Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

(10-03-2018, 06:04 PM)BorneanTiger Wrote:

(10-02-2018, 10:00 AM)Suhail Wrote: 21 Gir lions dead, 4 of virus that killed 1000 in Serengeti
"Preliminary reports from National Institute of Virology, Pune, have confirmed CDV in four lions. We are awaiting the final report of possible CDV in other lions"
of the total 21 lions, six had died of protozoan infection
TNN | Updated: Oct 2, 2018, 09:42 IST

RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: All 10 Asiatic lions, rescued from Gir’s Dalkhaniya Range in Gujarat’s Amreli district following the death of 11 big cats, have died at theJasadhar animal care centre, the Gujarat forest department confirmed on Monday.
The lions succumbed one after another between September 20 and September 30, sending shockwaves through Asia’s only abode for lions. The death toll since September 12 has increased to 21. Earlier, 11 lions, including cubs, were found dead in Dalkhaniya between September 12 and September 19.
However, a scarier revelation is that four of the 11 lions that died between September 12 and September 16 were infected with canine distemper virus (CDV). This lethal virus spreads from dogs in the wild. This is the same virus which had wiped out nearly 1,000 lions from Tanzania’s SerengetiReserve in 1994.
Forests and environment minister Ganpat Vasava told TOI: “Preliminary reports from National Institute of Virology, Pune, have confirmed CDV in four lions. We are awaiting the final report of possible CDV in other lions.” The forest department said on Monday that of the total 21 lions, six had died of protozoan infection and four due to “some virus”.
Protozoan infection is caused by ticks, mostly found among dogs in the wild, as well as cattle and even grass. As a precautionary step, the forest department has evacuated 31 lions from Semardi area near Sarasiya Vidi and shifted them to Jamwala rescue centre.
https://m.timesofindia.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/21-gir-lions-dead-4-of-virus-that-killed-1000-in-serengeti/articleshow/66035191.cms

But will they ever evacuate lions to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, in case things get worse in Gir Forest and surrounding areas in the Saurashtran region of Gujarat State where lions are found, which is partly what the issue of transferring them to Kuno-Palpur was about (https://books.google.com/books?id=EU3inC...&q&f=false)?

This recent mess has turned the situation in its favour with Gujjars left in an awkward position. The very purpose of this relocation literally came true as India caught a glimpse of the possible disaster. Pressure can mount to such level that I've found some hard-line relocation opposers abusing MP of deliberate sabotage!
With Gujarat's "they're quite safe here" narrative shattered, they would probably comply now, once this horrible business is over. 

Media houses are doing their part & spreading misinformation...

“The standing committee met just once in March 2018 and since then no meetings were held. We will approach the SC once again next week as the Gujarat government is hiding behind a pile of excuses. These lion deaths make our case stronger, because overpopulation of lions can lead to viral infections and epidemics.”

-Ajay Shankar Dubey, wildlife activist

Actually conservationist Bittu Sahgal makes a good point.

Other than just creating a second population they need to remove as many lions as possible from the non-forest land around Gir to other habitats within Gujarat, away from dogs & cattle. But such a grand scale might prove too costly...

Personally i feel that a mere relocation won't make much difference. What it the relocation had taken place in time, say 2000. By now Kuno-Palpur would have had 50+ lions. So?
We still couldn't afford losing lions twelve times that number at Kathiawar. The problem lies at Greater-Gir and that is where it has to be tackled. Those lions must receive protection against some usual killers like CDV etc.

Can tranquilizer darts be instead filled with vaccines instead? 
If it can, then they must seek out & dart every single breeding adult. It may sounds too ambitious, but if they can screen around 600 lions over more than 3000 km² area in less than 10 days, they can dart them too. Reply