Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

[Rishi]

160 deers to be released in Barda as prey for lions
Dur to low preybase in the sanctuary & absence of inviolate habitat, lion relocation there has been postponed by Gujarat government until the forest be restocked with captive-bred herbivores. 

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RAJKOT: Five years after setting up breeding centres for sambar and spotted deer, the forest department is all set to release atleast 160 animals inside the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as an important step to relocate Asiatic Lions there. They have made the coastal belt near Porbandar their permanent home their  range expansion has been far rapid eastwards, compared to the west.

Sambars and chital (spotted deers) are the important prey base for lions and they were bred at Killeshwar centre set up near Barda since 2014. Forest department officials said they currently have 55 sambars in Killeshwar and 95 spotted deer in Sat Virda area. All those will be released in the sanctuary area soon.

Chief conservator of forest (wildlife circle), DT Vasavada said, “When lion population increases near Keshod and Mangrol, they will require new space and move towards Barda in the next three to five years. We are preparing the future prey base for lions.”
Lions were seen near villages of Porbandar district last few years and their sightings have become fairly common along the coastal belt from Mangrol to Madhavpur . In fact, this stretch is considered to the potential natural corridor for lions to move to Barda.
Lion expert YV Jhala, who had submitted a report regarding translocation of lions in Barda, told, “Lions will have to be brought in with proper planning. You can’t wait for the lions to colonize in the areas where they are moving. This is because 2-4 stray lions don’t make a viable population.”

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Experts have welcomed the decision to release deer, but they have emphasized on prioritizing systematic relocation of the human population, mostly maldharis (cattle breeders), living inside the sanctuary area. According to Jhala, Maldharis in Barda are not used to dealing with lions like the cattle breeders in Gir national park do. We have therefore recommended that they be given proper compensation and incentives just like it was done in the tiger reserves.”
Priyvrat Gadhvi, a member of state wildlife board said, “In terms of carnivores, prey base is most important factor which will determine whether they would coming into conflicts with humans. At the same time, the forest department will also have to address the presence humans habitants.” Vasavada, however, said, “When lions were seen near Madhavpur, we educated locals. Just as lions adjusted with humans in Gir, it would happen here too with sustained awareness and education campaigns.”

https://m.timesofindia.com/city/rajkot/1...666493.cms


Excerpt from Asiatic Lion: Ecology, Economics, and Politics of Conservation:

Quote:The assessment of Barda (Jhala et al., 2014b) suggested that the landscape (410 km 2 comprising of 190 km 2 of Barda WLS, Alech hills and coastal forest patches) could sustain about 25 lions after creating an inviolate area of about 100 km 2 within the Barda WLS, restocking prey, enhancing protection, and restoring habitats. Currently the sanctuary is inhabited by about 1,325 families of Maldharis in 62 nesses and 98% of them are willing to resettle outside Barda ( Jhala et al., 2014b). The costs of incentivised, voluntary relocation ( Narain et al., 2005) would be close to ₹200 crores.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication...ATIC_LIONS Reply