Modi, Chouhan continue sparring over translocation of lions.

Asiatic lions are listed as endangered by the IUCN due to their small population.

Devika Chaturvedi  New Delhi, September 4, 2013 | UPDATED 15:54 IST

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-translocation-of-asiatic-lions-asiatic-lion-gir-forests-kuno-palpur-sanctuary/1/305463.html

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-translocation-of-asiatic-lions-asiatic-lion-gir-forests-kuno-palpur-sanctuary/1/305463.html

The frayed tempers between the Gujarat and the Madhya Pradesh government along with the judicial activism on the issue of the translocation of the Asiatic lion from its last abode in the Gir forests to the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in MP may not cool down anytime soon.
The hard-hitting Supreme Court verdict on April 15 forced the Gujarat government to agree to the translocation in what had become a fight for state pride and resulted in much jarring between the two BJP-ruled states.

In retaliation, Gujarat government filed a review petition in May. Although the verdict on the petition was still pending a 12 member committee was formed by the ministry of forest and environment for the translocation of lions. The panel, which met in Delhi on July 29 for a maiden meeting, comprised pro-shifting experts Ravi Chellam and Y V Jhala who are the brains behind the translocation plan to decide on the number of lions to be shifted.
Gujarat government had put forth its arguments against the move but environmentalists slammed it by saying that the lions were being caught in a political tussle between Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.

Significantly, the battle over the translocation had taken an ugly turn. Modi had refused to entertain the request of his MP counterpart Chouhan government to agree to the translocation. Many government officials and local activists in Gujarat questioned that is conserving the lion really MP's aim or does it basically want to enhance its tourism?
Dineshgiri Goswami, green activist from Kodinar based Prakruti Nature Club, says "I do not think anybody is thinking about the lion but the battle is becoming more political. Forest officers appearing in court do not care for the lions." Goswami threatened self-immolation if lions are shifted.

As a much needed boost to the Gujarat government, a Mumbai based NGO, Empower Foundation, presented a study on lion translocation. They stated that lions should not be translocated and be allowed to migrate naturally. The study also found that the Gujarat government has not powerfully positioned the fact that the lion habitat in Gujarat goes much beyond Gir.
Over a period of time lions have migrated naturally hundreds of kilometers away to places like Amreli, Savarkundla, Liliya Porbandar, Paniya, Mitiyala, Barda, Una, Chhara, Sutrapada, Babariya, Kodinar, Visavadar, Hipavadli, Jamvada, Jasadhar, Girnar, Bhavnagar and Palitana.
"The 1,412 sq km abode of Asiatic lions has now spread across 10,500 sq km, thus mitigating concentration risk in one area," explained Jalpesh Mehta, founder chairman, Empower Foundation. Thus, the spread of an epidemic which was the primary argument of wildlife activists and biologists seeking translocation does not hold true, according to him.

One would not, however, undermine Gujarat's valid concerns about the security of the lions in Madhya Pradesh. Asiatic lions are listed as endangered by the IUCN due to their small population. Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, C.N.Pandey says, "Success of lion conservation in Gujarat may largely be attributed to the tolerant, friendly and supportive local people. This is missing at Kuno Palpur."

Another major concern is that Madhya Pradesh is major poaching arena with a strong gun culture. According to several cases reported in the past the 'tiger state' lost its moniker when 453 tigers out of 710 (63% loss) were killed in last decade alone. The state as per the 2011 census has only 257 tigers left.
The loss of tiger in Madhya Pradesh was 50 per cent of the total loss of the tigers across the world. Palpur Kuno had 25 tigers earlier but reduced to a shameful figure of two in the present time. Sheopur district also has 4800 fire arm licenses for a population of six lakh. As these are licensed guns, one cannot assess the illegal fire arms present in the area.

Risks cannot be ruled out, but these risks must be taken considering the larger benefits for the species, feels Dr Rahul Kaul, Chief Ecologist, Wildlife Trust of India. He observes: "Long-term viability of lions or any other wildlife will benefit greatly if there are multiple populations. Restricting the animals to a single population, however big, can make them extremely vulnerable to stochastic extinctions."   

