Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

[Pckts]

(02-14-2019, 12:20 AM)Lycaon Wrote: @Pckts 

To further that point about hybrids, I have wondered how a liger and tigon would be like in the wild.

Barring any deformities I'd imagine they'd be able to survive as long as they are wild raised. You see it with other hybrids in the Wild, the Grolar Bear is one example "Grizzly and Polar Bear Hybrid."
What personality traits it takes on is a different story though. Reply

[Rage2277]

(02-13-2019, 10:52 PM)Pckts Wrote:

(02-13-2019, 09:32 PM)Pantherinae Wrote:

(02-13-2019, 05:21 PM)Sanju Wrote: Lion-Tiger Interaction and coexistence in Kuno is typically and almost same as Spotted hyena- Leopard interaction and inter-specific Competition in Africa.

Spotted Hyena here is Lion i.e.., Social and dominating (most of the time)

Leopard referred as Tiger i.e.., lone and dominating only in some cases like in one on one.

Just an example.

Not even close at being similar..
Hyenas aren’t behaving in the same way cats are, they aren’t usually aggressive except when fighting for food, they might snach a smaller carnivore or cubs from the larger ones. Exceptions will occur when a injuried  lion or leopard is targeted, but the hyenas will kill to eat. So if hyenas doesn’t see an oppertunity for food or gets provoked in other ways they will rarely attack the other predators. Also leopards can easially avoid hyenas by climbing trees. Hyenas do not hate leopards and without food to fight for, they can be seen walking side by side without aggression. Leopards will also hide cubs in trees and buches where they would be hard to reach for a leopard, same goes for Hyena pups which will be hidden in dens protected heavily by the clan.

Lions and tigers on the other hand are both big and heavy neither are great climbers. They are similar buildt, only difference is that lions are social, and the tigers are bigger. They would hate one another intesely and at every oppertunity try to kill eachother. And they would have a difficulty shareing the same reserve. Tigeresses and cubs especially would be an easy target for a coalition of male lions. Lionesses will likely do better in groups.

I still don't understand how hybrids haven't been seen in modern history?

I find it unusual that a Tigress in heat hasn't come across a lone Male Lion looking for territory and proceeded to mate and produce cubs, it just seems like that scenario would happen if they did truly share jungle space throughout history. At least when looking at Captive situations we can see examples of this, even in parks like Everland where they both live together in numbers.
I don't think it's nearly as likely with a Lioness and a Male Tiger though, since lioness are rarely seen alone. My guess would be that in areas where both shared habitat, Tigress would leave to another area before announcing and scent marking but that is only a hypothesis.

i think a liger is far more likely than a tigon..i imagine breeding would occur with younger animals though,a male tiger would likely kill and eat a lioness Reply

[Rishi]

(02-13-2019, 10:52 PM)Pckts Wrote:

(02-13-2019, 09:32 PM)Pantherinae Wrote:

(02-13-2019, 05:21 PM)Sanju Wrote: Lion-Tiger Interaction and coexistence in Kuno is typically and almost same as Spotted hyena- Leopard interaction and inter-specific Competition in Africa.

Spotted Hyena here is Lion i.e.., Social and dominating (most of the time)

Leopard referred as Tiger i.e.., lone and dominating only in some cases like in one on one.

Just an example.

Not even close at being similar..
Hyenas aren’t behaving in the same way cats are, they aren’t usually aggressive except when fighting for food, they might snach a smaller carnivore or cubs from the larger ones. Exceptions will occur when a injuried  lion or leopard is targeted, but the hyenas will kill to eat. So if hyenas doesn’t see an oppertunity for food or gets provoked in other ways they will rarely attack the other predators. Also leopards can easially avoid hyenas by climbing trees. Hyenas do not hate leopards and without food to fight for, they can be seen walking side by side without aggression. Leopards will also hide cubs in trees and buches where they would be hard to reach for a leopard, same goes for Hyena pups which will be hidden in dens protected heavily by the clan.

Lions and tigers on the other hand are both big and heavy neither are great climbers. They are similar buildt, only difference is that lions are social, and the tigers are bigger. They would hate one another intesely and at every oppertunity try to kill eachother. And they would have a difficulty shareing the same reserve. Tigeresses and cubs especially would be an easy target for a coalition of male lions. Lionesses will likely do better in groups.

I still don't understand how hybrids haven't been seen in modern history?

