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Asiatic Lion - Data, Pictures & Videos

Rishi Offline
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(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!
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Sanju Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 11:38 AM by Sanju )

(02-21-2019, 09:28 AM)Rishi Wrote: That should release these ones at Barda.. some at least!
If they were translocated to Barda, that will be happiest thing to hear at the moment Wow than spending hundreds crores for improvement of prey and habitat in already saturated places, I don't think the current conservation action plan by "State" govt mentioned "relocation to barda". did it?

Like you (@Rishi ) said before "Lesser Rann of Kutchh is also a good place but I don't understand why experts didn't suggest that over Barda". May be due to water scarcity, dry and hot climate even though it had some prey base. I know that Lions "survived" and surviving in deserts including 'once' kutchh but still they might have considered this point as deciding factor to select and analyze perfect habitat for Asiatic lions...


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(02-21-2019, 09:28 AM)Rishi Wrote: Dalkhaniya must have been overrun by others by now.
May be..
#775
Will they be released back into Tulsishyam range again? If they release there it will be a conflict if it is already occupied by other prides. They should be reintroduced in unoccupied places.

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United States andeancat Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 11:48 AM by Rishi )

Hello, these are some of the best pictures of Asiatic lions that I have seen.  Some of these lions look massive.  Male Asiatic lions average between 160-170 kg, but surely some of these males posted are quite a bit bigger!

http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=604943

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http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=531592

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http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=461153

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http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=449104

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Rishi Offline
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(02-21-2019, 10:59 AM)andeancat Wrote: Hello, these are some of the best pictures of Asiatic lions that I have seen.  Some of these lions look massive.  Male Asiatic lions average between 160-170 kg, but surely some of these males posted are quite a bit bigger!

http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=604943

*This image is copyright of its original author

http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=531592

*This image is copyright of its original author

http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=461153

*This image is copyright of its original author

http://indianaturewatch.net/displayimage.php?id=449104

*This image is copyright of its original author

Welcome to the forum.

Your post was edited. Do it that way, with links/credits.
And try to share stuff that aren't too old... Otherwise there'll be a good chance that thing has already been posted before on the forum, like two of the above photos.

Thanks.
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United States andeancat Offline
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Haha sorry.  I tried to provide some new stuff, but at 52 pages its difficult not to know what was already posted.  Does anyone here have any new measurements on Asiatic lions besides commonly quoted "160-190 kg"?   Its a bit disappointing that more of these cats aren't being weighed.
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Rishi Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 12:31 PM by Rishi )

(02-21-2019, 12:11 PM)andeancat Wrote: Haha sorry.  I tried to provide some new stuff, but at 52 pages its difficult not to know what was already posted. 

Does anyone here have any new measurements on Asiatic lions besides commonly quoted "160-190 kg"?   Its a bit disappointing that more of these cats aren't being weighed.

That's why its safe to stick with recently uploaded stuff only.

Anyway, take your time to go through the older posts. Whatever new weight & other data was gathered is available back there... You'll definitely find it.
And for a near 700 strong population spread over atleast 25k sq.kms, the average weight would very likely vary widely between regions.
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 01:18 PM by Rishi )

Ah I see, I did take the time to review the sizes of Asiatic lions posted.  It seems like there is not much available except Dr. Ravi Chellam's data and numerous weights on old/problem animals (poor sample).  I guess the Dr. Chellam weights are the most reliable until we find something better.  I have a growth chart from Sasan Gir Research Center of male and female zoo lions.  Male lions reach between 160-170 kg by age six and females are 120 kg.  Lions in European Zoos seem to be bigger, the only confirmed weights I have is two adult males which weighed (Lucifer) 190 kg, and (Paris) 178 kg respectively, and a 28/29 month old cub which weighed 143 kg.  One female weighed 138 kg (Paris's mate), and 28/29 month old female cub weighed 102.5 kg the sister of the 143 kg male.  None of these lions were overweight. I have two approximate weights of adult males at 150kg, 180kg respectively.  Cheers!
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Rishi Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-22-2019, 10:40 AM by Rishi )

(02-21-2019, 01:08 PM)andeancat Wrote: I have two approximate weights of adult males at 150kg, 180kg respectively.  Cheers!

Great! Which ones? And source?

But we have more than that... like this latest one. I recieved this reply from Dr. Jhala of the WII himsellf;

*This image is copyright of its original author

Start reading from here (https://wildfact.com/forum/topic-asiatic...os?page=28) if you're interested, there's most of the data within next 3-4 pages.

