Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

[johnny rex]

(08-30-2018, 11:25 AM)Rishi Wrote:

(05-16-2014, 05:14 AM)peter Wrote: 1 - CAPTIVE ADULT MALE INDIA

A photograph in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS). Note the size of the skull:

*This image is copyright of its original author

@johnny rex this one?

Yes thanks so much. I'm not sure whether it simply has a small body compared to its head or just abnormal large head compared to the rest of its body. Reply

[Rishi]

(08-30-2018, 12:09 PM)johnny rex Wrote:

(08-30-2018, 11:25 AM)Rishi Wrote:

(05-16-2014, 05:14 AM)peter Wrote: 1 - CAPTIVE ADULT MALE INDIA

A photograph in the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS). Note the size of the skull:

*This image is copyright of its original author

@johnny rex this one?

Yes thanks so much. I'm not sure whether it simply has a small body compared to its head or just abnormal large head compared to the rest of its body.

His head seems sized above average compared to his body.
He's built kinda like this ones...

*This image is copyright of its original author

©R M Kathi Photography

*This image is copyright of its original author

Reply

[Rage2277]

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asiatic lioness gir Kano Jetpur‎ Reply

[Rage2277]

*This image is copyright of its original author

young female asiatic lion insta:
@kanojetpur Reply

[Rishi]

Kings of Gir.

Claimed to be paw prints of the whole family. I've been searching for this original photo for a while...

Reply

[GuateGojira]

(05-30-2018, 01:19 PM)Rishi Wrote: Thanks @tigerluver

(05-29-2018, 07:16 PM)Pckts Wrote: What weights did you get @Rishi ?

I think this is the expected weight range for regular adults (knowing it's not the min-max for the species)...

*This image is copyright of its original author

This is very inportant information. If you can provide more details it will be perfect. I think that 200 kg is a good maximum weight for current male Indian lions, although there are some big males in pictures that probably weight a little more. Reply

[Spalea]

@Rishi :

About #514: these lions seem really huge ! Especially the first two... Reply

[Rishi]

More images of the big black maned male.

©Ashvinsinh Parmar

*This image is copyright of its original author

©Kano Jetpur

*This image is copyright of its original author

Also, i found out that this guy is from the Devalia Safari Park also known as Gir Interpretation Zone. It's consists of a few sq. kms of chain link fenced forest with rescued/orphaned lions living in semi-wild. Couldn't find his background though, only that he's new & still acclimatising. 

Quote:

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[Rage2277]

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Asiatic lion

Sep/2018
Gir, Gujarat Dharmesh Kanthariya Reply

[Rage2277]

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Asiatic Lion ..!! 
King of the Jungle ..!!

Gir.

Sept.2018 Meet Surti‎ Reply

[Rage2277]

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Ramesh Makwana‎ - King of gir.... Reply

[Rishi]

After the death of 11 lions (three adult females, two adult males and six cubs) were found between September 11 and 19, the whole safety issue has been stirred up again. Nine of the dead lions were recovered from Dalkhaniya range and two from the Jashadhar range of Gir Forest.

The reasons reported were multi-faceted, as officials had ruled out unnatural causes and that's where it starts sounding dodgy.
Gujarat’s forest minister Ganpat Vasava and officials initially sited inter-pride fighting & injury related infections as reason of death for the three cubs, two females & one male. Even if death of females by infighting cannot be ruled out as impossible, death of the cubs were stated to be due to starvation & lung infection (most common cause of death in cubs). The other three died of various reasons prima facie respiratory to liver failures, yet to be ascertained.

But the fact that the viscera of carcasses of the lions had been sent to the Pune-based "National Institute of Virology" to find out the exact cause of their deaths, is also a cause for concern.

Gujarat Government had finally sought the help of Central wildlife experts to unravel the mystery. A Central team of wildlife experts and other officials was flown in on Sunday and left for Gir forest to have an on-the-spot investigation, including looking at the autopsy and viscera reports of the dead lions. 

But then there were some new developments...

Embarrassed and shocked over the deaths, Gujarat govt. had immediately announced an in-depth screening of all lions by 64 teams, each consisting of a forester, a two beat guards and one tracker, aided by veterinary doctor. 

FD released a report that: 
"The teams have so far already screened 164 lions in the Gir forest area (East and West). Four lions were found with minor injuries apart from the two lionesses (one sick lioness which died Tuesday and other weak lioness which was later found dead before being captured). The four lions were treated on the spot and released.  Remaining 158 lions are in good health."

