The Hindu : National : Panel to investigate death of lions

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Tuesday, Apr 10, 2007
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National

National

Panel to investigate death of lions

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Centre on Monday constituted a committee for an appraisal of the recurring deaths of lions in and around the Gir National Park in Gujarat. A report will be submitted within a month.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority, a statutory body under the Union Environment and Forests Ministry, formed the committee as the highly endangered Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) are under threat at this National Park.

Regional Deputy Directors (Wildlife) Meeta Banerjee (Western region) and Santosh Tiwari, (Northern region) will be members of the committee headed by Pramod Krishnan, Joint Director (Wildlife), Union Environment and Forests Ministry.

The panel will give its appraisal of the protection strategy in vogue vis-à-vis mortality of lions during the last three years in terms of natural causes, disease, and poaching; resource dependency of local people on the Gir habitat; steps taken to foster co-existence among park people; managerial constraints in this area; and the possibility of restorative management in crucial corridor linkages around Gir to prevent insulation of the lion population.

The committee will also recommend measures to improve the situation. According to Rajesh Gopal, member secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority the panel may co-opt State officials as required.

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