Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

After the death of 11 lions (three adult females, two adult males and six cubs) were found between September 11 and 19, the whole safety issue has been stirred up again. Nine of the dead lions were recovered from Dalkhaniya range and two from the Jashadhar range of Gir Forest.

The reasons reported were multi-faceted, as officials had ruled out unnatural causes and that's where it starts sounding dodgy.
Gujarat’s forest minister Ganpat Vasava and officials initially sited inter-pride fighting & injury related infections as reason of death for the three cubs, two females & one male. Even if death of females by infighting cannot be ruled out as impossible, death of the cubs were stated to be due to starvation & lung infection (most common cause of death in cubs). The other three died of various reasons prima facie respiratory to liver failures, yet to be ascertained.

But the fact that the viscera of carcasses of the lions had been sent to the Pune-based "National Institute of Virology" to find out the exact cause of their deaths, is also a cause for concern.

Gujarat Government had finally sought the help of Central wildlife experts to unravel the mystery. A Central team of wildlife experts and other officials was flown in on Sunday and left for Gir forest to have an on-the-spot investigation, including looking at the autopsy and viscera reports of the dead lions. 

But then there were some new developments...

Embarrassed and shocked over the deaths, Gujarat govt. had immediately announced an in-depth screening of all lions by 64 teams, each consisting of a forester, a two beat guards and one tracker, aided by veterinary doctor. 

FD released a report that: 
"The teams have so far already screened 164 lions in the Gir forest area (East and West). Four lions were found with minor injuries apart from the two lionesses (one sick lioness which died Tuesday and other weak lioness which was later found dead before being captured). The four lions were treated on the spot and released.  Remaining 158 lions are in good health."

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Yesterday, on 25th September, another cub was found dead which take this month's toll beyond a dozen. Sources in the State Forest Department confirmed that the two lionesses aging four and nine as well as the six-month-old cub succumbed to illness described as "some mysterious infection".

The new toll of 14 lions include two adult males, five adult females and seven cubs. 11 of these lions, including the two who died in the last 24 hours, were from the Dalkhaniya range!

The Chief Conservator of Forest, (wildlife circle) D.T.Vasavada told about the latest deaths, "They died of some disease and infection, but the exact cause will be known only after postmortem report.”

PS: This BBC report says that , conservationist Rajan Joshi told BBC Gujarati that he suspected Canine distemper virus (CDV) - carried by domestic dogs - may have played a role in the deaths. But officials said medical tests during the post mortem of the dead cats had not found any evidence of the virus.

PPS: Pricipal Chief Conservator of Forest G.K.Sinha said, “The Central govt. team is here on our invitation. There was speculation by people and media about an epidemic, so we have called the team to investigate. However, their primary research shows no signs of epidemic.”
The team has three officials, one is Joint Secretary of Wildlife, Government of India, Assistant Inspector General of National Tiger Conservation Authority who visited the site on Saturday. A scientist from Wildlife Institute of India joined them on Saturday evening. Reply