Second Home For Gir's Big Cats remains mired

The future of Asiatic lions fondly referred as the “pride of India” are in great danger. Asiatic Lions, a member of the big cat family are the most vulnerable wild animal of India. These magnificent animals are prone to various life threating diseases as well as other threats as they are confined to a single area only.

Gir National Park famous as the sole abode of Asiatic lions in the entire Asia, has some 350 Asiatic Lions. This national park of India encompasses an area of 1000 sq km which is not sufficient for the survival of these animals. So, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), a leading scientific organization, suggested a new wildlife sanctuary in the territory of Madhya Pradesh as the second home for the Asiatic lions in India. Experts believe that Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh will be a great home for these animals as it is a part of Lion's historical home range.

But, the Gujarat government has rejected the recommendation of WII on the ground of lack of scientific backing and security in Madhya Pradesh. Gujarat government is not sure about the protection of lions in Madhya Pradesh as Madhya Pradesh was unable to protect the Tigers in its state. Moreover, Madhya Pradesh government's declaration of Tiger less Panna National Park has supported the view of Gujarat government. The state government of Gujarat has proved its point by showing the example of relocation of the Asiatic Lions from Gir to Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pardesh in 1956, which was a complete disaster.

Biodiversity Conservation Trust of India, a Delhi based NGO has filed a case in the Supreme Court against the decision of Gujarat Government of not relocating the Gir's Lions to the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary. But Faiyaz Khudsar, a wildlife biologist and also the head of the NGO, has said that if wild animals remains in a single area for a long time than it is for sure that it will hamper their long-term survival. He mentioned the case of Serengati National Park in Tanzania, a World Heritage Site as well as an ideal home for African Lions has faced the wipe out of at least 25 % of African Lions population from the park due to the canine distemper disease, (a fatal viral disease). This incident proves that a single epidemic can cause the eradication of entire population of a wild species from a region.

Moreover, he believes that as the animals of a particular region don't get the chance to mate with the stronger partners from other regions, it makes them genetically weak which in turn makes them more prone to diseases. So, he suggested that if the lions are shifted to different geographical areas than it might help them to evolve as a stronger genes in the future.

He also mentioned that Gir Lions are threatened by poaching, man-animal conflict and accidents. Recently, many lions have died due the wells created in the park to provide water to the inhabitants of this park. Therefore, he strongly supports the formation of Kuno as the second home for the Asiatic Lions in India.
In his statement, he assured that there is no reason for fear as technology has advances a lot. Recently “Radio Collaring” and many other techniques are developed which can be used to monitor the Asiatic Lions.

According to Ritwik Dutta, who is fighting on behalf of WII in the apex court has said that this issue could cause a huge economic loss because Rs 15 crore has been already spent to resettled the 24 villages of the Kuno Forest Reserve to other regions.

As the case has been referred to the Wildlife Board of India for its opinion by the Supreme Court of India, next hearing will be on 11th August 2009.