In search for new home

 

 

The Gujarat government is upbeat after reports surfaced that the population of the Asiatic lion in the state has increased from 359 to 411. But the euphoria was short-lived as more than 130 lions reside outside the 141 square kilometre reserved forest of Gir.

Concerned about their safety, the Central government wants them to be shifted to Kanha sanctuary of Madhya Pradesh. This is not a one-off thing. Earlier too, about 33 per cent lions of Gir have been settled outside the sanctuary. Two years ago, the state was rocked after three incidents of poaching had been reported in Gir sanctuary.

But this time, the authorities insist that they are working overtime for the safety of these lions and there is no need to worry. For the last two years, no poaching incidents have been recorded from the area. The safety of the lions that reside outside Gir has become a top priority for the government, authorities, environmentalists and the locals. According to the Asiatic lion census 2010, carried out in the sprawling expanse of the greater Gir, many lions have settled on areas about 100 kilometre away from the sanctuary. Official sources say lions that live outside the sanctuary prey on local animals. They kill two animals of herdsmen (Maldhari in Gujarati) everyday.

A member of legislative Assembly (MLA) from Junagadh Bhagwanbhai Barad says: “Earlier the government implemented an eco-development scheme for the Maldharis of Gir. The purpose was to settle these shepherds outside the sanctuary so that lions don’t get distracted. But when the shepherds moved out of the forest, the lions also followed them in search of new habitat.”

Once they leave the sanctuary, they become easy target of the poachers. Besides, there is also a space problem in Gir. The 2008 Forest Survey of India report shows that lion shares less than four kilometre of area in the sanctuary. Animal activists say every lion should get at least 75 square kilometre area to live in. That is why they are not surprised when some lions desert the sanctuary.

The government is under intense pressure to sort it out. Manish Vaidya, an animal lover from Ahmedabad and who also participated in lions’ consensus, says: “Lion is a lazy animal so it becomes easy target of poachers. Moreover, there have been some cases in which the animal had died outside the sanctuary in accidents. Incidents like these are the cause of concern.” Some 1,000 forest officers were involved in the 2010 census (April 25-28). They were assisted by more than 200 animal lovers and environmentalists. All of them want the government to act on these burning issues so that more Asiatic lions can be saved in the state. For them, this is Gujarat’s gift to the world.