What are Gir killings?

Over the last five years, 21 lions have died after falling into open wells in the park, raising questions about the safety of the wild animals and the conservation system in the sprawling, 1,400 sq km (540 sq mile) sanctuary. According to a government census, the number of lions in Gir, had risen to 359 in 2005 from 327 in 2001. Asiatic lions are different from African lions, with a characteristic skin fold on their bellies and thinner manes on the males -- once roamed most of Asia. Wildlife activists say the lions are also under threat from thousands of villagers living in and around the forests and want them to be relocated to save the endangered species

Why killings of lion in Gir should make headlines?
Gir is the only habitat for Asiatic Lion, Panthera Leo Persica. In fact, lions are found only in two parts of the world-African Lions in Africa & Asiatic Lions in Gir.

If lions disappear from Gir, it would amount to almost vanishing of this royal beast. Significantly, Ashoka seal of four lions is national emblem of India. It hence, holds national importance for us.

What are Gir killings?
Ten lions are found dead in Gir forests of Gujrat during the last six weeks, allegedly killed by poachers. Another 21 lions have died over the last five years after falling into open wells in the park, raising questions about the safety of the wild animals in the sprawling 1,400 sq. km (540 sq. mile) sanctuary. Two lion carcasses are recovered recently in a massive digging operation in Bhanderiya village of Bhavnagar district. Significantly, no bones or claws were found with the carcasses, as was the case in the earlier two incidents inside the Gir sanctuary, pointing to trade in body parts of the lion.

Why it should be linked with Sariska?
Sariska crisis happened in early 2005, when entire tiger population was wiped out from tiger reserve; even though government figures constantly showed booming tiger count in Sariska.

If goes unabated, Gir killings may snowball into a similar crisis. P.N. Roychoudhary, senior Gujrat state forestry official accepts, "I admit lion protection has not been as water-tight as it should be."

Why lions are found only in Africa & Asia? Is it the case from very beginning?
No. Around 10000 years before, lions roamed freely over various parts of planet. Aristotle and Herodotus wrote that lions were found in the Balkans in the middle of the first millennium B.C. When Xerxes advanced through Macedonia in 480 B.C., several of his camels were killed by lions. Historic evidences prove lion’s presence in various locations including Greece, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Syria & Azerbaijan. Significantly, in several cultures it is linked with myths & folk lore of power & regalia

However, over the centuries, lion became extinct one by one from its habitats and was limited to Africa & Gir.

What are the differences between Asiatic & African lion?
Although Asiatic lion is genetically distinct from the sub-Saharan African lion, the difference is not large. In fact, the closeness in genetic make-up between Asiatic and African lions indicates that the two populations separated as recently as 100,000 years ago. The most noticeable physical characteristic found in all Asiatic lions, but rarely in African lions, is a longitudinal fold of skin running along the belly. Also, the mane of the Asiatic lion is generally shorter than that of the African lion, so the ears are always visible. Asiatic lions are, in general, slightly smaller than African lions. In Gir adult males weighed 160-190 kg, while adult females weighed 110-120 kg. The largest Asiatic lion on record was measured 2.9 m from nose to tail-tip. Like their African cousins, Asiatic lions of Gir are highly sociable animals living in social units called prides.

How Gir emerged as the only destination for Asiatic Lion? Habitat of lions could have been at any other place in India as well. What is so special about Gir?
Gir has a historic dateline behind emerging as a home to the Asiatic Lion. In 1910s, lion population fell to less than twenty in Gir area. Nawab of Junagadh, where Gir was located, rightly sensing the need banned hunting of lions, bringing an increase in lion count.

After independence, government adopted lion on Ashoka seal as national emblem & continued with Nawab’s conservation policy. Naturalists were assigned to study and take a census of the Gir’s lion population. At that time there were around 200 lions. The Indian government created the Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary - collectively known as the Gir Protected Area (PA), covering over 1000 km². The area is made up of dry scrubland with hills, rivers, and teak forest.

What is the government reaction to Gir killings?
Both Gujrat & union government have responded to it.

Narendra Modi Chief Minister of Gujrat announced Project Lion on lines of Project Tiger, earmarking 40 crores for the project, urged centre to release funds for the project and announced immediate employment of 300 Van Mitra( forest beat guards) to strengthen the forest department.

A monthly-monitoring committee under the Inspector General of Police, Junagadh Range, would be formed with officials from the neighbouring Bhavnagar and Amreli districts, where the lions were commonly found even outside the boundaries of the Gir sanctuary. It would be made compulsory for a senior police officer, possibly of the rank of IGP, to pay a vigil to the sanctuary every week.

The Union ministry of forest and environment is likely to request the Gujarat government to carry out a midterm census of lions in Gir in the coming weeks, much ahead of the next census which is due in 2009.

The Central team - deputed by the ministry which has just concluded its fact-finding mission in Gujarat - is likely to submit its report by April-end, after which there could be swift developments on this front.

Are these steps adequate?
These form the usual reaction of government machinery. Setting up of an autonomous body, "Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society," bringing additional man power, more funds, schemes, close circuit television, Global Positioning System & tight security at check posts to nab suspicious elements are the stereo typical government’s steps. How far they become effective, only time will tell.

Yet, these steps miss crucial aspect of lion behaviour & over crowded status of Gir sanctuary.

What is so peculiar about lion behaviour?
The mighty predator prefers open spaces, strays far and wide and doesn't attack humans, which is increasingly becoming difficult in cramped Gir. It therefore strays outside the Gir sanctuary.

