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Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos
Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos
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Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos
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There was an overlap of the areals of the 2 cats in India since ancient times and probably this overlap increased in Modern era with the of extermination of the lions (already was mentioned why to exterminate lion is easier than tiger). British colonisers cant tell us what precisely was exactly the original areal of the lion since when British come in India the golden age of Indian lion was already passed, British only finished the destruction of this animal, which started mush earlier before their arrival. In order to understand what was original areal we need to study the old Indian chronicles and manuscripts.
But here lie a big problem - Indians were always a society of philosophers, thinkers and mystiques but not society of observers, in ancient India is hard to find any precise historical data or precise geographical descriptions, at least not at degree typical for the Europeans and Chinese. Some information about lions for sure could be found in the Mughal chronicles (Mughals were a Turk dynasty who ruled India from 16th to 18th century and build Taj Mahal). But the best sources of information about lions @Rishi I suspect could be found in the books of the European travelers and ambassadors in the Mughal court - Portuguese, Dutch, French and British. Those guys traveled vastly in medieval India, observed and registered everything they sow. If you have time to dig in the libraries I could give you the names of this travelers - probably half a dozen. For example François Bernier: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/François_Bernier Citate from the book "The Mughal world" of Abraham Eraly, page 72 about lion: "Lion was the exclusive prey of the emperor and the princes. Great care was taken to ensure the success of the emperors lion hunt, for a lion kill was considered a good omen, its escape unlucky. The care taken in fact was such that at times the hunt was like a ritual killing. On locating a lion for the emperor, gamekeers would attach it firmly to the spot by regularly tying an ass there for it to feed on. It could also be (as Bernier had heard, but denied by officers) that the ass provided for the lion on the day before the hunt was loaded with opium, to make the lion torpid and prevent it from wandering away. To further impound the lion, on the day of the hunt, beaters encircled the area around its lair with high nets. The emperor arrived for the hunt mounted on an elephant, accompanied by the Grand master of the Hunt and several amirs, all mounted on elephants, along with soldierson horseback and gamekeepers on foot armed with half-pikes. Despite all these precautions, sometimes the lion attacked the hunters, or escaped by leaping over encircling net and had to be pursued and hunted down. A successful hunt was celebrated with high ceremony - the carcass of the lion was brought to the emperor sitting on the throne surrounded by amirs…" We today think India as a land of the tiger but as we can see the animal symbol of the emperial power in old India was the lion, not the tiger, even on todays Indian Emblem are painted the lions of Ashoka. Mughal empire's flag:  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
 (10-19-2018, 11:41 AM)Wolverine Wrote: There was an overlap of the areals of the 2 cats in India since ancient times and probably this overlap increased in Modern era with the of extermination of the lions (already was mentioned why to exterminate lion is easier than tiger). British colonisers cant tell us what precisely was exactly the original areal of the lion since when British come in India the golden age of Indian lion was already passed, British only finished the destruction of this animal, which started mush earlier before their arrival. In order to understand what was original areal we need to study the old Indian chronicles and manuscripts. Not just in India or South Asia, where the Bengal tiger is found today, but it's also likely that the Asiatic lion coexisted with the Caspian tiger in Western and Central Asia. Heptner and Sludskii (https://archive.org/stream/mammalsofsov2...ia+bubesei) said that 2 Caspian tigers caught in southwestern Tajikistan harboured 5–7 tapeworms of the species Taenia bubesei, which was also harboured by the lion, and that the ranges of the 2 cats often overlapped in the past. Places where they mention both Asiatic lions and Caspian tigers as occurring are eastern Anatolia, northern Iran, the Trans-Caucasus or South Caucasus (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia), and accepted the possibility of the lion having existed in Afghanistan and what is now Turkmenistan in Central Asia, where the tiger was definitely recorded. In 1834, Sir James Abbott wrote that the 2 were found in Khaurism (likely Khwarezm, a region between Afghanistan and the Caspian Sea in Central Asia: https://www.wdl.org/en/item/17720/view/2/342). Heptner and Sludskii also mentioned the lion as having existed in Iraq or Mesopotamia, along the banks of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers, particularly near Mosul, and one should bare in mind that a tiger was shot near Mosul in 1887, according to Kock (https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...0.10637583). Additionally, Masseti mentioned both as having occurred in Syria (https://zookeys.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=2126). 
