Flash floods in Gujarat have already caused the death of 10 Asiatic lions and about 600 blue bulls or nilgai, the most common prey animal for the king of the jungle. The Gir Forest National Park and the adjoining area is the only place in the world where the Asiatic Lion still survives and even thrives.
The revival of the lion population in Gujarat has been one of the biggest success stories in India’s conservation efforts. According to the last lion census, there are 523 animals concentrated in just four districts.
It has been well established that the risk from disease, natural calamities and other factors is multiplied when numerous animals are concentrated in such a small area.
– Titu Joseph, Wild Life Protection Society of India
This makes the animals vulnerable to disease, natural disasters and a host of other problems. Efforts at translocating a small number of lions to the Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh (MP), however, have been strongly opposed by the Gujarat government.
A Battle Between the States
The plan is to introduce a few lions to the Kuno sanctuary, but that has been stalled since 2004 by the Gujarat government’s refusal to part with the animals.
In 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the Gujarat government to release a few prides for the translocation project. The Gujarat government has appealed the ruling, and the project continues to be stalled to this day.
Exasperated, the MP government has even considered releasing zoo-bred lions into the park.
In April 2015, after Narendra Modi became Prime Minister, the Central Government said in the Lok Sabha that the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary would need to be enlarged to house lions from Gir.
Ravi Chellam, a senior wildlife expert who has studied the translocation issue closely believes that the Asiatic lion is vulnerable, and needs at least one more viable habitat.
There is no way to predict the occurrence of catastrophes like the recent floods. An alternate population just ensures that we don’t have all our eggs in one basket. It is basically an insurance policy for the free-ranging population of Asiatic lion.
– Ravi Chellam to The Quint
While many environmentalists support the translocation project, there are those who think that Madhya Pradesh is not a suitable candidate to house the the big cat.
Unlike in Gujarat, the communities around Kuno-Palpur are not accustomed to living with lions. The proposed sanctuary is also close to Ranthambore, which has a sizeable number of tigers, which have come into Kuno in the past. The two big cats haven’t shared a habitat for centuries. This is bound to affect conservation efforts for both animals.
– Anish Anderia, President, Wildlife Conservation Trust
These issues though, were put forward by the Gujarat government to the Supreme Court and the judgement given in April 2015 did not think they make the case against translocation. Lions and tigers, for example, have historically shared a habitat without any great detriment to either.
The real question is: why hasn’t the government acted on the Court’s order yet?
Does the risk of relocating the lions outweigh the benefits of having another safe haven? Let’s hope the governments involved can figure that out before the Asiatic Lions are put in even more peril.
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