(09-06-2018, 10:59 AM)GuateGojira Wrote: This is very important 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.

I'm so sorry i completely forgot about this... Had been lying in my 'Drafts' folder.

But unfortunately, i got no more details. He gave a very short & to the point answer (i'm guessing he's used to getting bugged with mails like this).
But i am certain that he'd just provided approximate weight range, within which healthy adults usually scale. Otherwise a weight value for even a single individual can't be stated without adjoining information about its health, stomach content etc.

From what's been gathered on Wildfact, their lowest & highest weights measured in males are about 145 kg to 225 kg respectively.
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sanjay Offline
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@Rishi While showing screenshot of mails, Please blur the actual email shown in screenshot. Spammer can use it and It can also be against privacy policy
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United States andeancat Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 02:25 PM by Rishi )

(02-21-2019, 01:21 PM)Rishi Wrote:
(02-21-2019, 01:08 PM)andeancat Wrote: I have two approximate weights of adult males at 150kg, 180kg respectively.  Cheers!

Great! Which ones? And source..?


Zoo staff at London zoo said Bhanu the male lion weighed approximately 150 kg.  The curator of the Zurich zoo gave me the figure of 180 kg for their male. 

Since these are approximations I hesitate say its official until I get official weights.  I am under the assumption that the two cubs I mentioned are Lucifer's offspring since they are present in the same zoo.  As a point of reference, the male cub is 10 kg heavier than the average male Kruger lion of the same age.  Captive lions may grow faster but he should not have a problem growing to a similar weight to his dad!  The female is about the same weight of a Kruger lion of that age.  The Indian zoo's growth charts are extensive (from birth until maturity), but there males are about 10 kg lighter than the limited data I see from European zoos.  I don't have the growth charts "on hand" but expect to see the data provided to the forum very soon or on a personal basis.  Hope this helps!
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(02-21-2019, 01:21 PM)Rishi Wrote:
(02-21-2019, 01:08 PM)andeancat Wrote: I have two approximate weights of adult males at 150kg, 180kg respectively.  Cheers!

Great! Which ones? And source?

But we have more than that... like this latest one. I recieved this reply from Dr. Jhala of the WII himsellf;

*This image is copyright of its original author

Start reading from here (https://wildfact.com/forum/topic-asiatic...os?page=28) if you're interested, there's most of the data within next 3-4 pages.

(09-06-2018, 10:59 AM)GuateGojira Wrote: This is very important 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.

I'm so sorry i completely forgot about this... Had been lying in my 'Drafts' folder.

But unfortunately, i got no more details. He gave a very short & to the point answer (i'm guessing he's used to getting bugged with mails like this).
But i am certain that he'd just provided approximate weight range, within which healthy adults usually scale. Otherwise a weight value for even a single individual can't be stated without adjoining information about its health, stomach content etc.

From what's been gathered on Wildfact, their lowest & highest weights measured in males are about 145 kg to 225 kg respectively.

This is very good information provided by an expert in the field.  Its very similar to the 160-190 kg figure for Dr. Chellam.  Basically everything else we have is either from captive stock or problem animals.
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Rishi Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 08:14 PM by Rishi )

(02-21-2019, 02:17 PM)andeancat Wrote: I don't have the growth charts "on hand" but expect to see the data provided to the forum very soon or on a personal basis.  Hope this helps!

Looking forward to it!  Like

(02-21-2019, 09:41 AM)Sanju Wrote: I don't think the current conservation action plan by "State" govt mentioned "relocation to barda". did it?

Like you (@Rishi ) said before "Lesser Rann of Kutchh is also a good place but I don't understand why experts didn't suggest that over Barda". May be due to water scarcity, dry and hot climate even though it had some prey base. I know that Lions "survived" and surviving in deserts including 'once' kutchh but still they might have considered this point as deciding factor to select and analyze perfect habitat for Asiatic lions...

Well i read your post #415 in the relocation project thread.

If a Parliamentary Panel did recommend that experts be consulted for exploring the option of shifting some of the lions in nearby sanctuaries outside the state. So they'll be more inclined do so so within the state to counter that.

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And frankly Gujarat has some of the most perfect lion landscape in the country.
(Not so) Little Rann actually has pretty varied vegetation pattern, from sun-baked saltpans to scrub to scorched grasslands to small wetlands.

Not to mention the largest grassland in India, the Banni Grasslands Reserve of 3850 sq.km

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These guys could use a predator...

