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Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project
Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project
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Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project
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This is the shortest summary i could do
 (03-02-2019, 02:56 PM)Siegfried Wrote: Would you please be kind enough to briefly SUMMARIZE the current status in a few sentences? It's in limbo! The Gujarat state govt still insists on each & every IUCN recommended studies be done, knowing some would need years, despite Wildlife Institute of India giving green light to the relocation. Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh (MP), where the lions were supposed to go, was even declared a National Park and increased in size. The MP state on the other hand was governed by same Political Party as Gujarat & Central govt until last year. Now MP is under rule of another party & they're pressurising Central govt for lion relocation. MP state's Chief Minister recently wrote to the Prime Minister of India's office urging him to intervene, but PM Modi is from Gujarat himself. When he was CM of Gujarat earlier, he strongly opposed it. So, there's very low chance that he'll let it happen now, that also while his political competition taking credits for it. Exchanging lions for tigers was brought up once, a decade ago... with recent tiger reports in Gujarat, that might be on the table again. Or MP could go for its "Plan B" try to rewild captive-born cubs. With MP forest department successfully raising & releasing several orphaned or rescued tiger cubs, it's not uncharted waters anymore! 
@Siegfried
As you know that, Gujarat govt always opposed translocation (you know why) and these days they not even atleast remember that they even had assigned a PROJECT and responsibility is on them too to complete a project as fast as possible as per Supreme court ORDER and guidelines of 2013's decision. If anyone, opposes or halts SC's decision they might had punished by now but you know politics. The last time they (Gujarat govt) concerned or talked about Translocation is last year, during CDV issue i.e..., Current BJP Party Gujarat Chief Minister (CM) VIJAY RUPANI said "No Lions will be relocated outside State. Situation is under Control". After that Gujarat govt started investing lots of money on Lion conservation to suppress "Translocation issue". But now due to elections in Madhya Pradesh, there is a change in power i.e.. the Congress govt came to rule after winning majority. Previously, BJP party is in the Center, and both states, So everything went on their favour. So, after Congress govt coming into Power with "Kamal Nath" as CM. There have been significant pace in the Project which is currently in Phase 2 of "Shifting". Right after, taking oath as CM, they declared Kuno as National Park increasing area as much as more than double now. Along with them, MOEFCC, WII, NTCA and some wildlife activists and Experts doing field research time to time are strongly recommending to relocate as it is already becoming more than late. MP govt is made sure that all arrangements and conditions are met correctly in perfection, so that there will no objection in further from Gujarat govt. Also, like Rishi said, Gujarat is dragging the project to halt by hurdling in those 38 IUCN studies to be completed which takes long time for some "11" of those remaining to be done and most of them are "completed" and neither IUCN nor SC opposed or said those are "must" to be done before or during Project and for that SC said to shift "within 6 months" after decisive order. For that, No such "38 STUDIES OF IUCN are done in "BARDA" but govt like to and preparing to translocate lions there coz it is "in their state". After exhausting its legal options, Gujarat insisted on completing over 30 studies as per the relocation guideline of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) before releasing lions. While the IUCN "suggests" the studies, these are not mandatory pre-conditions for relocation. Even as the expert committee held its first meeting, Gujarat filed a review petition which was dismissed in October 2013. The state went ahead with a curative petition which was also rejected by the Supreme Court in August 2014. In fact, records show all members of the expert committee, except the representative of the Gujarat forest department, held that certain studies could continue in parallel to the process of translocation of lions. But Gujarat refused to budge. The Environment ministry also got cold feet. At its sixth meeting on December 19, 2016, the SC-appointed expert committee observed that Kuno was ready to receive lions, asked Madhya Pradesh to notify the