International Fund for Animal Welfare - Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI) has undertaken relocation of animals in the northeast India. "Working with the Assam Forest Department and Bodoland Territorial Council authorities, we have aided in reintroduction of rhinos in Manas after its entire population was wiped out during the civil unrest of 80s and 90s. With advancement of science and understanding, proper planning and effective implementation, the degree of success has increased and can be increased further. Anyway, in cases like these, the possibility of success must matter more than the fear of failure," says Kaul.

Clearly in this battle MP has an upper hand but with the endangered animals at stake the issues may have become more political than ecological. And while one smile and the other sulks a species survival is at risk.
  Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-translocation-of-asiatic-lions-asiatic-lion-gir-forests-kuno-palpur-sanctuary/1/305463.html

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/narendra-modi-translocation-of-asiatic-lions-asiatic-lion-gir-forests-kuno-palpur-sanctuary/1/305463.html

Six lions wander into Sasan railway station, kill calf.

Himanshu Kaushik, TNN Sep 5, 2013, 03.39AM IST

AHMEDABAD: The railway employees at Sasan station were forced to stay indoors when six Asiatic lions wandered in from the wild. After waiting for 15 minutes on the platform, the big cats moved out of the station and killed a calf.
It is rare for lions to come to the tracks and then gone on to the railway station. In this case, however, what was particularly interesting was that the six lions were not from one pride. Three were from the Kamleshwar dam site while the rest were from Raidi beat.
As news about the lions spread, people from Sasan village gathered near the site to watch the big cats feasting. For Sasan villagers, it is not new to see a lion but six lions eating a calf was something many had never seen. Forest officials were afraid of a law and order crisis and a possible attack by the lions. They had a hard time dispersing the crowd.
Kasuladev Ramesh, deputy conservator of forest, Gir West Division, said that after the villagers were dispersed, they closely examined the maggot wounds found on the body of three lions. During monsoon, maggot wounds are common problem among lions. The forest staff noticed the injury but as it was night, they were not able to carry out a rescue operation.
Help of veterinary doctors was sought in the morning. When they reached the spot along with rescue teams, the doctors treated two female and one male lion.
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-09-05/ahmedabad/41799897_1_railway-station-three-lions-six-lions

Asiatic lioness killed by farmer in Gujarat.

PTI | Sep 11, 2013, 04.11 PM ISTVADODARA: An Asiatic lioness was allegedly electrocuted by a farmer in his sugarcane field in Mathasuriya village along Gir forest in Gujarat, department officials said on Wednesday.

"Postmortem of the lioness confirmed that she died of electrocution," said District Conservator of Forest (Junagadh) Aradhana Sahu, adding no external injuries were found on the big cat whose carcass was found on Tuesday.

Officials suspect that the farmer Bhimbhai Bhagavan Zankant was behind the incident and they are conducting inquiry against him under the Wild Life Act. "He will be detained after inquiry", they said.

The Asiatic lion, also known as the Indian lion, is a lion sub-species that exists as a single isolated population in Gujarat. It is listed as Endangered by IUCN based on the small population size.

According to Deputy Conservator of Forests (West Division), Gir Forest, K Ramesh, this is second such incident from Giri Somnath district in last one month. A lion was also killed in a similar fashion by a farmer at Moti Monpuri village in Junagadh district.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Asiatic-lioness-killed-by-farmer-in-Gujarat/articleshow/22485486.cms

Illegal hotels in Gir sanctuary face action.

Himanshu Kaushik, TNN | Sep 9, 2013, 01.43 AM ISTAHMEDABAD: Hoteliers eyeing business opportunities around Gir sanctuary may not have many options left. The state forest department has banned such activities within the two-km radius of the sanctuary and is now planning to crack down on the illegal hotels operating within the sanctuary.

The increase in the number of tourists in the sanctuary has led to an increase in commercial activities. The forest officials said that while there only 25-odd hotel properties before five years, they have increased to 34 in 2013.

The officials said with the spurt in the hotel business around the sanctuary, there has been an increase in illegal activities as well. Several farm houses which were registered for individual use have converted themselves into hotels and guest houses.

