19 lions died in last 5 years: Gujarat Minister

Gandhinagar, Mar 6 (UNI) Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Mangubhai Patel today informed the Legislative Assembly that 19 lions have died in the state during the last five years.

He was replying to a question by Mr Bavkubhai Ughad of the Congress. Mr Ughad had alleged that there were many incidents of lions dying after being hit by vehicles or such similar incidents.

These vehicles were illegally entering the lion territory.

He had cited a recent case where two lion cubs had died after falling into a well. Tyre marks near the well indicated that the cubs were chased by some vehicle, he added.

The Minister admitted that on February 24, the carcasses of two cubs were recovered from a well near Maran village in the state and vehicle tracks too were seen nearby.

However, whether any vehicle was directly linked to the death of the cubs was yet to be ascertained, he said, adding anyone found guilty, would be prosecuted under the Wildlife Protection Act.

UNI