As many as 313 lions died in the Gir National Park in the two years – specifically, 152 cubs, 90 lionesses, and 71 male Asiatic lions-between January 2019 and December 2020, the Gujarat government informed the State assembly on March 5, 2021. The State forest minister said that of the 71 lions, 69 had died of natural causes, as also 144 of the 152 cubs. However, the opposition claimed that rotting cattle meat, illegally transported into Gir from the peripheral villages, is a major cause of the deaths.
Gir, which is the last remaining abode of Asiatic Lions in the world, currently has 674 lions as per a survey conducted by the forest department. “When the enumeration of lions were carried out in 2015, there were 523 lions and when the exercise was carried out again in 2020, there were 674 lions which means there was a 29 per cent increase in population in five years,” Vasava said adding that the state government will take strict action if they get any complaints of dead cattle being given inside the sanctuary.
The forest minister said that the state government has spent Rs 33 crore in making parapets for 43,000 open wells to prevent lions from falling into them. He said the government has started four lion ambulances which is equipped with anaesthesia-cum-ventilator, multiparameters monitor, blood analyser, centrifugal machine and ultrasound machine.
Credit : Indian Express
Picture Credit : Google
