Even after deploying 140 teams consisting 550 forest officials to screen injured and ill lions in over 3000 sq km area in and around Gir forest, deaths of the big cats inside the Gir Sanctuary and National Park – the last abode of Asiatic Lions — continue over the past three weeks.
On Monday, the forest officials confirmed deaths of seven more lions belonging to Dalkhania range of Gir Sanctuary situated in Amreli district. With these fresh deaths, since September 12, 2018 the death toll has climbed to 21. Of these deaths, majority of the lions were residents of Dalkhania range.
According to official figures declared by the State forest department from September 12 to 19 as many as 11 Asiatic Lions were died in Dalkhania and Jashadhar ranges of Gir forest due to infighting and injuries due to infighting, respiratory and hepatic failures and other reasons.
“Subsequently, lions residing in these two ranges were brought at a rescue centre situated in Jashadhar village for screening their health. Different samples all these lions were taken separately and sent them to National Institute of Virology (NIL), Pune as well as veterinary college of Junagadh to understand the reason of lions’ death,†said the statement issued by the State Forest Department adding that from September 20 to 30, 10 more lions succumbed during treatment at the rescue centre and all were inhabitants of Dalkhania range.
Of the latest deaths of 10 lions, the experts found viruses in four carcasses and in six other lions they noticed protozoa spread from tick bites. These symptoms were limited to Sarasia area of the Dalkhania range. As part of precautionary measure, lions permanently residing in adjoining Semaradi area have been shifted to Jamvala rescue centre.
Considering the seriousness of the situation, the State Forest Department has called on three experts of Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh), five experts from Delhi Zoo and two experts from lion safari Etawah situated in Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, the State Government has also made arrangements to import specialised medicines and vaccine from USA.
