Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[Rishi]

(02-21-2019, 08:56 AM)Sanju Wrote: 5 months on, lions to be free

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Asiatic lions were isolated from Dalkhaniya range

Almost five months after they were captured, vaccinated against Canine Distemper Virus and kept under observation, 34 lions will be released into the wild soon. The big cats had been isolated from Dalkhaniya range after an outbreak of CDV claimed lives of 32 lions in Gir East.

After the outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus in Dalkhaniya range ended up killing several lions between September and December, the forest department rounded up 34 lions from Dalkhaniya and the surrounding range in Gir East to check for signs of infection. The lions were sent to rescue centres, given vaccines imported from the US and kept under observation.

Chief Conservator of Forest (Junagadh) D T Vasavada told Mirror, "The animals are healthy and fine. We are thinking of releasing them after getting the okay from veterinary doctors. We will also plan how and where to release rescued lions to ensure their safety."

Lions' carcasses started to surface in Gir National Forest area from September 12. By September 19, the toll had reached 11 and went further up to 23 by October 2. Meanwhile, the reports based on samples that were collected revealed that at least 11 were dead because of CDV. Several lions were tested positive for the highly contagious virus that has been blamed for recent lion deaths.

Meanwhile, the haze surrounding the deaths of Asiatic lions became thicker with the disappearance of two important reports from the website of the Indian Council of Medical Research.

The country's apex bio-medical research body had conducted tests on samples of 27 big cats, which showed that 21 of them were positive for CDV - a virus that wiped out 30 per cent of total population of lions in Serengeti forest areas in East Africa in the past. Following Mirror's report, the ICMR released the test reports on their website and recommended "Translocation".

https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/a...086346.cms

Dalkhaniya must have been overrun by others by now.

That should release these ones at Barda.. some at least! Reply