18 big cats' death in March poses threat to wildlife security in Gir

Junagadh, Gujarat, Apr 15 (UNI) 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 the 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 look 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 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 from the state government it will be implemented.

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