"The department during the surveys found that there were 15 such farm houses which had been converted to guest houses. The officials have informed the district administration which has issued notices to these farm houses," said a senior official.

The official said the department had recently issued a notification restricting the setting up of any new hotel business in the two-km periphery of the sanctuary. The decision is aimed at giving Asiatic lions' free access to the Sasan Gir sanctuary and to protect their natural corridor.

The sanctuary witnessed a rise of 21 per cent in visitors during October 2012 - June 2013 season. The October-June season witnessed 21 per cent increase in number of visitors, 28 per cent rise in arrival of foreign tourists, and 19 per cent rise in revenue.

The officials said that a total of 4,16,000 tourists arrived in this season. The revenue of sanctuary was Rs 5.1 crore in this season. According to 2010 census, there are 411 lions in Gir jungle.

The officials said that ever since the advertisement featuring Amitabh Bachchan was aired, there has been an increase in the number of tourists in the sanctuary.

"This has also led to an increase in the number of hotel rooms in the region," said an official.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Illegal-hotels-in-Gir-sanctuary-face-action/articleshow/22424687.cms

Pride of the jungle.

Come October, and season begins in Gir, the home of the fabulous Asiatic lion. Zerin Anklesaria was there recently and, thankfully, lived to tell the tale.

ZERIN ANKLESARIAUpdated: September 6, 2013 19:51 IST
On a quiet night, so they say, the roar of an adult male lion can be heard five miles away. No such roaring welcome greeted us as we drove into Sasan Gir with the moon riding high, but we were certainly in lion country, with road signs pointing the way to Mane Land Jungle Lodge, Lion’s Paw Resort, Pride of Gir, Elsa’s Lair, and so on.

For me, this was a sentimental journey, for my father had served under the Nawab of Junagadh before Independence and as children we had visited Gir, staying in palatial grandeur at The Royal Hunting Lodge. The Nawab, a great animal lover, rarely hunted and it was chiefly maintained for Indian rajas and British VIPs for whom a lion was a prized trophy.

A party of 20 of us stayed there for four memorable days in sybaritic luxury. This was soon after the then Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, had left. The cellars were still stocked with the choicest wines, and the larders with cheeses, jams and canned fruit from Australia. The chefs cooked up mind-boggling meats, game and desserts.

Six of us little girls were allotted the master bedroom where the centrepiece was an enormous double bed with an 8-inch box-spring mattress imported especially for the Viceregal couple. Far from prying adult eyes, we spent our evenings using it as a trampoline to see who could jump the highest. The bed survived the onslaught. The mattress did not.

The world outside presented a harrowing contrast. A single tarred road led to the hunting lodge, and the Forest Officer occupied the only other building. Jeep tracks meandered through the forest and the Maldhari herdsmen merged with the hard, brown earth, living in poverty with their cattle in villages scattered across the 1400 sq. km of the sanctuary. In this semi-desert region agriculture was impossible.

Coming here now what a difference I found. We drove in from Rajkot on ribbon-smooth roads to the peripheral areas of the sanctuary — all neat, well-planned and free of garbage. With tourism has come unimaginable prosperity. Accommodation ranges from dharamsalas and budget hotels to the lordly Taj; canals supply water for gardens and cultivation; and local children study at an English medium school.

Our first safari started off rather tamely. I had the front seat in the jeep and couldn’t hear what the guide was saying. My information came solely from the grumpy driver who pointed out ‘snake’, ‘deer’, ‘mongoose’ and other uninspiring fauna in a single word. ‘Budd’ had me stumped, till he amplified. ‘Peacock’, he said.

It was just half an hour to closing time when we got the exciting news. A tracker came and whispered to the guide, who passed along the magic word ‘lion’. We took our place in a line of jeeps and waited in reverential silence as if in church. At last it was our turn to enter the sanctum and we moved down a track deep into the jungle. There, under the shade of a tree, we came upon them, two lionesses and five cubs, feasting on a nilgai. A thrilling sight but a poor photo-op, for the evening sun cast too many shadows and the lionesses were sitting low in the long grass, while bits and pieces of cub flashed in and out of the frame three-quarters two pointy ears, half a puckered face, a raised paw, a tail tip.

