Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

[Sanju]

#367 post: Its ok, @Wolverine 

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#366 Post: @paul cooper 
Yes, it is known as "ChandraPrabha Relocation Project" of Uttar Pradesh in 1957.
Indian Wildlife Board accepted that project in 1956 during a meeting at Gir to host a second population in the Chakia forests. Total of “3” very ridiculously low number of lions given (not even a pride) in which only 2 lionesses and 1 lion from gir are translocated to Sakkarbuagh Zoo in Junagadh for 9 months. In 1957, they transferred to ChandraPrabha WildlifeSanctuary near Varanasi with 96 km^2 (even ridiculously low area). An enclosure was created with a 3 metres (9.8 ft) high barbed wire fence within the sanctuary in which the lions were temporarily housed before being released in the sanctuary. Up-to 1965 the individual number increased to 11–20 after which they died (some sources say 20).

https://www.ibtimes.co.in/11-asiatic-lions-missing-uttar-pradesh-sanctuary-606479

Causes of failure :-

1. insufficient area of 96 km^2 of sanctuary protected area, even 1 single Asiatic lion pride as a whole wants 140 km^2 (54 sq mi) of avg home range (but home range can range from 90-230 km2 regarding "asiatic lion").
   No systematic monitoring using sophisticated scientific techniques, rescue methods and protection mechanisms in those days.
2. Already having low prey base due to hunting in those days, deforestation etc.., free grazing domesticated cattle animals inside the sanctuary damaging and degrading ecosystem made the things even worse lead to even low prey base.
3. This lead to lions preying on cattle and turning man eaters i.e.., man-lion-livestock conflict with the herders and local people. Hence, lions were  killed as a pest control menace (PS at that time it was just a decade after India's independence and Wildlife Protection Act is not there).
4. long period of captivity in Junagadh zoo for 9 months. 
5. Nill education of the local villagers and lack of conflict resolution mechanism. etc.., are factors for the failure. 
   

Present, there are no such problems though. Reply