sanctuary as a national park with additional areas, and told the WII to put in place the details of a MoU among the centre and the two states concerned. In June 2017, the WII prepared the draft for the MoU but it is yet to be signed. In November 2017, the notice for the seventh meeting of the expert committee was circulated by the Environment ministry. It was then cancelled and never held again. Madhya Pradesh, on its part, delayed notifying Kuno as a national park. “We are in the process of finalising the notification. Lions are our priority for Kuno. Only last month, we had a meeting with the Gujarat state committee. They insisted on a number of studies before the relocation. The WII is trying to resolve that issue,” said Manoj Kumar Sapra, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Madhya Pradesh. next is in previous posts, I suggested i.e.., MP CM asking PM or former Gujarat CM Modi to help in getting lions from Gujarat. and Continuing the works to make Kuno beter and better and better and better by displacing even more villages from Kuno, increasing Prey base, developing grasslands etc.., Similar things too are happening but at much faster rate in Cheetah relocation to Nauradehi. (03-02-2019, 03:42 PM)Rishi Wrote: The Gujarat state govt is still saying all IUCN recommended studies must be done (some would take years) despite Wildlife Institute of India giving green light to the relocation. I read about those "38 studies" back then but forgot to save those and now I'm tired to do research online again. Can you address all those 38 studies of IUCN guidelines which are "good" to be done not "must or should" to be be done prior to "Reintroduction Projects" and make a lengthy post, giving details in points like 1st guideline- about it, 2nd guideline about it....
@Rishi Ok OK no need. Found it.
Guidelines for Reintroductions and Other Conservation Translocations
Palpur management seeks five CRORES to bring sheopur lions (@Lycaon
 )Money is needed to build cagement facilities, safety and extension purposes. Proposal sent to State govt, waiting for approval. In order to bring Lions to kuno reserve, Forest department management is continuing in that direction by making everything ready and prepared for that FD sent proposal to state govt, asking to release 5 crores for further development. FD is going to build cagements to keep Lions in semi- captive environment (cagements) for certain time period to give sufficient time to adapt or habituate to Kuno environment and to monitor the activities. FD involved this in APO (Annual Plan Operation) 6 Asian Lions going to be brought from Gir in 1st step of Phase II (Shifting) of Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project (1st Phase is over i.e.., Fully preparing habitat, Prey etc..,) Actions will be implemented based on the Project Plan of approved by SC i.e.., in first shifting, through darting by Tranquilizing gun 6 Lions (2:1 Female- Male ratio that is total 6 lions: 4 females, 2 males) will be brought to Kuno NP as fast as possible from Gir forest on a Chopper (Helicopter). Both state committees formed after Contempt petition will be actively participated in this process by monitoring activities keenly. 
@Lycaon sorry, but before kuno relocation, cheetah relocation seems to happen earlier and other thing is till then I don't think asiatic cheetah survives and they don't ask for cheetah when they had them already (Iran was once ready to exchange when cheetah population is reasonable but now or in future they ain't ready to give cheetah coz their pop stock is too low and every individual is precious and not going to share).
Yes, you are right MP might have exchange with Iran if Lions are received (after some time period, in which lion increases in Kuno as well as cheetahs if abundant in Iran till then but can't even save them or share them in future) is an inspiration to the entire world, it is on a rampage of Reintroductions like panna, nauradehi tiger, cheetah relocation, lion relocation, satkosia tiger and upcoming Asian buffalo relocation to kanha. Hats off MP and congress govt. other is sariska of Rajasthan. The news above is true (read the source). (03-08-2019, 05:03 PM)Lycaon Wrote: @Sanju and @Rishi No gaurs to the northwest of Bandhavgarh. They went extinct from those dry parts naturally as the vegetation wasn't ideal for them. Nilgai, sambar, pigs, feral camels etc. should be enough.  *This image is copyright of its original author Guar Historic Range Map  *This image is copyright of its original author Present or Extant Range map If they reintroduce them to Kuno or anywhere else in the extinct region. It is good for either Lions or Tigers and themselves mainly or its ecosystems. They were extinct due to Human hunting and other disturbances in climate and habitat caused by humans as they are sensitive to changes in Dry landscapes and forests where their population are low based on the vegetation type and carrying capacity. If these reasons are controlled or solved, they can be reintroduced back. But now there's no emergency to do that and there are lot other important conservatory programmes, projects including Lion, Cheetah Reintroduction, Tiger, Rhino and GIB Protection, Gharial and River dolphin Conservation and saving many other Critically endangered animals are there to Preserve. But, Present they are Vulnerable and govt trying to Conserve, protect and improve their populations in their historically preferred habitats of extant range and reserves which is used by gaur and it is a significant factor in conservation biology and govt not interested in Reintroductions. Wild gaur graze and browse on a wider variety of plants than any other ungulate species of India, with a preference for the upper portions of plants, such as leaf blades, stems, seeds and flowers of grass species, including kadam. @Lycaon  (03-08-2019, 05:23 PM)Rishi Wrote:(03-08-2019, 05:03 PM)Lycaon Wrote: @Sanju and @Rishi what about onager and hard ground buffalo? they're gonna need more large herd animals
@Rage2277 Already prey base in Kuno is more than adequate and high for Tigers, Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards altogether. As cheetah relocation to kuno from Nauradehi after many years takes time till then, it's even better for lions and tigers as one predator less in competition for herbivores though it's not exactly sympatric with but it is with leopard.
You can see Gujarat govt reluctance towards lion translocation and same goes for their Onager and till now no proposal is there for wild ass relocation to other parts of their range and neither has interest from govt. They are dispersing naturally into Rajasthan's border areas these days. Coming to wild buffalo, Hard ground subspecies or variety are low in numbers and plan for translocation to Mp's kanha from Udanti or Indravati stalled and now Assam water buffaloes are coming to kanha, if everything goes right and numbers increase, MP may spread them by translocation to other place may be Kuno too. It is also possible in future that Hard ground ones increase in number and recover then, MP may look for relocation again from Chattisgarh anf further to Kuno. Already they are populating Orissa naturally near borders forests. Yes, lions look for big prey to satisfy their prides i.e.., more mouths and can fulfill appetite for more time duration in one go (less often). But when only medium game is available, they obligatorily will hunt and kill more frequently to balance that. That's what they doing in Gir NP (not in sanctuary and outside). The same they will do in kuno. Don't worry there are big feral zebu cattle in good numbers and camels if they want. (03-08-2019, 07:57 PM)Rage2277 Wrote:(03-08-2019, 05:23 PM)Rishi Wrote:(03-08-2019, 05:03 PM)@Lycaon Wrote: @Sanju and @Rishi Thank you for asking this...  *This image is copyright of its original author Once found all over Central Asia, the Kulan wild ass, also called Khur or Onager in India & Gur in Iran was hunted by lions in Iran & Indus valley. Now India's limited population in Gujarat Rann of Kutchh have crossed 5000 & they're spreding out. But they are really adapted for scrubland & deserts. At best, they might be able to make do in open thorn forests of Aravalli & Mukundara hills. The animal can run at sprint at upto 85km/hr... only blackbucks are faster. Maybe someday lions & them can share habitat in the barren western India. But not now, nor at Kuno.  *This image is copyright of its original author Water-buffaloes & lions once lived in the riverine plains of North India, less than 2 hundred years ago. But not in the rocky plateau region. Even their hardground variety needs ample water & moist vegetation. That's one of the reasons they withered away from the western region where monsoon stays less than 2-3 months. Buffalos are more resilient than gaurs & Gir does have that local monstrous breed. But because their numbers are already low in better habitats of Central India, i seriously doubt any such trial may happen anytime soon... as there's no room for error. 
Yes, northwest India today is probably too dry for gaurs. But for sure in the past could be found places (in central India) where has been some overlap of former areals of the Asiatic lion and gaur. Hunting of bull gaur by pride of 2-3 male lions should be a really fascinating view, even more than hunt of cape buffaloes.
In the distant past probably those parts of Indian subcontinent had been plenty of aurochs (Bos primigenius):  *This image is copyright of its original author  *This image is copyright of its original author
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