*This image is copyright of its original author

Yesterday, on 25th September, another cub was found dead which take this month's toll beyond a dozen. Sources in the State Forest Department confirmed that the two lionesses aging four and nine as well as the six-month-old cub succumbed to illness described as "some mysterious infection".

The new toll of 14 lions include two adult males, five adult females and seven cubs. 11 of these lions, including the two who died in the last 24 hours, were from the Dalkhaniya range!

The Chief Conservator of Forest, (wildlife circle) D.T.Vasavada told about the latest deaths, "They died of some disease and infection, but the exact cause will be known only after postmortem report.”

PS: This BBC report says that , conservationist Rajan Joshi told BBC Gujarati that he suspected Canine distemper virus (CDV) - carried by domestic dogs - may have played a role in the deaths. But officials said medical tests during the post mortem of the dead cats had not found any evidence of the virus.

PPS: Pricipal Chief Conservator of Forest G.K.Sinha said, “The Central govt. team is here on our invitation. There was speculation by people and media about an epidemic, so we have called the team to investigate. However, their primary research shows no signs of epidemic.”
The team has three officials, one is Joint Secretary of Wildlife, Government of India, Assistant Inspector General of National Tiger Conservation Authority who visited the site on Saturday. A scientist from Wildlife Institute of India joined them on Saturday evening. Reply

[BorneanTiger]

(09-26-2018, 09:38 AM)Rishi Wrote:

After the death of 11 lions (three adult females, two adult males and six cubs) were found between September 11 and 19, the whole safety issue has been stirred up again. Nine of the dead lions were recovered from Dalkhaniya range and two from the Jashadhar range of Gir Forest.

The reasons reported were multi-faceted, as officials had ruled out unnatural causes and that's where it starts sounding dodgy.
Gujarat’s forest minister Ganpat Vasava and officials initially sited inter-pride fighting & injury related infections as reason of death for the three cubs, two females & one male. Even if death of females by infighting cannot be ruled out as impossible, death of the cubs were stated to be due to starvation & lung infection (most common cause of death in cubs). The other three died of various reasons prima facie respiratory to liver failures, yet to be ascertained.

But the fact that the viscera of carcasses of the lions had been sent to the Pune-based "National Institute of Virology" to find out the exact cause of their deaths, is also a cause for concern.

Gujarat Government had finally sought the help of Central wildlife experts to unravel the mystery. A Central team of wildlife experts and other officials was flown in on Sunday and left for Gir forest to have an on-the-spot investigation, including looking at the autopsy and viscera reports of the dead lions. 

But then there were some new developments...

Embarrassed and shocked over the deaths, Gujarat govt. had immediately announced an in-depth screening of all lions by 64 teams, each consisting of a forester, a two beat guards and one tracker, aided by veterinary doctor. 

FD released a report that: 
"The teams have so far already screened 164 lions in the Gir forest area (East and West). Four lions were found with minor injuries apart from the two lionesses (one sick lioness which died Tuesday and other weak lioness which was later found dead before being captured). The four lions were treated on the spot and released.  Remaining 158 lions are in good health."

*This image is copyright of its original author

Yesterday, on 25th September, another cub was found dead which take this month's toll beyond a dozen. Sources in the State Forest Department confirmed that the two lionesses aging four and nine as well as the six-month-old cub succumbed to illness described as "some mysterious infection".

The new toll of 14 lions include two adult males, five adult females and seven cubs. 11 of these lions, including the two who died in the last 24 hours, were from the Dalkhaniya range!

The Chief Conservator of Forest, (wildlife circle) D.T.Vasavada told about the latest deaths, "They died of some disease and infection, but the exact cause will be known only after postmortem report.”

PS: This BBC report says that , conservationist Rajan Joshi told BBC Gujarati that he suspected Canine distemper virus (CDV) - carried by domestic dogs - may have played a role in the deaths. But officials said medical tests during the post mortem of the dead cats had not found any evidence of the virus.

PPS: Pricipal Chief Conservator of Forest G.K.Sinha said, “The Central govt. team is here on our invitation. There was speculation by people and media about an epidemic, so we have called the team to investigate. However, their primary research shows no signs of epidemic.”
The team has three officials, one is Joint Secretary of Wildlife, Government of India, Assistant Inspector General of National Tiger Conservation Authority who visited the site on Saturday. A scientist from Wildlife Institute of India joined them on Saturday evening.

