Following unnatural deaths of 13 lions in and around Gir Sanctuary during the year 2013, the Gujarat Government has decided to allocate Rs 131 crore for wildlife in the State Budget 2014-15.
Sources in the State Forest Department said that the Government has made provision for Rs 131 crore for protection of wildlife that include rare species like Asiatic lions, wild ass, black buck and bear. In the past six months as many as six lions were killed near Pipavav port area, on the outskirts of Gir Sanctuary. In order to avoid such incidents, the Government has made provision of Rs 10 crore for fencing and construction of 23 under passes for the safety and smooth movement of the big cats in the periphery of Gir Forest, Pipavav Port and Rajula areas.
“The budget proposed to allocate Rs 5.66 crore under Asiatic lion project for habitat protection and anti-poaching measures. Under this project, the forest department would buy vehicles and equipments for protection and conservation of wildlife,” said a forest official adding that Rs 3.4 crore have been proposed for creating awareness about wildlife protection to undertake similar projects for wild ass, sloth bear and black bucks.
Meanwhile, the State Government has admitted of the 13 lions which died, three were electrocuted, four were hit by a speeding train, three died in road accidents and the rest three died after falling in open wells during the year 2013-14. Two more lions died in train accident in June 2014. Thus six unnatural death of lions due to train accident occurred in the past four months.
Of the 411 lions as per the last census conducted in 2010, 114 are living outside the protected sanctuary. The sources said that apart from Gir Sanctuary, lions are found in Bhavnagar, the coastal areas, lathi, Dhari and several parts of Amreli apart from Mitiyala and Girnar Sanctuary. The fund allocated for the protection of wildlife will be utilised for the protection of those rare species found outside sanctuaries also, said a senior forest official.