cubs," said V J Rana, director, Sakkarbaug Zoo,
This experiment of teaching 'motherhood' to orphaned lioness was carried out on three other females and all gave birth to three cubs each and raised them successfully. Of these, two lionesses were shifted to Ramapara vidi in Rajkot district where gene pools are being created to conserve the genetic diversity of Asiatic lions.
"This experiment is very important to conserve Asiatic lions. We will be able to save more cubs and conserve animals," Dr Y V Zhala, head, conservation biology and animal ecology at Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, told TOI.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-04/flora-fauna/31121343_1_lioness-cubs-asiatic-lions

Lioness hit by porcupine quills treated at Junagadh hospital.

PTI | 02:03 PM,Mar 04,2012
Vadodara, Mar 4 (PTI) A lioness from Gir sanctuary, wounded by porcupine quills, was recovering well after an operation, forest officers said today. The animal was found at Kardapan of Jasadhar Forest Range three days ago, said Anshuman Sharma, Assistant Forest Conservator. A forest officer found that she was not moving, and on inspection, realised that two porcupine quills had pierced her neck. The lioness had become very weak as she had not eaten possibly for days, as the injury had made it difficult for her to move around. She was first tranquilised, and the team headed by Dr Vamza removed the quills on the spot. Later, she was taken to nearby veterinary hospital at Sakkarbag Zoo, Junagadh. Gir sanctuary houses 411 Asiatic lions, as per the last census.
Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/lioness-hit-by-porcupine-quills-treated-at-junagadh-hospital/970874.html

29 lion died last year.

TNN Feb 29, 2012, 06.23AM IST
One lion died of electrocution in Junagadh district in the last one year, while 29, including 13 cubs, died from natural reasons. In a written reply to the question of Talala Congress MLA Bhavan Barad, the government has said that in the year 2011, 16 adults lions and 13 cubs have died. Officials in the department said that there are about 290 odd lions in Sasan Gir sanctuary and its periphery.
A death of about 15 per cent of the animal in a year was not considered to be on the higher side. tnn As per estimates of the lion census conducted in April 2010, there were 97 lions, 162 lionesses and 152 cubs in and around Gir forest region of the state. The 2005 census had recorded presence of 359 lions here.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-29/ahmedabad/31109854_1_lion-census-odd-lions-sasan-gir-sanctuary

Amit Jethwa murder case: BJP MP Dinu Solanki given clean chit.

Politics News | Posted on Feb 28, 2012 at 05:34pm IST

New Delhi: The Gujarat Police Crime Branch on Tuesday gave a clean chit to BJP MP Dinu Solanki in connection with the RTI activist Amit Jethva murder case. The crime branch submitted its final report on Tuesday giving a clean chit to Solanki.
Amit's father, Bhikha, had filed a petition in the High Court, seeking probe by the CBI or any other independent agency, in October 2010.
In the petition he had alleged that BJP MP from Junagadh, Dinu Solanki, was behind the killing, and the city crime branch was not conducting an impartial probe.

Right to Information (RTI) activist Amit Jethwa was killed on July 20 last year near the Gujarat High Court by unidentified men. Ahmedabad police official said that some unidentified men on a motorcycle fired at Jethwa killing him.
Jethwa was reportedly coming out of a building after meeting his lawyer and was about to enter his vehicle when he was fired upon. Even though he was hit in the abdomen by the bullets, he tried to grapple with his assailants, who fled from after leaving behind their motorcycle.
Police inspector HM Kundaliya said Jethwa died on the spot after he was shot. "His body was being sent for postmortem and search for the assailants was on," Kundaliya said.
He had filed several petitions in the Gujarat High Court against the Forest Department and had also filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the illegal mining in the Gir forests of Junagadh district which is considered the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world.
Jethwa was also the president of Gir Nature Youth Club.
Source: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/amit-jethwa-murder-case-bjp-mp-given-clean-chit/234562-37-64.html

Fire in lion's abode, no casualty.

TNN | Mar 1, 2012, 10.14PM IST
RAJKOT: A major fire broke out on the banks of river Shetrunji near Kakrach village in Liliya taluka of Amreli district on Wednesday night. The fire soon spread out in the area in which parts of lands belonged to private ownership and remaining was government wasteland.
Amreli district forest department officials rushed to the spot as soon as they were informed about the incident. The area is a habitat of wild animals like Asiatic lion and leopards besides others.
"The area where fire was broke out was a revenue area and government wasteland. We along with our rescue team rushed to the spot and launched an operation of douse the fire," deputy conservator of forests, Amreli district, J K Makwana said.
Makwana said there are no reports of animals being injured in the fire. Forest officials, however, are yet to know the reason behind the fire which spread over the 200 bigha land. Fire department battled the blaze for around five hours before it was controlled. tnn
According to the last census, there were 411 Asiatic lions out which 108 were in Amreli district.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Fire-in-lions-abode-no-casualty/articleshow/12101318.cms

200-year-old procession of naga sadhus called off.

