It is indeed worrying to know that poachers have killed as many as eight lions in the Gir National Park — a sanctuary for lions.
This year, there have been 19 lion deaths – an unusually high number.
The dry scrub forest of Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place where you will find wild lions in India. It’s also the only place in the world where the Asiatic lion species roam. Here, around 300 to 350 Asiatic lions roam the jungle and sometimes even stray into villages and the beach nearby.
Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than their African cousins. Though they have a less developed mane, Asiatic lions have thicker elbow tufts and a longer tail tuft. It was found from Syria through Iraq, Iran, Pakistan and most of northern and central India. But by the early 20th century, there were less than a hundred lions surviving only in Gir.
The Nawab of Junagadh, who then ruled over Gir, banned lion hunting in the area. Soon after, the population started growing. Today, there isn’t enough space in the forest area, which is why lions are moving outside.
Second home?
To create a second home for the lions, the government had planned to shift some of them to another forest in Kuno, Madhya Pradesh. Twenty-four villages were uprooted to create a sanctuary for the lions. But the Gujarat government has refused to part with the lions because it wants it to remain unique to Gujarat. Translocating the lions would protect the species. If there is an epidemic in Gir, a large chunk of the population could be wiped out. So, it is important to also have lions living in other places as well.
This year, there have been 19 lion deaths – an unusually high number. What is more worrying is that eight of these lions were killed by poachers. The others died due to natural causes or by falling into wells.
The remains of eight lions were found strewn in the forest. Guards also found iron traps, kerosene stoves, utensils and skinning knives at the site. This has made police and wildlife activists suspect that the Katni gang of poachers is involved in the killings. These poachers are part of an international animal trade network. Tigers killed by these poachers are sent to China, where tiger parts are used in traditional medicine. For the first time, lions are being killed. Now, the police suspect that lions are also being used in China since their bones are very similar to tiger bones.
Endangered
Poaching of the lions has become one more danger to this endangered species. It is important to do as much as we can to protect the last remaining Asiatic lions in the world. That means guarding the forest, tracking down poachers and expanding the spaces in which they can roam free.
Printer friendly
page Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
