Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

Follow-up..........



The WII study’s (Spatially explicit density and its determinants for Asiatic lions in the Gir forests, 2020 by Keshab Gogoi, Ujjwal Kumar, Kausik Banerjee, Yadvendradev V. Jhala) primary objective was to explore a method to count Asiatic lions that uses whisker patterns and permanent body marks with computer software to identify individual lions and conduct mathematical modelling to estimate lion density.
But it has also reinforced on another hazard regarding lions behavioural pattern.

In the study, the researchers identified 67 individual lions out of 368 lion sightings within a site of 725 square kilometers in the Gir Forests in Gujarat, equating a density of 8.53 lions per 100km². They were spread from the core national park to some fringe forests along revenue lands outside.

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The researchers assessed prey density & other factors that could influence lion density. They found lion density to be higher in flat valley habitats, as opposed to rugged or elevated areas... and near sites where baits are placed to attract lions for tourists to view them.

Contrary to expectations, the abundance of wild prey such as chital or sambar across the Gir landscape had little influence on the distribution of lions. They found that prey density did not appear to influence variations in lion density within the study site. But instead, the lions appeared to gather near sites where they had an “assured food supply” — livestock carcasses placed by staff to both the risk of human-lion conflict & by locals as food basis at strategic spots to increase sightings by tourists.
The size of the lion prides were significantly larger in areas provisioned with food baits — with the pride containing an average of 5-7 adult females compared to less than 3 in areas without provisioning.

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According to them, baiting lions for illegal tourism along the borders of Gir, greatly perturbs their natural density patterns, in line with other studies showing that baiting disrupts lion behaviour and social dynamics.

They observed that in many such prides living near human habitation, younger lions lacked the predatory instincts required to hunt as compared to the ones from deeper inside Gir. Such lion cubs fed with dumped carcasses with regularity, grew up as scavengers & never had to give their hunting instincts, which could enhance human-lion conflict as when they disperse from tourist zones and no longer receive food baits. In desperation they may try to attack easier prey, both unoffered livestock & people.

The authors suggest that their alternative monitoring method could be used to assess lion's movement/dispersal across their range, in order to manage ongoing conservation efforts, more accurately & come up with more effective policies. Reply