Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

[GuateGojira]

(12-14-2014, 02:20 AM)'Siegfried' Wrote: If this document is accurate, there is quite a large area to be occupied by "introduced specimens."

*This image is copyright of its original author

 

 

Some time ago, with the same debate, Pckts make an excellent recompilation of the many data showing that since the time of Alexander, several animals were transported to India in great numbers, just for the sake of the hunt and like gifts. The same happened to the other side.

However, it is interesting that in the Roman records, there is not a single account of a lion transported from India, only records from Persia, but mostly from the Barbary region. Tigers, in the other hand, were transported mostly from the Caspian region, but there are some Bengal tigers that were taken to Rome, in fact, the first tiger ever know in Rome was an Indian tiger taken as a gift from an Indian Ambassador (more details in the book "Tiger, the ultimate guide", a magnificent book).

The distance was not to much relevant, even in the old world. It is a common mistake to think that the in old days, humans were unable to do such a feats, while in fact, humans made incredible trips and monuments in those "primitive" days.

Finally, check this map, the original one from where all the latter maps of lions born, thanks to Nowell & Jackson (1996):

*This image is copyright of its original author

It is interesting to see, that in fact, there are no reliable records of "India" lions in a huge section of its habitat. This area is mostly desertic, and although this doesn't mean that the lions have not traveled trough this area, I doubt that any viable population could survive in this place. This desert is more drier than that of Namibia and more like the Sahara, for example. In fact, half of Alexander the great army died in the travel trough this place.
  Reply