TNN Feb 21, 2012, 05.20AM IST
Six Persons Died And 30 Hurt In Junagadh Stampede
AHMEDABAD: For the first time in over two centuries, the procession of naga bawas (naked sadhus) that marks the celebration of Shivratri in Mount Girnar was called off on Monday after six persons died in a stampede on the outskirts of Junagadh late on Sunday night.
Pankaj Trivedi, Junagadh superintendent of police, said akhadas in the area have voluntarily decided to call off the procession, which is taken out just before the midnight bath in Damodar Kund. He said that the bath which is inside the temple will take place but it would be a private affair.
The procession ends with a bath in the kund and offering of prayers, marking the end of the five-day Shivratri fair.
The cancellation of the procession has resulted in large number of people leaving Junagadh. The administration has also banned entry of private vehicles and buses in Bhavnath area.
At least 30 persons were injured in the stampede. Of these, only nine were in hospital and the remaining were discharged on Monday.
The stampede that occurred at Pang Nala, an S-shaped drain with a fall of about 75 metres to 100 metres on both sides, was a result of the technical snag in the state transport buses that came face to face. On Sunday at about 6 pm, two state transport buses - one heading for Bhavnath and another towards Junagadh city - came face to face and stopped. Sources said the boundary wall of the bridge on one side gave in because of the chaos, hurtling many people down, resulting in deaths and injuries to the devotees.
Maha Mandleshwar Vishwambhar Bharti of Shree Pant Dasnan Juna Akhada said, "The fund of Rs five crore have already been sanctioned for the widening of the nullah and even having it straightened instead of the curve. But, the project is hanging fire due to internal politics in the district administration."
Meanwhile, the state government has ordered a high-level inquiry headed by additional chief secretary Varun Maria into the incident. The state government and the Junagadh Municipal Corporation have also announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 1 lakh each to the family of the deceased and Rs 25,000 to the injured.
"Barring 108 services and government vehicles, no four-wheelers are allowed near Damodar Kund and Bhavnath," said Trivedi.
The popular fair, which concludes on Shivratri midnight, is an annual affair attended by at least 10 lakh people.
Source: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-21/ahmedabad/31082248_1_varun-maria-procession-bhavnath

Junagadh stampede toll rises to 7, probe ordered.

Published: Monday, Feb 20, 2012, 12:38 IST | Updated: Monday, Feb 20, 2012, 17:09 IST
Place: Rajkot (Gujarat) | Agency: PTI 
Toll in the stampede at Mahashivratri fair at Bhavnath temple in Junagadh district on Monday rose to seven even as senior police officials said breakdown of two state transport buses led to the incident.
Premji Makwana, who was injured in the melee last evening at the famous Shiva temple at the foothills of Girnar, 150km from here, succumbed to his injuries at Junagadh Civil Hospital, official sources said.
The mishap occurred on the narrow Panjanka bridge that connects Junagadh city to Bhavnath temple when two state transport buses coming from opposite directions broke down while crossing the bridge.
"This blocked the entire traffic as well as movement of people which created panic among them causing the stampede," Junagadh SP Dipankar Trivedi said.
The state government has constituted a high-level committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary Varun Maria, to probe the incident.
Nearly nine lakh pilgrims had converged at Bhavnath temple last evening at the time of the tragedy, district officials said.
In the wake of the stampede and in a bid to prevent recurrence of such incidents, the district administration has put in place many measures.
"To avoid any such incident, we have banned all vehicular traffic in the area today and people are allowed to go on foot only," Trivedi said, adding the directions would be in place till the fair is over.
Meanwhile, Junagadh resident Suresh Banjaria, who had gone to Bhavnath temple yesterday, said, "People of the city have been telling the municipal corporation to build a wider bridge in place of Panjanaka bridge but it has not been done.
Those who died last night were identified as Kalpesh Vadher, 8, Chotu Jadeja, 36, Chanda Rawal, 55, Sheetal Charule, 18, and Manjuben Bhimabhai, 60, while the body of a two-year-old boy is yet to be identified.
The state government and Junagadh Municipal Corporation each have announced a compensation of Rs1 lakh to the kin of the deceased and Rs25,000 to the injured.
Meanwhile, three companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP) have been summoned from Gondal to ensure that the fair passes off peacefully.
In the wake of the stampede, Akhil Bhartiya Sadhu Samaj, the main organiser of the fair, has decided to call off their famous procession saying only a symbolic procession would be taken out.
The fair is organised every year to mark Mahashivratri and this time nearly 10 lakh people are expected to attend the congregation.
Source: http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_junagadh-stampede-toll-rises-to-7-probe-ordered_1652478

Veteran foresters blame trust deficit for discord.

Express News Service : Ahmedabad, Thu Feb 23 2012, 02:26 hrs
When Gujarat’s veteran foresters recollect the long-standing disagreement over the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project (to Madhya Pradesh), they say they were neither consulted nor shown the chosen sites in MP, and that foresters from that state never studied the conservation techniques employed here.
This led to a trust deficit among Gujarat’s officers, who declined to hand over the endangered carnivores they had always been charged with protecting. By the time the present heads of the department took over, hardly one meeting had taken place, called by director general of forests, government of India, forest officials of MP and Gujarat, and others, when a petition landed the issue in the Supreme Court.
The debate is back in focus after the apex court on Tuesday observed the lions belong to the country and not to Gujarat, though they are found only here.
“Yes, there are many lions and they should be relocated but not in the way presently proposed. This is not the way,” said Sanat Chavan, a former principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) who spent a considerable part of his career in the Gir area — Asiatic lion’s last abode.
Not consulting Gujarat’s foresters meant the plans never factored in the role Gir’s maldharis had played in conserving the predators, and never studied if a similar environment existed in the neighboring state, he said.
Lions are ‘human-friendly’ and tend to move in groups even through human habitation, but under normal circumstances, do not attack unless provoked.
“The maldharis of Gir know this and so they do not provoke the big cats, meaning there are fewer man-animal conflicts,” said G A Patel, also a former PCCF who was chief wildlife warden when the plans were being formulated by a committee.
Patel said he was invited to attend the committee’s meetings only after alternative sites had been decided on. He raised objections then and afterward as well, questioning whether there was enough prey base in a place where tigers already exist, or if the locals would welcome the carnivores, or if the temperature would be suitable at the alternative site which, even by then, he had not even been shown.
“Was the alternate site good enough? I had not even seen the site. How could I allow lions to be relocated there without even seeing the site?” he said.
Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/veteran-foresters-blame-trust-deficit-for-discord/915560/0