Top official suggests pruning and thinning of Gir forest, but minister says no such proposal

Minister of State for Forest and Environment Shabdasharan Tadvi, however, said no such proposal was under consideration as of now.
Written by Gopal B Kateshiya | Sasan | Published:October 4, 2016 4:50 am

ADDITIONAL CHIEF secretary Punamchand Parmar, who held the charge of forest and environment department in the Gujarat government till recently, on Monday said the department should consider ways of accommodating more wild animals within protected areas to mitigate man-animal conflict, and suggested the idea of pruning and thinning of forests should be looked into.
Minister of State for Forest and Environment Shabdasharan Tadvi, however, said no such proposal was under consideration as of now.
Addressing the inaugural session of a two-day national workshop on conservation of Asiatic lions in Gujarat at Sasan, the headquarters of Gir National Park and Sanctuary, Parmar said it was encouraging that the population of Asiatic lions has gone up to 523 in 2015 from 177 in 1968. But at the same time, he said, it was a matter of concern also since the big cats were moving out of sanctuaries and roaming in areas dominated by humans.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/gir-forest-pruning-thinning-man-animal-conflict-lion-kill-human-3064314/

Incidents of lion attack mostly during summer in Gujarat, says Jamal Khan

Written by Gopal B Kateshiya | Rajkot | Published:October 4, 2016 4:44 am

He said the highest number of casualties — seven — was recorded in 1989-90 and 1990-91 each.

AFTER SIX human deaths in attacks by lions this year in Gujarat, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) and chief wildlife warden of the state Jamal Khan Monday said such attacks are mostly reported in the summer as he called for more research on the matter.
Making a presentation on the topic of Policy and Planning Level Interventions for Conservation of Asiatic Lions: Past, Present and Future at a two-day national workshop on lion conservation at Sasan, Khan said the number of deaths recorded this year was the highest in decades. “Data available since 1978-79 suggest that 51 humans have been killed in lion attacks. Almost all of these lion attacks on human have taken place in the months of March, April and May. This calls for more research. The data also suggested that years which recorded the high number of human casualties in lion attacks were also the years of drought,” said the PCCF.
He said the highest number of casualties — seven — was recorded in 1989-90 and 1990-91 each. The year 1988-89 also had reported six casualties. Barring these three years, the number of human deaths in lion attacks had never been more than three in any year from 1978-79 to 2015-16. But the trend changed this year — so far, this calendar year has witnessed six human deaths lion attacks, he said.
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/lion-gujarat-attack-summers-jamal-khan-wildlife-warden-3064306/

50 YEARS OF GIR SANCTUARY - Experts to talk on lion conservation at Sasan

(Representative image)

TNN | Oct 3, 2016, 10.00 AM IST
TNN | Oct 3, 2016, 10.00 AM IST

AHMEDABAD: The two-day national seminar on `Asiatic lions' conservation in Gujarat and its future management' will begin from October 3 at Sasan-Gir.
The seminar is part of the concluding ceremony of Golden jubilee celebration of Gir Sanctuary. Chief conservator of forests (wildlife), Junagadh circle, A P Singh, said that nearly 200 experts and forest officials will attend the national seminar.

"The experts and resear chers will deliver lectures on the present situation of Asiatic lions in context with lions spreading outside sanctuary limits," he said.

State forests and environment minister Ganpat Vasava will preside over the function.

Alongside the seminar, an exhibition of paintings prepared as part of competitions held in primary, secondary and higher secondary schools on wildlife, human and wildlife and humanwildlife co-existence subjects, will also be organized.Around 3,500 students from 66 schools in 13 talukas participated in the competition. A committee will select 10 best paintings each from three ca tegories and the makers wil be given appreciation certifi cates, said Ram Ratan Nala, deputy conservator of forests, Sasan Gir (wildlife division).

On the occasion, a Gir Heritage Gallery showcasing conservation efforts from the time of the Nawab o Junagadh to the present, wil also be inaugurated. "The de partment will also display messages with their photog raphs. Messages of all the Prime Ministers and Presidents and those of important dignitaries will be on dis play," Singh said.

The gallery will also serve as a re search laboratory for those who want to study lions and their behaviour.

An eight-minute film highlighting the conservation and growth of lions over 50 ye ars will also be screened.

Singh said that 20-odd senior staffers will also be felicitated. These staffers have been working in the sanctuary for between two and three decades.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/50-YEARS-OF-GIR-SANCTUARY-Experts-to-talk-on-lion-conservation-at-Sasan/articleshow/54650350.cms

Trade in Wild African Lion Bones Banned

For Immediate Release, October 2, 2016
Contact: Tanya Sanerib, (503) 544-8512, tsanerib@biologicaldiversity.org

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa— Countries from around the world today banned all commercial trade in wild African lion bones and parts in response to growing evidence  that lion parts are increasingly being substituted for rare tiger parts in Asian markets. The huge demand for these tiger products is fueling illegal trade in lion parts. In protecting African lions domestically last year, the United States recognized the “considerable potential for extensive poaching of wild lions to occur in order to meet demand.”
Today’s decision was agreed to by countries that are party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), a treaty that protects imperiled wildlife and plants affected by trade. A ban already exists on commercial trade in Asiatic lions and their parts.
“The ban on trading wild African lion bones is an important first step to protecting these regal animals from the harmful effects of commercial and illegal trade,” said Tanya Sanerib, an attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity. “At a time when we are fighting tooth and nail to save tigers from extinction, we can’t turn a blind eye to the lion parts trade, which is fueling further demand for big-cat products in Asia.” 
South Africa breeds lions in captivity primarily for “canned” trophy hunting, but the skeletons and bones not used as trophies are increasingly being sold commercially to Asia. To combat this development, nations also agreed South Africa must create a quota for this trade and report it to the Convention. And the nations passed a suite of decisions calling for further study of lions, which now exist in only 8 percent of their former range.
“Worldwide scrutiny on the growing lion bone trade will help ensure that these beautiful and important cats persist into the future,” said Sanerib.