Later we encountered two angry lionesses rearing up on their hind legs, clawing and snarling at each other. Photo-op? Alas no! They were so enraged that our jeep had to keep a safe distance.

Back at the resort, everyone was envious. Some unfortunates had spent a packet on as many as three safaris, and seen only monkey, deer, and, of course, ‘budd’. Tourists often think that a lion sighting is guaranteed and, when disappointed, are vocal in their displeasure. A manager was once rudely roused from his slumbers by angry guests who had been out in vain since 5 a.m. They staged a gherao and shouted slogans, ‘Paisa vasool, paisa vasool’, demanding their money back.

The kings of the forest are as lazy as feudal monarchs. The male has only to guard his territory and propagate, which he does with maniacal zest. Everything else is left to the lioness. She must hunt for prey, feed and train her cubs and protect them from predators, including other lions. An adult male is the lord of his territory and eliminates all future rivals including his progeny, knowing that otherwise they will kill him when in their prime. The ‘sons’ in a pride are therefore highly prized, pampered and protected, both by their mothers and the Forest Officers. Patriarchy is as invidious in the jungle as outside it.

Lions are far more human-friendly than leopards or tigers, but only as long as one keeps within limits. In earlier days, the ‘pagis’ or traditional trackers, ever eager to display their affinity with the animal to visiting dignitaries, would place a handkerchief on the mane of a sleeping lion with the help of a stick, while another would retrieve it. However, one day, legend has it that the lion suddenly woke up, and both entertainment and entertainer came to a gory end.

Then there was the biker on his way to a local temple. Seeing a gorgeously maned specimen sitting quietly by the roadside, he whipped out his phone-camera and edged closer and closer until the lion took umbrage, and with a mighty swipe of its paw dispatched the foolish young man to the other world. In the jungle this lordly animal is king, and mere humans who disrespect his royal status pay a heavy price.
http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/travel/pride-of-the-jungle/article5100585.ece?homepage=true

Lions, temples, mangoes, Gir Somnath gets them all.

Gopal Kateshiya : Rajkot, Sat Aug 31 2013, 03:21 hrs
The creation of Gir Somnath by bifurcating Junagadh district, the land of Asiatic lions in Saurashtra, has not gone down well with some in Junagadh, but those falling in the new district are gleeful at the prospect of new possibilities.
Gir Somnath has been created by axing Una, Talala, Kodinar, Veraval and Sutrapada talukas away from Junagadh. However, small-scale protests are going on in Talala to retain Sasan Gir, the headquarters of state forest department which handles lion safaris, and a few other villages in Junagadh.
Even as the Gujarat government is fighting a legal battle against the translocation of lions to Madhya Pradesh, the protesters fear Junagadh will lose its identity if Sasan Gir, a village of Talala taluka, goes to Gir Somnath. Besides the famous Somnath temple, all major industrial complexes and a coastline, measuring 110-kilometre and dotted by eight ports, have already become part of the new district. The cement plant of Ambuja in Kodinar, arguably the biggest industrial establishment in the undivided Junagadh district, is now in Gir Somnath. Similarly, the cement plant of Gujarat Siddhi Cement Limited is also located in Sutrapada taluka. Indian Rayon, a major producer of viscose filament yarn of Aditya Birla Group, is based in Veraval town. Veraval also hosts a number of sea-food processing units.
However, without Gir forests as its part, the nomenclature of the new district will sound somewhat irrelevant. Local Congress MLA Jashubhai Barad is also against dividing Talala. "There is politics behind these protests. Those protesting the annexation of Sasan Gir, Bhalchhel, Haripur, Hiranvel and Bhojde villages into Gir Somnath are demanding not to divide Gir and Girnar. However, the residents of these villages want to be part of the new district and they are also demanding that Gir can't be taken away from them. So, the entire Talala taluka has to be with Gir Somnath," Barad says.
Incidentally, Talala is the largest producer and market of Kesar mango in the state. Barad says the creation of new district will augur well for the region. "There is tremendous potential to promote eco and religious tourism here. A tourism circuit covering Sasan Gir, Somnath and Diu needs to be developed with better infrastructure. While the cement industry has scope for further expansion, ports also need to be upgraded," the MLA says.
The new district has eight ports and harbours ?Veraval, Hirakot, Mul Dwarka, Madhvad, Kotda, Nava Bandar, Saiyad Rajapara and Dhamrej. It is likely to give a unitary identity to fisherman communities of Kharvas and and Kolis and facilitate their organisation as a political constituency. "So far we have been under-represented in politics and government. However, the new district will have a concentration of around 1.5 lakh Kharvas. This will help us get recognition as a political constituency," says Velji Masani, vice-president of Gujarat Fishermen Association.
Masani is also hopeful that the new administration will pay attention to the development of ports. "As of now Veraval port has the facility to harbour 1,000 fishing trawlers. However, there is a scope for its development and the expansion of its capacity to 2,500 trawlers. Dredging also remains a problem at this port. We hope the new administration addresses these issues," he adds.
Meanwhile, the new administration has identified cleanliness in Veraval town, the headquarters of the new district, as its top priority. "Besides being a port town, Veraval also sustains the rush of pilgrims at Somnath. So, cleanliness is a major problem. We shall put in place a system for solid waste management and lay under-ground drains on priority basis," Chandu Patel, collector of Gir Somnath, says.
Shree Somnath Trust, which manages Somnath temple enshrining Aadi jyotirling of Lord Shiva, expects improvement in connectivity to the temple. "We would welcome improvement in highways leading to the temple. We also need to develop some solutions to counter the smell emanating from fish drying yards of Veraval. They are sometimes hung near the temple premises," Pravin Laheri, secretary of the trust says.
According to Laheri, 30,000 pilgrims on an average visit the temple everyday.
Whether Sasan Gir stays with Gir Somnath or goes back to Junagadh, the collector of the new district will likely host a number of VIP visitors, including LK Advani, who comes to the shrine frequently for darshan.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/lions-temples-mangoes-gir-somnath-gets-them-all/1162615/0