I find it unusual that a Tigress in heat hasn't come across a lone Male Lion looking for territory and proceeded to mate and produce cubs, it just seems like that scenario would happen if they did truly share jungle space throughout history. At least when looking at Captive situations we can see examples of this, even in parks like Everland where they both live together in numbers.
I don't think it's nearly as likely with a Lioness and a Male Tiger though, since lioness are rarely seen alone. My guess would be that in areas where both shared habitat, Tigress would leave to another area before announcing and scent marking but that is only a hypothesis.

There may have been such cases...

*This image is copyright of its original author

*This image is copyright of its original author

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[Rishi]

@Pantherinae Better safe than sorry. Thanks for your cooperation. Reply

[Sanju]

Parliament panel seeks experts’ opinion on Gir pride relocation

Days after a Government report suggested the creation of a second home for the Asiatic lions from Gujarat's Gir forest, a Parliamentary panel too has recommended that wildlife experts may be consulted for exploring the option of relocating/shifting some of the lions in nearby areas or other sanctuaries outside the state.

The panel, headed by Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma, in its report 'status of forest fire', observed that lion population in the Gir forest is decreasing due to one reason or the other.

"There are many unprotected wells; lions sometimes fall down in these wells, electrocution due to wired fences around the farms made for wild herbivores, Road and Rail Accidents, Poaching leading to their deaths. Frequent fights amongst the lions, overpopulation of Carnivores including leopards besides lions and man-animal conflicts can also be attributed for reduction in number of lions..," said the report tabled in Parliament recently.

Asiatic Lions are listed in the Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according them the highest degree of protection.

Warning that lions can go the tigers' way as happened in Rajasthan's Sariska Tiger Reserve a few years ago where poaching of big cat was "going on unabated and consequently, Sariska had become tiger less a few years back," the panel "noted" that a real effort was made to populate it again. (Same thing can be done to Kuno's Lion Reserve)

The Committee hopes that unprotected wells of all wildlife sanctuaries/national parks of the country including the Gir Forest in Gujarat would be covered properly in order to save the wild animals (not only lions) falling into these wells and losing their lives.

In the wake of 23 lion deaths within a very short span of time i.e.., September- October, 2018, the panel had sought status report from the Union Environment Ministry asking for the reason for fatalities.

The Committee also expressed its concern that infighting amongst the lions of Gir forest, Gujarat might be due to over population of the lions in specific areas.

Quote:The Committee recommends that wild life experts may be consulted for exploring relocating/shifting some of the lions in nearby areas/other sanctuaries outside Gujarat.

The suggestion echoes the views of the report, 'Asiatic Lion Conservation Project', which was released by Union Environment Minister Dr Harshvardhan on February 9, which said that among other conservation measures,"the Government may consider the establishment of a second home for Asiatic Lions for securing the population from any threat of disease or epidemic or any natural catastrophe or disaster like forest fire, floods, cyclones, earth quakes etc.., or "international or civil war".

The report had noted that the current rate of development-induced habitat fragmentation, loss of potential lion habitats and linking corridors owing to natural calamities triggered by climate change, illegal sand and limestone mining, timber or teak smuggling besides poaching and poisoning of prey carcasses plague the lions conservation, which are presently confined in Saurashtra region of Gujarat. Still Illegal Lion shows for rich outsiders by greedy locals baited with infected animals, lion baiting and harassment with chickens and illegal filming are not curbed which are on rampant scale against administrative laws (even political leaders are doing that like taking selfies).

https://www.dailypioneer.com/2019/india/...42EmNcXNgg Reply

[Sanju]

MP CM writes to PM on translocating Guj lions to Kuno

@Lycaon 
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on translocating lions from Gujarat to MP against the backdrop of deaths of several big cats there recently.

Nath, in his letter, said the Kuno National Park in MP was developed as a second home for lions and Lion reserve and asked the PM to issue suitable directions to the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and to the Gujarat government for smooth translocation.

"All recommendations made by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII)and expert committee formed to oversee the translocation of Asiatic lions to Kuno, like habitat improvement, prey base augmentation, relocation of 24 villages (1543 families) etc have been completed by the state government," Nath's letter stated.

"Substantial amount of money has been incurred in these activities and the Kuno National Park is ready to receive the Asiatic lion," the letter claimed.

