Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

[Wolverine]

Muhammad Bahadur Khanji IIIMuhammad Bahadur Khanji IIIMuhammad Mahabat Khanji II

(09-16-2016, 09:53 PM)Shardul Wrote: The whole point of the lion reintroduction project to Kuno was to have a backup population of the lions in case some natural calamity put the original Gir population in danger. People forget that out of the 500 or so asiatic lions alive, no more than 300 live in Gir, the rest have moved out to nearby forests and sanctuaries. Today, asiatic lions occupy 20,000 sq km of area in Gujarat, 10 times the size of Gir. Prides of lions have waded through human populated areas to find suitable forest patches. The lions themselves are choosing which areas to occupy, and they will continue to expand their territory, defying all "expert" predictions. In the future, they might move north into Rajasthan, or east into madhya Pradesh. Of course they will have to pass through human dense areas and it might take some time, but they have shown the ability to do so. Already, there are videos of lions moving into Bhavnagar city limits, so I'm pretty optimistic.

Reintroducing apex predators like lions and tigers is fraught with danger and contingent upon the local population's acceptance of these creatures, which is easier said than done. Tigers have already chosen Kuno by moving into it, let the lions decide which places are suitable for them. Who are we to make that decision on their behalf?

On a related note, the Government of Gujarat's point of view is simple in this matter. When lions were disappearing in the early 20th century from across asia, no one bothered saving them. The Gujarat govt, supported by its people, put so much time and effort into saving these creatures that now their population has grown substantially. So they did all the hard work and now everyone wants a piece of that cake? I may not agree with this POV, but I can certainly see its merit.

Shardul:
1. You know very well that the lions would not be allowed to cross the borders of Gujarat with another Indian states because Gujarati authorities don't like this to happen. In the moment the lions approach Rajastan or Madhya Pradesh "dangereously" close they will be captured and returned deep in Gujarati territory.
2. The Asiatic lions are saved not by Gujarat's government but by efforts of Nawabs of Junagarh Muhammad Mahabat Khanji II, Muhammad Bahadur Khanji III and of cource by the good will of Lord Cerzon, Viceroy of India. Gujarat's government only inherited already saved lions.
3. In my opinion position of state of Gujarat is egotistic and Medieval in its nature. Panthera leo persica and all other animal species belong not to any single territory or state, but to all humanity.
4. Position of Gujarat's government is treason to unity of India, it represent a "zoological separatism" and prove that a lot of people in Gujarat think that they are not Indians. Mahatma Gandhi would get mad if he see what's happens in his native state.
5. Tigers are not "chosen Kuno", and even if a couple of tigers entered Kuno that's even beter. India is historicaly a land both of tigers and lions and they coexisted together for many milenia in numerous arias. If lions meet with tigers in Kuno that will be amazing and WILL SHIFT WORLDWIDE ATENTION FROM AFRICA TO INDIA. And that wiil be very very good for India and her touristic industry. At last will be a meeting between two kings. Reply