Second home for Gujarat lions

Second home for Gujarat lions

Subject :Environment

Section: Species in news

Context: The Gujarat government has planned to translocate 40 adult and sub-adult lions to the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in the state, according to a new report by Wildlife Institute of India (WII) under the Union Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change.

More on the News:

• Barda sanctuary, about 100 kilometres away from Gir National Park, has been identified as a potential site to accommodate the Asiatic Lions, said the report entitled Lion@2047: A vision for Amrutkal
• As per the last count in 2020, there are 674 lions in the state.
• Experts have demanded translocation of lions in India for the past two decades as the big cats have been geographically isolated in Gir. A second home would protect the lion population from extinction in case of diseases like the Canine Distemper Virus leads to their deaths.
• The Supreme Court of India in 2013 had also ordered relocating some lions to Madhya Pradesh; however, 10 years later, the transfer has not yet happened.
• Gir and Barda are too geographically close to make the latter a solution for creating an alternative lion habitat in the country.
• Members of the Maldhari community will also have to be relocated along with the big cats as it is important to restore around 1,000 km of ‘exclusive lion habitat’ under Project Lion through incentivised voluntary relocation of forest villages.
• Maldharis are local pastoral communities settled within Gir Protected Areas and the Barda WLS. The report also talks about providing ‘an appropriate rehabilitation package for incentivised relocation’ to the communities.

Asiatic lion

• Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a sub-species of lion that is found only in the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat, India.
• The Asiatic lion is one of the most endangered big cats in the world, with a population of less than 700 individuals in the wild.
• The Asiatic lion is found only in the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, which is a protected area covering an area of about 1412 sq km in Gujarat.
• The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African counterpart, with a distinctive fold of skin on its belly and a shorter, less bushy mane.
• The Asiatic lion’s diet mainly consists of deer, antelope, and wild boar, although it may also prey on domestic livestock in areas surrounding the Gir forest.
• Cultural significance: The Asiatic lion has cultural significance in India, where it is revered as a symbol of power, courage, and royalty, and is depicted in several ancient Indian artworks and scriptures.
• Conservation Status
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule 1
  • CITES :Appendix I
  • IUCN Red List: Endangered
• The Asiatic lion faces several challenges to its survival, including habitat loss, fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is a protected area located in the Porbandar district of Gujarat, India. It covers an area of about 192 sq km and is located in the foothills of the Aravalli Range in Gujarat.
• The vegetation in the sanctuary includes dry deciduous forest, scrubland, and grassland.
• The sanctuary is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including leopard, hyena, jackal, sloth bear, jungle cat, Indian civet, and several species of birds and reptiles.
• Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is connected to several other protected areas in the region, including Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Pania Wildlife Sanctuary, and Jamjir Wildlife Sanctuary, which together form a contiguous wildlife habitat.
• Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is recognized as an Important Bird Area (IBA) by BirdLife International.
• Threats: The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary faces several threats, including poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, and human-wildlife conflict.