The Center for Biological Diversity is a national, nonprofit conservation organization with more than 1.1 million members and online activists dedicated to the protection of endangered species and wild places.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2016/african-lion-10-02-2016.html

Video: Lions spotted roaming around in area inhabited by humans in Junagadh

DECCAN CHRONICLEPublished Oct 2, 2016, 1:57 pm IST
Junagadh: Lions are spectacular creatures and people from all over the world flock to lion centuries in Africa and Gir in Gujarat, as they spend hours with guides on safaris in order to catch a glimpse of the big cats in the wild.
But while the king of the wilderness may look majestic in the jungle, bumping into one in an area inhabited by human beings can be terrifying.
A video showing two Gir lions roaming around near a town in Junagadh district of Gujarat is doing the round on the social media, as it shows one moving out of sight after being caught on camera, the other is seen walking unfazed.
While such sightings are not rare in the villages and towns close to the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, it does reflect how human settlements can get in conflict for animals as seen in different parts of the country.
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/pets-and-environment/021016/video-lions-spotted-roaming-around-in-area-inhabited-by-humans-in-junagadh.html

Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur to get 2 Asiatic lions

Press Trust of India  |  Jaipur  October 1, 2016 Last Updated at 02:22 IST

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has arranged for the only pair of Asiatic lions in Jodhpur's Machia Biological Park to be shifted to the Nahargarh Biological Park in Jaipur.

Raje has instructed that the Asiatic lion pair, named Shravan and Tithi, be shifted to Jaipur and colonised with another pair of Asiatic lions at the Nahargarh Biological Park.

Confirming the proposed displacement of the pair from Jodhpur to Jaipur, the DFO (Wildlife) Mahendra Singh Rathore said Jodhpur would be getting a pair of lions in exchange.

The Gir National Forest is known as the last and the only refuge of this endangered animal, the total count of which has been reported at 359 as per a 2005 census.

Its population extended up to the Northern India once but before the end of the last century, the Asiatic Lion had become extinct from everywhere except Gir, where since the conservation programme started in 1965, its count increased gradually on account of the endeavours of the local people and the state government.

Nahargarh has been proposed to be established as a centre for the breeding of the Asiatic lion.

Veterinarian of Machia Park Sharavan Singh Rathore said the pair is quite young and can easily be colonised with another pair of Asiatic lion already present in Nahargarh.

This is second such initiative in India aimed at the conservation and population growth of the Asiatic lion.

Another such breeding farm for Asiatic lion is proposed to come up in Etah in UP.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/nahargarh-biological-park-in-jaipur-to-get-2-asiatic-lions-116100100088_1.html

Surat Zoo: Health of Asiatic lion 'Shyamal' leaves doctors worried

ANI  |  Surat (Gujarat) [India]  October 1, 2016 Last Updated at 07:49 IST

The health of the famous Asiatic lion, 'Shyamal', one of the major attractions of the Sarthana Nature Park and Zoo in Surat, Gujarat, has left veterinarians worried.
The lion has been deteriorating for the last 25 days and has stopped eating and drinking water. It has been undergoing treatment for diarrhea.

Veterinarian Rajesh Patel said the big cat may be suffering from kidney disease.
"Shyamal did respond to treatment in between. However, his condition is worsening because he is not responding to medicines well, "said Patel.
Shyamal is the only lion in Surat's zoo.
Asiatic lions, different from African lions, with a characteristic skin fold on their bellies and thinner manes on the males , once roamed most of Asia.
India is also struggling to save its endangered tigers, as people invade their habitat and poachers kill them for body parts that fetch huge sums in the international black market.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
http://www.business-standard.com/article/news-ani/surat-zoo-health-of-asiatic-lion-shyamal-leaves-doctors-worried-116100100193_1.html

Plea Seeks State Investigator To Probe Into Death Of Pregnant Gir Lioness

Gujarat high court may hear the PIL seeking a CID probe on Monday. (Representational photo)

All India | Press Trust of India | Updated: October 01, 2016 00:12 ISTAhmedabad:  The Gujarat High Court is likely to hear a public interest litigation on Monday seeking CID probe into the death of a pregnant lioness in Talala range of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.

The body of the lioness, which was pregnant, was recovered from Hiren river on September 1. The PIL alleged that the investigation conducted by the forest department into the death made no headway.

According to the petitioner Biren Pandya, the autopsy report showed that the lioness died after receiving an electric shock. Also, two lions accompanying her were still missing.

"The said death is an unnatural death....Inaction will only encourage the perpetrators to roam free," the PIL said.

Pandya also said that cases of poaching of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary were on rise. As many as 310 Asiatic lions died in the sanctuary in the last five years, falling prey to electric shocks after coming into contact with electrified fences of farms in the surrounding areas or poaching, he said.

The PIL also sought a direction to the forest department to fill up vacant posts as the shortage of staff was hampering the patrolling and helping the poachers.

The wildlife crime cell of the forest department, formed after an incident of poaching in 2007, had remained largely defunct, it alleged.

A census in 2015 had showed that total number of Asiatic lions in Gujarat had gone up to 523 from 411 in 2010.
http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/plea-seeks-state-investigator-to-probe-into-death-of-pregnant-gir-lioness-1468711