Outbreak of Canine Distemper & Babesiosis contained
Captured male blistered himself against cage.  *This image is copyright of its original author The combination had resulted in 17 out of 23 lion deaths that occurred in the Gir region during mid-September, but no more lions have since shown symptoms, or died of it, in the wild. A total 64 lions were sampled & kept under observation at three rescue centres in Jamwala village run by the state Forest Department. 36 rescued lions from & around Dalkhaniya Range are being vaccinated in restraining cages. Once their vaccination course is over, they will be cleared for release. Date & site haven't been decided yet. These cubs are among the lions under observation.(©Shailesh Raval)  *This image is copyright of its original author The remaining big cats were released into the forests with microchips in their tails for identification. Illegal "lion shows" where cattle is tied at reserve border to draw the lions out, was blamed by activists as reason for CDV transmission to Dalkhaniya lions. Not only sick animals are chosen as bait, but dogs feed on those kills too. Although the outbreak was supressed with less than two dozen deaths, any solution to the actual issue is nowhere in sight.  *This image is copyright of its original author With all the Protected areas saturated, most of any future increase in lion population would be in revenue lands just outside them. Even if the ongoing staff recruitment fills the vacancy & all laws are observed at Gir, there's no way to enforce those all over southern Kathiawar, much of which is fast getting urbanised & industrialised! Sources: https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/nation/story/20181022-pride-and-prejudice-1360413-2018-10-13 http://zeenews.india.com/india/lions-rescued-from-gujarats-gir-doing-fine-after-deadly-virus-attack-2153778.html https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/not-just-virus-tourism-and-staff-crunch-also-kill-gir-lions-62002  (11-08-2018, 09:53 AM)Rishi Wrote: Outbreak of Canine Distemper & Babesiosis contained I'm happy to see our INDIA is doing much for lion...but they are lacking in many thing hope they will figure it out.... my question is why in INDIA they dont make documentary like many rangers or peeps make on african lions ??? ex...mapogas , matimbas etc etc (11-08-2018, 10:44 AM)Raj8143 Wrote:It would really be nice if also these lions would get more attention. There is so much to do in conservation of animals everywhere, but these species where remaining population is in hundreds are naturally needing extra help.(11-08-2018, 09:53 AM)Rishi Wrote: Outbreak of Canine Distemper & Babesiosis contained
my question is why in INDIA they dont make documentary like many rangers or peeps make on african lions ??? ex...mapogas , matimbas etc etc
(11-08-2018, 11:56 AM)Raj8143 Wrote: my question is why in INDIA they dont make documentary like many rangers or peeps make on african lions ??? ex...mapogas , matimbas etc etc Sometimes answer can be so simple, that no-one have thought about it really. Someone should make contact to people working there conservation or these animals and suggest maybe... Also asking same time, that if there is something already, that where to find such material? (11-08-2018, 11:56 AM)Raj8143 Wrote: My question is why in INDIA they dont make documentary like many rangers or peeps make on african lions ??? ex...mapogas , matimbas etc et (11-08-2018, 12:19 PM)Shadow Wrote: Sometimes answer can be so simple, that no-one have thought about it really. Someone should make contact to people working there conservation or these animals and suggest maybe... Also asking same time, that if there is something already, that where to find such material? Lack of initiative mostly. Otherwise they aren't very difficult to find or film, especially with the prevalent practice of trackers locating & checking on resident prides regularly. Definitely less trouble than tigers. There are several coalitions & prides that have become famous with the regular visitors, some have quite interesting stories too. Actually the very first BBC documentary on Asiatic lions of Gir, revolved around the last days of a old coalition being replaced by the Kokhra males. It's was called "The Last Lions of India" (Watch it on this thread).
WII wants proper lion census in Gujarat
Himanshu Kaushik  *This image is copyright of its original author AHMEDABAD: Experts from the Wildlife Institute of India have suggested that the state forest department conduct a scientific census so the real number of lions in the state is arrived at, so the Centre and state can chalk out strategies appropriately. A senior officer who attended the meeting between WII experts and the forest department on Monday, on condition of anonymity, said that the WII and lion expert Yadvendradev Jhala told foresters that while over reporting of numbers is an issue with tigers, the opposite holds true for Gujarat’s lions.  *This image is copyright of its original author “Jhala told officials that there were more than 600 lions in the state, a fact the state is hiding. Without the proper number, the government cannot properly plan conservation measures,” he said. The officer said this was clear from the fact that CM Vijay Rupani at a function in Junagadh this May had announced that the lion population had reached 600. The figure was announced by Rupani without any census sources. Gujarat's internal census on August 2017 placed numbers near 650, with 180-odd cubs between 1 to 2 years of age. Official 2015 lion census put the population of the big cats at 523, an increase of 112 from the 2010 census. From 2010 to 2015, the lion population grew by 112 or 27% increase in population, ie, 5% annually. 
