Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

(04-19-2018, 06:56 AM)Wolverine Wrote:

(04-02-2018, 03:22 PM)Rishi Wrote: Asiatic lions in Gujarat increased to well beyond 600 by mid-2017.

Do you trust this numbers? I don't say that Gujarati government is lying but they have obvious interest to exaggerate the lion's numbers in order to show to outside world that lions don't need to be exported to other state. Who made 2017 lion census - local state authorities or Indian federal authorities and specialists?
Srangely how, after lion's population has been relatively stable for more than a half century to about 150-300 animals with much less human population in India at those times in the moment when was started the Kuno initiative in the 90's lion numbers started to "increase" irreristebly.... Strange coincidence...

That's how population grows.

*This image is copyright of its original author

That number of 600 is an official minimum value released this January.
In August 2017 the state census of Gujarat was done, estimating it to be around 650. One might not agree with Gujarat FD's actions, but their capabilities are undeniable!

I'm quoting my old post in BigCat News, read this ↴

(08-06-2017, 08:46 AM)Rishi Wrote: Lion Population Gir Sanctuary Reaches Record High
Himanshu Kaushik | Updated: August 2017


A MATTER OF PRIDE: The steady rise in lion population is an indication of robust conservation measures.

*This image is copyright of its original author

AHMEDABAD: In the forest near Liliya-Krakach , noisy little cubs are seen sauntering around a small pond. Some are playfully pouncing on their mother who sits relaxed but watchful. These scenes in Asiatic lion's abode are not limited to Amreli district. Several forest areas outside the Gir National Park are brimming with lions, mostly in the age group of one to two years.
According to a recent internal lion count by the forest department in July this year, there are nearly 650-odd lions in the reserved forests and even outside the national park in Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir-Somnath districts.

Gir tract is filled with cubs between one and two years of age.

*This image is copyright of its original author

"Gir and its periphery have recorded a count of nearly 650 lions. This is record high number of big cats in the state since 1936 as per the available records. There are around 180-odd cubs between one and two years of age," said a top forest official.

The roaring rise of 125-odd lions in two years -- the lion population was pegged at 523 in 2015 lion census -- was revealed in the lion population counting exercise now undertaken every full moon day. The counting is done using 100-odd CCTVs and direct sighting method for effective monitoring of Big Cats. The monthly full moon counting is matched with the records of kills and daily reporting by beat guards, the official said.

Yadavendradev Jhala, lion expert and member of the 12-member team formed for translocation of lions from Gujarat to MP as per an SC order, said, "The number is actually much higher than 650 projected by the state forest department. A systematic count should be initiated in the entire region for effective planning for lion management."

Priyavrat Gadhvi, member of the state board for wildlife, said, "The expanding lion population is a sign of strengthening of the satellite population of big cats outside Gir National Park. It is a welcome sign indicating risk mitigation and robust growth of lions."
In 2010 census, there were 411 lions. In fact, lions were categorized as 'critically endangered' in year 2000 after only 304 lions were recorded in Gujarat's Gir in 1995 census.

The fact that there has been an increase in the population not just in Gir but its periphery areas as [well is of significance because in 2015, there were concerns about the growing number of lions without adequate management by wildlife authorities, after a number of man-animal run-ins were reported. According to a 2017 report published in science journal Current Science, between 1995 and 2015, more than 40 per cent of the total number of lions in Gujarat were spotted outside Gir landscape.

Despite the increasing numbers, there have been worries that the growth in the lion population cannot be sustained in Gujarat in the coming years. "Not just lion-human conflicts but other problems too, like unnatural deaths and genetic disorders, will surface. Keeping lions only in Gujarat is also against international norms," told Ajay Dubey, the secretary of Prayatna, an NGO.

While i have no reason to distrust their data, i definitely do trust Y.D.Jhala!

Or you could wait for the 2020 national census... Reply