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Sanju Offline
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( This post was last modified: 03-13-2019, 10:04 AM by Rishi )

(02-21-2019, 05:15 PM)Rishi Wrote: If a Parliamentary Panel did recommend that experts be consulted for exploring the option of shifting some of the lions in nearby sanctuaries outside the state. So they'll be more inclined do so so within the state to counter that.

Yes, Gujarat is blessed with arid and other tropical varied habitats for Lions but other states (Deccan) are no less even in historic Lion range.

Quote:They should be populated outside (if it is different country with potential to do so, then it'll be the best moment for them) and inside the State.

"State" shouldn't be a boundary factor to restrict their lives. It is always an appreciable move for Lions to establish a separate gene pool in different region with that area's natural selection pressures bringing adaptations.

Even if they are 24*7*365(6) injected with vaccines and medicines and rescued in multi specialty rescue operation centers, fed with nutritious diet and gifted that no natural disaster can cause harm or damage and are completely safe from extinction, it is still great to populate them in other places, after all increasing their numbers in their own range is never bad, nobody can deny that.

Wolves even being least concern species is still reintroduced in their lost range not only for their benefit. It is for the role they play in ecological diversity to maintain those ecosystems. Likewise, for the Lion. If we don't have chance to do that, we can leave it, but even having chance of their revival and support from scientists, organisations, committees, panels, court and willing and spending govt to do so, holding back is hazardous for this long (a century since their local extinctions inc cheetah).

The more their sub populations are separated by distance, the more the subspecies is far from extinction and the better the future is secured in long term survival. Nothing like [Gujarat is equal to Lion]. Not only Nilgai, Onager and Camel; Kutch other landscapes and habitats, wild prey like chinkara, blackbuck, wild boar, chital, sambar, nilgai, chausingha, langur etc.., also waiting for their return to their home ranges and restoration of their falling bio-tops.


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Rishi Offline
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( This post was last modified: 02-21-2019, 08:43 PM by Rishi )

Everybody here knows how nature works. You don't have to keep affirming the same reasons again & again... it's becoming tiresome.

But consider how the society works!

(02-21-2019, 06:18 PM)Sanju Wrote: "State" shouldn't be a boundary factor to restrict their lives.

Should it be? Definitely not...

Would it be? Apparently yes...

Quote:It is always an appreciable move for Lions to establish a separate gene pool in different region with that area's natural selection pressures bringing adaptations.

Even if they are 24*7*365(6) injected with vaccines and medicines and rescued in multi specialty rescue operation centers, fed with nutritious diet and gifted that no natural disaster can cause harm or damage and are completely safe from extinction, it is still great to populate them in other places, after all increasing their numbers in their own range is never bad, nobody can deny that.

Wolves even being least concern species is still reintroduced in their lost range not only for their benefit. It is for the role they play in ecological diversity to maintain those ecosystems. Likewise, for the Lion. If we don't have chance to do that, we can leave it, but even having chance of their revival and support from scientists, organisations, committees, panels, court and willing and spending govt to do so, holding back is hazardous for this long (a century since their local extinctions inc cheetah).

The more their sub populations are separated by distance, the more the subspecies is far from extinction and the better the future is secured in long term survival. Nothing like [Gujarat is equal to Lion].

If you write them the above (very sensible & factually correct) stuff petitioning them "to do the right thing", they're simply gonna shove it aside. 
But this alternative could work... if they can be made to see it as an way out to stall the Kuno relocation (you understand they are gonna keep trying, don't you?) As recent incidents keep building pressure on them, with this they can claim; We already are relocating lions to two large former habitats of Kutchh & Banni.

Intrastate relocation is better than no relocation.
And whoever tells you Interstate-or-nothing is more concerned about his/her ego than the future of Asiatic lions.
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( This post was last modified: 02-22-2019, 07:55 AM by Sanju )

I support relocation in every possible area, inside state, outside state and outside country. @Rishi and I don't think they will be "allowed" (like an autonomous body) or concerned or interested in anyway not even having a thought to relocate them to banni, Rann or whatever with even more investment and conflict management as they are already fed up with current situation... Besides being closest to international border worse situation and risk than gir. All are not puppets for Gujarat or BJP govt in India. Let's see whether the politics wins or law and order. You might have lost hope and interest in inter-state relocation but court and opposition govt won't leave it, wait for elections. Being surrendering to culprits isn't a wise decision after all. intra state is better at only increasing their range and numbers not saving from extinction. no matter how big the building or basket and accommodation and holding capacity in numbers, if any bomb explosion happens to that building all the people in that will die. but inter state relocation will save them. so inter relocation>intra relocation>nothing. remember that intra is better than nothing but will only improve but don't save them.
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