Centre wants Gir Lions' relocation to alternative habitats: Meena

Jaipur, May 22 (UNI) Advocating for relocation of some of the endangered Gir Lions to alternative habitats in Madhya Pradesh or elsewhere, Union Minister of State for Environment and Forest Namo Narain Meena said efforts were still on to persuade Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over the move.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Meena said, "We want to shift part of the endangered Gir lion population from the Gujarat's Gir sanctuary to alternative habitation in Madhya Pradesh but the Gujarat Chief Minister is not responding well to the proposal".

The Union Minister said it was a logical move as it was better to keep such an endangered species at more than one location to avoid risk of some unpredictable and/or unavoidable crisis.

Mr Meena informed that his Ministry had written to the Gujarat Government several times but the latter avoided replying.

He, however, said Mr Modi had not turned down the suggestion but was simply keeping it on hold.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also finally accorded his nod to the proposal of shifting some tigers from the Ranthambhore Tiger Park to Sariska sanctuary in Rajasthan, he informed.

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