Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

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(05-08-2017, 04:20 PM)Rishi Wrote:

(02-14-2017, 01:15 PM)Jimmy Wrote: I don't know how diverse is the Kuno's terrain but there should be ample forest and grassland patches preferably hilly terrain for seclusion, privacy etc. such that what will be a prime area for one species of cat would be a fringe area for the other, minimizing prolonged contact and stress between the two cats. Not that fight won't happen but that will be less devastating and more like a skirmish where a looser still can run away, rest and hunt in another area an sustain itself. The last one i feel will be the same prey species that will be targeted by both these cats and lack of any wild bovines-a really large prey choice that would have been perfect here, this will result in direct competition and a severe conflict. But the main hurdle i see is the small area of the reserve itself.

Kuno's Terrain is actually more diverse than its neighbours..a more like  east-meets-west type of vegetation + the "India-special" human touch. The people may be gone now, but their memories linger...
(Dacoit caves of not-so-long-ago)

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The following is a scenery of Kailadevi Sanctuary that's a part of Ranthambore's buffer, directly connected to Kuno landscape.
I bet when the lions start expanding, such open valleys that can support dozen strong prides, are gonna be the areas that the stripes probably won't be able to hold...

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Moving on to the MENU...
Kuno's preybase consists of typical western indian variety..

• CHITAL
• SAMBAR
• BLUEBULL
• BLACKBUCK
• BOARS
• BARKING DEER
• CHINKARA
• CHAUSINGHA
• FERAL CAMEL left behind by villagers.
• & last but not the least CATTLE.
  

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Finally its size..

Kuno it self was some 350sq.km. but the new reserve made up by combining it to Palpur sanctuary is 900sq.kms...then there is the buffer.

These are a part of a HUGE forest tract of whopping 5000 SQ.KMS, joined with Rsnthambore landscape to the west & the now-empty Madhav National Park to Southeast.

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Experts said its perfect & lion-ready.. Gujarat's legal procrastinations are soon to see an expiry of ammunition.

We all know what happened to Broken Tail (Machli's son from her first litter). He ventured far away in the human vegetation and died when a train ran over him. My point is Tigers were travelling then and they are gonna travel now. Now there is more pressure on ranthambore since tigers are more and area is less. Same will happen with lions. they too will travel once Kuno is full with lions.

I went to Ranthambore in march and everyone there told me that even Sultan or T 72 resides in Kailadevi Sanctuary. If he is there soon many others will follow. and Sultan is no pushover. My point here is Lions only won't have transient or weak tigers to face. They will need to tackle some prime one's like Sultan if they ever are relocated to Kuno. The clashes could be more brutal than we imagine and no matter who wins or loses we will loose our big cats anyways. So I actually don't think Kuno is a good choice for lions at all. Reply