Attacked by lions man lands in hospital.

Express News Service : Rajkot, Mon Aug 26 2013, 03:08 hrs
A man was injured after he was attacked by lions near Savarkundla in Amreli district on Sunday afternoon.
Savarkundla police said that Chandu Patadia (30) was injured after a lion attacked him near the town. After primary treatment at a local hospital, Patadia was referred to the Civil Hospital in Amreli.
Confirming the attack on Patadia, deputy conservator of forest (DCF) of Gir East, Anshuman Sharma, said, "A lion pride with cubs is roaming in the area. We have asked our staff to track the pride and lure the lions to a safer area."
Leopard found dead
A male leopard, believed to be three to four years old, was found dead in Piplav village of Khambha taluka of Amreli on Saturday afternoon.
"The leopard was stuck in a bush near a farm. A post-mortem has concluded that the leopard died of multiple organ failure. We have sent samples to veterinary college of Anand Agricultural University in Anand to know the exact cause of the death," Sharma said.
There was no injury mark on the leopard's body but its lungs were clotted and lever was also not functioning properly, Sharma said.
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/attacked-by-lions-man-lands-in-hospital/1160127/

Endangered Asiatic lion cub born at French zoo.

AFP  |  Paris  August 22, 2013 Last Updated at 22:32 IST
A rare Asiatic lion cub, whose species is endangered with only about 350 in the wild, has been born at a zoo in the French city of Besancon, officials said today.

"It's a baby girl, she is in great shape. We are observing her in the big-cat house from a distance thanks to a system of cameras," Gerard Galliot, chief conservationist at the zoo at the Citadel of Besancon, told AFP.

The cub was born on August 14 and weighs about 1.5 kilogrammes (3.3 pounds). She is expected to reach a weight of 130 kilogrammes (285 pounds) within two years.

Her father Tejas, born at a zoo in the British city of Bristol, arrived in Besancon, in eastern France, in 2008, while her mother, Shiva, was born in Besancon in 2005.

Listed as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, the Asiatic lion (panthera leo persica) was once widely distributed across southwest Asia but is now restricted to a single population in India's Gir Forest.