https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in/video...13115/?t=3
https://www.ndtv.com/video/environment/n...-5yJt2ZMWI Only Asiatic Lion things......... https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/li...2018-11-12 Pet lions enjoying...  *This image is copyright of its original author The farmer hired a lioness to look after peanut stock in his house as a pet. (11-13-2018, 06:09 PM)Sanju Wrote: Only Asiatic Lion things......... Extremely poor quality journalism. On finding a lion inside his harvest godown, the owner of house immediately locked it inside until the FD arrived, dispersed the crowd & showed it out. A prudent move i'd say, not risking chasing it out themselves. (11-13-2018, 06:09 PM)Sanju Wrote: https://www.facebook.com/scroll.in/video...13115/?t=3 they want to hike the numbers of lion but what about their jungle & territory ? 1 thing is sure that gujarat will not give the lion to any other states coz of tourist attraction .and its good decision for the state but they should increase the area for lions... (11-13-2018, 08:16 PM)Raj8143 Wrote: they want to hike the numbers of lion but what about their jungle & territory ? There no proper habitat around Gir. That region of Saurashtra is completely isolated from the several other wilderness landscapes of Gujarat. It's in details in the Reintroduction thread. Read these two posts, #285 & #225. After the CDV deaths, i created a poll on an FB group to fathom the popular opinion of Gujarati animal enthusiasts on lion translocation within the state. The outcome is... confusing. Because although the results may look heartwarming, apparently it isn't a subject most people there like to talk about & not many responded. A huge majority preferred to stick to posts with photos & cheesy hashtags! I'm counting the hundreds of them under "i'd rather go ostrich on the issue".  *This image is copyright of its original author
(11-14-2018, 01:26 PM)Rishi Wrote:(11-13-2018, 08:16 PM)Raj8143 Wrote: they want to hike the numbers of lion but what about their jungle & territory ? Lol, Now I remember. You are the one who created that poll in that group.... 
Lion finally gets its Project Tiger variant
Updated: Nov 18, 2018, 04:58 IST  *This image is copyright of its original author AHMEDABAD: The Union minister of environment, forests and climate change (MoEFCC) has approved a Rs 100-crore project for conservation of the Asiatic lion, which is to be implemented over three years. The ministry has, for the first time, roped in the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) as the implementing agency, along with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Gujarat forest department. Presently the Union government spends Rs 15 lakh per tiger per year, lesser than Rs 1 lakh per lion is available each year. The project proposal, titled “The Recovery and Conservation of Endangered Lions in Gujarat”, was discussed at the standing committee meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBW), after which the MoEFCC gave its final stamp of approval. The project is being sent to the Gujarat forest department for its final comments. “We have received the proposal from the MoEFCC for our comments. We have reservations about the implementation, as we would like control to be with the Gujarat forest department. We would want to take up projects according to our priorities,” said Akshay Saxena, principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife).  *This image is copyright of its original author The project proposal states, “Despite a successful recovery, the Asiatic lion exemplifies all typical impediments of carnivore conservation, such as a small population restricted to a single site with reduced genetic diversity and long ranging conflict with human interests. Lion mortality due to anthropogenic causes (such as poaching, poisoning of prey carcasses etc, which act as additives to natural causes of mortality) and loss of potential lion habitats owing to fragmentations and natural calamities triggered by climate change are likely to further exacerbate the situation.” The proposal, prepared by the WII, lays emphasis on creating a second home within the home range in Gujarat, and has underscored the need to prepare Barda as an alternative site in the state. It recommends that 200-odd Maldharis families be rehabilitated, as they are willing to move out, following which 30-odd lions can be released in the Barda sanctuary. The proposal states that 40 animals should be radio-collared and their movements monitored. Moreover, the MSTrIPES patrol module, which is implemented for Tiger sanctuaries, should be implemented for monitoring and should be the customized for lion-centric conservation in the Gir landscape. Moreover, apart from MSTrIPEs, a few others lions should be radio collared for monitoring. Moreover, the proposal also emphasizes disease surveillance and collecting blood samples, not only of wild lions, but also of dogs and cattle on the periphery of the sanctuary. |
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