What is the extent of burgeoning Gir sanctuary?
The Gir sanctuary has increasingly become crowded over the years. Since 1913 when the lion population over here fell drastically to just 20 animals, the numbers have increased to around 300. According to a government census, the number of lions in Gir, had risen to 359 in 2005 from 327 in 2001. Besides lion, it is also home to leopards, antelope, deer, jackals, hyenas, and marsh crocodiles.

What is government’s response to over crowding?
Government has overlooked this crowding up of Gir. 25 km of railway line passes through this lion territory. The government has allowed public roads to snake through the forest and turn into busy thoroughfares right in the heart of the sanctuary. Large number of vehicles uses these roads, even at night. And the 20-odd check posts can hardly keep tabs on, who is entering the sanctuary.

What can be the possible implications of cramped Gir?
With increased crowding, quite a few lions often stray beyond the boundaries of Gir, preying upon local cattle. Of the 359-strong population, as many as 80 lions have settled in Amreli, 14 in Bhavnagar and another 55 along the Saurashtra coast, indicating nearly 40% of the Gir's lion population is now outside the protected sanctuary and national park, completely at the mercy of humans who feel threatened by roaming big cats who often prey on their cattle.

Does it bring animal human conflict?
Exactly. Anguished local population may take revenge of killing of their domestic animals by killing stray lion. Noticeably, if lion remains inside the sanctuary & does not wander outside, that is if Gir is not crowded, there are lesser chances of it being killed by local villagers.

Is the beast completely safe inside the forest?
Not exactly. Though, the chances of safety are higher. In fact, even within the 1,400 sqkm protected area, the lion is not safe anymore. Present lion-to-beat guard ratio is dismal, with only 250 guards to man 359 big cats. The poorly armed guard is anyhow hardly expected to make any difference when faced with heavily armed poachers

Are local villagers the sole culprits?
Not really. Though the investigations are on, a strong indication points towards well established network of poachers. Following the strict ban on trade in tiger’s body parts, trade in lion is becoming the next attractive destination of poachers. The network of poachers, earlier engaged in killing tigers has now shifted its focus to lions. Poachers kill the lions to extract bones and sell them at high prices in Chinese markets. The bones are used for traditional Chinese medicine and the claws are worn by some men as pendants in the belief that will increase their virility.

It brings a web of problems. Cramped Gir, poachers, ineffective forest department. What is the solution then, addressing all these concerns?
Increased protection, modernisation of forest department, regular vigils is one solution. But, important task is to find a second, an alternative home to Asiatic Lion. It would not only ease pressure on Gir, but also provide a diverse habitat for lions. Close to a hundred years, lions are in Gir only. It is not a wise strategy in a big country like India. Let the lion flourish in more than an area, making a natural hedge against any such threat.

For tigers, we chalked out 28 tiger reserves. Why not do the same for lions. Imagine India’s entire tiger population cramped & struggling to survive in few hundred square miles & you have the answer to Gir problem.

Where could be this second home?
To deal with cramped Gir, Wildlife Institute of India undertook a survey as early as in 1999 to find a second home for Asiatic Lion. It settled down on Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Sheopur district of Madhya Pradesh, 120 km from Gwalior.

It is feared this second home may cause relocation troubles to lions. Many of them may not survive change of habitat.
Contrarily, study of conservation biology suggests that reintroduction of lions to KWS might bring full evolutionary potential and promote genetic vigor, and distribute the population, leaving the species less vulnerable to threats it now faces. The study shows that the world's last wild population of Asiatic Lions in Gir is facing various extinction threats from potential natural calamities and epidemics.

The goal of reintroduction is to create a new, free ranging population of lions in areas where they once roamed, and have now completely disappeared. Reintroduction would help to ensure the long-term survival of the species.

How safe is Kuno? What steps are needed to make it an appropriate habitat for lion?
To prepare Kuno to receive lion population from Gir, a number of steps needed to be taken, including spreading awareness amongst local people & relocation of villages that exist inside Kuno sanctuary, thereby preventing conflict between people and a mega carnivore, an animal that they have never encountered before.

Noticeably, 24 villages have been successfully relocated from Kuno, making way for safe haven of lion at Kuno, should they are relocated here

What is the delay then? Why not relocate lion swiftly?
Issue is not so simple, when it comes to intergovernmental transfers of natural wealth. We have seen bitter fight for Kauvery water between Tamil nadu & Karnataka. Same applies here.

What’s the issue here?
Gujrat government has had a historic attachment for the issue. It has traditionally been opposed to any relocation of lions from Gir forests. It is not likely to shift its instance in near future.

Arpan Sharma of Samrakshan Trust, an NGO working for lion conservation tells IndianNGOs.com, conservationist fraternity has not built right atmosphere in Gujrat. It could not convince the public & the government the need for relocation. In fact, unlike tiger, where entire nation rises up, lion finds few takers.

On the other hand, Madhya Pradesh government, strictly speaking has no locus standi to approach Gujrat government for relocation. It is also not pro active either in approaching the Gujrat government & explaining it the issue.

What is the final solution?
As with any interstate issue in India, the onus really rests on GoI to act as a facilitator, a third party mediator between the two governments, ensuring smoother relocation.

As was with tiger, lion too, is caught amidst the apathy & politics. National Emblem of India on Ashoka Seal and a symbol of prestige, the predator demands immediate long term attention. Cosmetic steps of mid term census, announcing funds are not likely to take lion too far.

source: http://www.indianngos.com/