Nath's letter also informed that, as per the recommendations made by committee, the area of Kuno Sanctuary has been extended by adding 404 square kilometres of forest area and has been declared as a national park.

The letter said Kuno Sanctuary was found to be the best habitat for the Asiatic lion and the Supreme Court had, in its order dated April 15, 2013, directed that they be translocated from Gujarat to Kuno Sanctuary within six months.

On Friday, the Gujarat Assembly was told that 204 lions had died in the state's Gir Forest region in the past two years. Gujarat Forest Minister Ganpat Vasava told the House that 110 lions and 94 cubs died in 2017 and 2018.

Of the 110 adult lions, 43 died in 2017 and 67 in 2018. Thirty-eight cubs died in 2017 and 56 in 2018, the reply said. Of the 204 deaths, 27 (21 lions and six cubs) were because of "unnatural causes" such as falling into a well or being run over by a train, the minister had said on February 22.. Reply

[Lycaon]

@Sanju 

Finally looks like something might happen . But I am not holding my breath. Let's hope this letter gets modi to take action for the future of asiatic lions. Reply

[Sanju]

243 more families will be displaced for Lions from Kuno Palpur National Park of Sheopur
(@Lycaon @smedz )

Quote:After declaration of National Park status to Kuno Plapur by increasing 413 sq km area and making approximately 800 km2 of NP in 1200 km2 Kuno wildlife division, the relocation of villages and house holds/families outside Reserve has already started by sending the post-displacement proposal from Reserve management staff to government.

Preparations to transfer 243 families again outside the park are ready to take place. After attaining National Park status, this is being done now. It is because of this reason, Bagacha Village of Dhanayacha is going to be relocated from the park.

Survey is being done by Park management among the villages in Palpur to relocate. After that, Village Panchayat received notice or proposal from the district division administration and both verified the list.

After receiving the fund amount from the government as compensation to villagers, shifting will be started to other place outside the forest.


1545 families have sacrificed their homes wishing Lions arrival Before this
It is notable that the Government of India started looking for another Lion reserve since 1991. In order to protect Asia's Lions from Epidemics or Endemic diseases and other natural hazards.

For this WII, Dehradun had appointed researchers and expert panel committee which recommended Palpur forest of Sheopur Madhya Pradesh as suitable for Lions. Based on this, It was decided shortly after in June 1993 to develop Kuno and start translocation. In that, 1545 families of 14 villages had shifted outside.

Despite Expert committee recommendation towards conservation,  Gujarat govt attitude of not giving lions continued upto 2013, on which matter reached Supreme Court which instructed "Lions as National Property not any Place possession" and ordered relocation within 6 months towards species best standards.

Expert committee has again given duty to look after the project to go in a clean and smooth manner. Experts engaged in formulating special strategies for bringing lions but now it has raged after humiliating petitions in the past. Now the committees are formed at state level that is at the level of MP and Gujarat to do the duty in their states according to relocation guidelines. Reply

[Lycaon]

@Sanju and @Rishi 

Has the gujarati government taken any steps to work with kuno to reintroduce lions to kuno ?

Another question why hasn't kuno just reintroduced captive asiatic lions from zoos in india? Reply

[Sanju]

1st Q answer: Gujarati govt never supported relocation to not only Kuno but also to any other place outside Gujarat since, 1990's.

2nd Q answer: you can find its answer in previous pages of this thread.

@Lycaon Reply

[Sanju]

"If this doesn't happen, that Nawab's (King) dreams and aim to save Asian Lions will go in Vain."

Reply

[Sanju]

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[Siegfried]

Could someone please briefly explain the current status of this project. Thank you. Reply

[Sanju]

@Siegfried

#412 #414

Posts are the latest of the latest updates about the project. If any news comes at the moment. I'll be the one first to post, So don't worry. I'll keep all up-to-date with the project. Reply

[Siegfried]

(03-02-2019, 08:57 AM)Sanju Wrote: @Siegfried

#412 #414

Posts are the latest of the latest updates about the project. If any news comes at the moment. I'll be the one first to post, So don't worry. I'll keep all up-to-date with the project.

Sadly my reading comprehension is not what it once was.

I tried to read those posts you referred to, but I only got from them the overall logic behind the project itself and an explanation of Gujarat's decades long opposition to it.

Would you please be kind enough to briefly SUMMARIZE the current status in a few sentences?

Thank you in advance. Reply