Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

[Samson]

Tired of Gujarat reluctance on Gir lions, MP to release tigers in Kuno


The Times of India | Dec 5, 2017, 23:36 IST

 
BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh seems to have given up the ambitious Asiatic lion translocation programme from Gir lion sanctuary in Gujarat to Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in MP.
 After nearly two-decades of unsuccessful tussle with Gujarat over translocation of Gir lions to Kuno-Palpur sanctuary near Sheopur, Madhya Pradesh government on Tuesday unofficially gave up hope on the project.
 A Supreme Court order mandating the translocation of Asiatic lions from Gir sanctuary to Kuno-Palpur in MP could not move the Gujarat government from parting with the big cat.
 Diluting its claim on the programme, MP government decided to release and rehabilitate tigers in the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary which they claim is ready.
 "As the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary is ready to rehabilitate the big cats, we will now release tigers in the park," announced chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during State Wildlife Board meeting, hinting at a possible failure in getting the Asiatic lions from neighbouring state.
 Chouhan's decision came in the view of the delay by the Gujarat government. Both the states are BJP-ruled and Gujarat government considered the lions as 'heritage of the state'. The leaders had also maintained that a decision of handing over lions would turn into a big political issue in Gujarat.
 "A writ petition was filed in 1995 by the Centre for Environment Law and World Wildlife Fund India (WWF-I) in the Supreme Court to get the Gujarat government release 19 Asiatic lions for the Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary. The Supreme Court fast-tracked the case and delivered a judgement on April 16, 2013, permitting the reintroduction of lions to Kuno, over-ruling the objections of the Gujarat government. But, the order is yet to be complied," said a senior officer of MP Wildlife.
 When contacted, principal chief conservator of forests (PCCF) Animesh Shukla and PCCF (Wild Life) Jitendra Agrawal did not respond to the calls.
 Sources said the decision to release tigers in Kuno-Palpur sanctuary clearly indicated that Madhya Pradesh government has given up hope on getting Gir lions from Gujarat.
 "This is clear from the statement that Madhya Pradesh will not get Asiatic lions against Gujarat's will. Ironically, Asiatic lion is the nation's pride and do not belong to only one state. The decision to translocate the big cat was based on scientific research and to save the species from extinction as the single population faces threats of epidemics, natural disasters and other anthropogenic factors", retired IFS and wildlife expert Jagdish Chandra told TOI.
 Officials said that Madhya Pradesh government had notified and evacuated 345 sq km area for Kuno-Palpur sanctuary in 1981 and an additional 900 sq km of buffer zone was created in 2015 but, have made no mention of notifying the buffer zone area as a sanctuary, which is being contended by Gujarat government.
 Sources said, wildlife experts and officials of the ministry of environment and forests in a reversal position have also anticipated that without notifying the areas as a sanctuary, it would be detrimental to the breeding and survival of the lions as they lived in social prides. Reply