It was feared that an epidemic similar to what killed a large number of East African lions in the Serengeti (which includes Kenya's Masai Mara, across the border from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania: https://www.nature.com/articles/379441a0) could wipe out the wild Asiatic lions in Gujarat, if they were not to be transferred to another place, namely Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh (https://books.google.com/books?id=EU3inC...ic&f=false), and the Serengeti region has many more wild lions than India. Reply

[Rishi]

(09-27-2018, 03:10 PM)BorneanTiger Wrote: It was feared that an epidemic similar to what killed a large number of East African lions in the Serengeti (which includes Kenya's Masai Mara, across the border from Serengeti National Park in Tanzania: https://www.nature.com/articles/379441a0) could wipe out the wild Asiatic lions in Gujarat, if they were not to be transferred to another place, namely Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh (https://books.google.com/books?id=EU3inC...ic&f=false), and the Serengeti region has many more wild lions than India.

Well, there's atleast some positive news. None of the carcasses tested were found positive of canine distemper virus that had us worried! 
indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/relief-among-gujarat-forest-officials-samples-of-two-dead-lion-cubs-test-negative-for-canine-distemper-virus 

Quote:Relief among Gujarat forest officials: Dead lion cubs test negative for CDV
After the 11 deaths from a small patch of Gir forest, the Forest Department had launched an extensive scanning drive on Sunday to locate sick lions.

Rajkot | September 27, 2018 

*This image is copyright of its original author

Huge relief to the state Forest Department, samples of two Asiatic lion cubs, which had died early this month, tested negative for the feared canine distemper virus even as forest teams completed scanning exercise in 1,740 square kilometres of forest and non-forested areas in Gir looking for any sick lion, which may be in need of medical treatment, on Wednesday.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forest G K Sinha, who also heads the forest force, on Wednesday said laboratory tests have confirmed that two of the six lion cubs which had died early this week did no did due to canine distemper virus (CDV) infection.
“Samples drawn from two lion cubs were tested at a veterinary college in Junagadh by deploying molecular virology method. Test reports have come negative for canine distemper (virus),” the PCCF said in an official release.

Forest officers said that negative results for CDV was a “huge relief”.

CDV can infect lions and a host of other animals. A CDV outbreak in Tanzania in Africa had caused deaths of hundreds of lions in 1990s. Alarm bells had started ringing on September 20 when it came to light that 11 lions had died the previous week in Sarasiya Vidi area in Dalkhaniya range of Gir (east) forest.

Veterinarians had drawn samples of blood and serum of the cubs, which had died due to suspected illness, and sent to the Junagadh lab. Some samples have also been sent to National Institute of Virology in Pune.

After the 11 deaths from a small patch of Gir forest, the Forest Department had launched an extensive scanning drive on Sunday to locate sick lions and give them medical treatment, if required. The department had formed teams of foresters, forester guards and lion trackers to scour all the 16 ranges in which the lion habitat has been divided and scan each and every lion. During the exercise, teams spotted two lionesses and a cub which died later on, taking the number of deaths in Sarasiya Vidi to 14 in two weeks. While two deaths were reported on Monday, one lioness reportedly died on Tuesday.

Officers said that the scouring of remaining forest area will continue until the entire lion landscape is covered and each and every lion has been scanned!

Meanwhile, the PCCF said that the 64 screening teams had already scanned 1,740 km² lion habitat by Tuesday, of which 1,045 km² of Gir and 695 km² adjacent outside of protected area. During the exercise, 460 lions have been spotted and out of them, only seven were found to have minor injuries. The remaining 453 were found to be in good health.

Quite interestingly, those seven lions (three male lions, three lionesses and a cub) had been rescued from Dalkhania and Jasadhar ranges, where the 14 deaths were reported, ! “All the seven animals rescued from Sarasiya Vidi are prima facie in good health. They will be kept under observation and their health will be checked,” he added.

I believe these animals to be survivors of the "Dalkhaniya pride war". The lions that died between September 10 & 20, most likely came from both prides...

Due to flooding, moisture and infestation of insects/snakes, lion deaths during monsoon remains comparatively high. Over the last two years, three month of monsoon had recorded average over 30 deaths.
About 70 percent cubs do not reach adulthood of natural causes.

Whatever other sick lions had been found were because the search operation. Otherwise their deaths would have probably just gone unrecorded. Reply

[Rage2277]

Ambardi safari park Reply