18 big cats' death poses threat to wildlife security

Junagadh (Gujarat), Apr 15: The death of 18 big cats including 12 Asiatic lions and six leopards in a span of just 30 days last month has put a big question mark over the safety and security of wildlife habitants in the Gir forest sanctuary, considered to be the last abode of Asiatic lions.

Of the 12 lion deaths, six were allegedly killed by a gang of poachers from the neighbouring Madhya Pradesh to sell their skin, claws and skull in the international market.

Of the six leopard deaths, two each died in Eastern and Western Ranges of Gir Forest, while one each died in Girnar and Sakarbaug Zoo here. However, the deaths of all six leopards were reported to be natural.

Taking serious note of the situation, the Central government has decided to send a high power team from Environment and Forest Ministry to took into the matter.

The Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has also ordered an investigation by a team of CID (Gujarat), which is probing the poaching with the help of Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) experts.

The CID team has so far apprehended over 20 people, including a 15-member gang, hailing from Madhya Pradesh, involved in the poaching. Several claws and bones of lions were recovered from them.

The gang mambers admitted that they were selling them to leather merchants of Ahmedabad.

The Gujarat government also announced a Rs 40 crore hi-tech Protection Project to turn Gir National Party and Sanctuary into a fortress. The Project will be implemented by the recently formed Gujarat Lion Conservation Society (GLCS), which will turn Gir into a fortress by installing CCTVs, global positioning systems, providing weapons to guards, setting up special mobile units and other hi-tech gadgets to protect the animals and trace the movements of wildlife, poachers and any unauthorised movements of man or machine in the notified areas.

The State Forest department is preparing a draft for a new Gir management plan aimed at augmenting and strengthening the conservation strategy. The draft will be ready soon and after approval form the state government it will be implemented.

The draft also emphasizes on reconsidering the existing communication and information exchange set up between forest officials and communities that live within and outside the sanctuary. There are about 400 Kalahari (cattle owners) families residing inside the Gir Sanctuary. Besides, several other communities living on the fringes of the sanctuary where they often lead their cattle for grazing, are also an important source of information about any suspicious activity for forest officials.

Following are the instances where the lions have died - A lion-cub died a natural death near Ashuadni hamlet in Gir on March 3.

Two lionesses and a lion-cub were poached by professional poachers in Babaria Range in Gir Sanctuary on March 3.

Two lion-cubs died after falling into an open well at Rabarika village in Tulsishyam Range in Gir Sanctuary on March 15.

A carcass of lioness was found in suspicious condition in Rajpipla village in Jasadhar range on March 30.

Two lions and a lion-cub were poached by professional poachers in Babaria Range on March 30.

A lion died in in-fight with another lion near Timbarva village in Tulsi-shyam range on March 31.

A lion-cub died of hunger in Sasan Gir on March 31.

UNI