Asiatic Lion Conservation Project | Burning Issues | PDF Download

ASIATIC LION CONSERVATION PROJECT

Three months after More than 20 lions in Gujarat succumbed to a virus, the Centre and the Gujarat government has announced a ₹97.85 crore Asiatic Lion Conservation Project.

 ASIATIC LION

Asiatic lions that once ranged from Persia (Iran) to Palamau in Eastern India were almost driven to extinction by indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss.

 NOTES

• Almost driven to extinction by indiscriminate hunting and habitat loss. A single population of less than 50 lions persisted in the Gir forests of Gujarat by late 1890’s. With timely and stringent protection offered by the State Government and the Center Government, Asiatic lions have increased to the current population of over 500 numbers.
• The last census in the year 2015 showed the population of 523 Asiatic Lions in Gir Protected Area Network of 1648.79 sq. km. that includes Gir National Park, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary adjoining reserved forests, Protected Forests, and Unclassed Forests.

WHERE TO FIND THEM

Asiatic lions were once distributed upto the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, in central India. At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic lion. The last surviving population of the Asiatic lions is a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in southwestern part of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.

STATUS

Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, in Appendix I of CITES and as Endangered on IUCN Red List Headquarters: Gland, Switzerland

 ASIATIC LION CONSERVATION PROJECT

• Asiatic Lion Conservation Project would use modern information and communication technology for conservation and protection efforts of the Great Gir Region, including GPS-based animal and vehicle tracking, automated sensor grid with movement sensors, night vision capability and real-time monitoring and report generation.
• The project will also have a dedicated veterinary institute, “lion ambulances”, and back-up stocks of vaccines that may be required.
• The government of Gujarat has envisaged a ‘Greater Gir’ that includes, other than the existing Gir National Park, sanctuaries in Girnar, Pania and Mitiyala. The conservation project also includes “habitat improvement” measures, making more sources of water available, creating a wildlife crime cell, and a task force for the Greater Gir region.

 TRANSLOCATION OF SOME LIONS?

• In 2013 Supreme Court had ordered translocation of some lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh within six months and the Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was identified to be the most suitable for reintroducing the species. But no step forwards was made in this regard.
• The translocation was planned as part of long-term survival plan so that the objectives of the conservation would be best served if they could be present outside Gujarat, too, so that they are protected against calamities like a forest fire, a disease, or calamities. The deaths of the Asiatic lions in Gujrat last year has again brought the questions of conservation to the forefront.

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