Ahmedabad
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Ambani’s ambitious project Vanatara in Gujarat and visited it. Here PM Modi was also seen taking pictures with forest creatures and feeding the cub. But on the same day, a report was presented in the Gujarat Legislative Assembly which was told that 286 lions have died in the last two years in the state.
In fact, state forest minister Mulubhai Bera informed the assembly on Tuesday that at least 286 lions died in Gujarat in the last two years, including 143 cubs. Of these, 58 lions died due to unnatural reasons.
While answering a question of senior Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar during the Question Hour, Berra said that in the state, 456 leopards including 140 cubs have also died in the state for two years – 2023 and 2024.
286 lions killed in two years
According to data presented in the state assembly, 286 Asian lions including 143 cubs have died in the last two years. Of these, 58 were unnatural deaths. In addition, 456 leopards and leopard cubs were reported reported during the same period. In 2023, 58 adult lions and 63 cubs died, while in 2024 the mortality increased to 85 adult lions and 80 cubs. In the deaths of leopards, the government said that 225 leopards including 71 cubs were killed in 2023, while in 2024 the mortality rate rose to 231, including 69 cubs. Overall, 153 leopards’ deaths were unnatural.
Shocking revelation of expert
In a conversation with TOI, a wildlife expert said on the condition of anonymity that when it comes to big cats, the death toll of cubs is more than the death of adults. This is caused by cannibalism. Even the possibility of cubs surviving for the first three years is very low. This is about 40 percent. Another case of concern is that the death of adult lions increased by 46 percent from 2023 to 2024. The expert said that the matter should be investigated as one of the reasons for this can be an outbreak of some disease. He said that the high mortality rate of the cubs is not surprising, as Gir usually consists of three cubs at a time.
Government took these steps
The official said that according to biologists of big cats, up to 20% mortality in the population of lions is generally acceptable, but if it exceeds it, it is a matter of concern. The government in its reply said that lions and other wild animals have been appointed a veterinary officer to provide immediate medical care in cases related to illness or accident, and also has a dedicated ambulance service. The government said that speedbreakers and signboards have been installed on public roads passing through the sanctuary area. Regular patrolling is also done, and the authorities are equipped with vehicles, weapons and walkie-talkies. The government said that CCTV cameras have been installed at the posts and a high-tech monitoring unit has been set up in Sasan.
He said that out of the death of 286 lions, 121 died in 2023 and 165 died in 2024.
Gujarat is the last natural habitat of Asian lions in the world. According to the last calculation conducted in June 2020, the state has 674 Asian lions, mainly in the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
During the ongoing budget session, the minister said in a written reply in the assembly that 225 leopards died in 2023 and 231 leopards in 2024.
He said that 228 lions died due to natural causes while 58 deaths occurred due to unnatural reasons, such as vehicles being gripped or drowning in open wells.
Bera reported that 303 deaths in leopards occurred due to natural causes, while 153 deaths occurred due to unnatural reasons.
The Forest Minister told the House that the state government has taken various steps such as the appointment of veterinarians to prevent the unnatural deaths of the lions and start an ambulance service for the timely treatment of lions and other wild animals.
