Now, a controversy is going on among the wildlife lovers and politicians in India as to whom the crown of national animal should go. Either lion or tiger is to be chosen for that. While one group pleads for lion, another advocates in favour of tiger.
Both lion and tiger belong to one family in the animal world. But the individual and social life of both differs drastically in both cases. The social life of lion is quite superior to that of tiger. lion’s life has more resemblances with human beings. The animal is spiritually connected with man. So after independence, the head of lion was accompanied with Ashok Pillar of our national emblem and this animal was chosen as national animal since then. However, in 1972 the Wildlife Board of India was inclined to give superiority to tiger. So, tiger was chosen as national animal of India.
Both animals in the tropical world need protection and conservation as they are on the verge of extinction. Now tiger population is noticed in 17 States of India, where as the lion population is found only in Gir forests of Gujarat. A recent census says there are 411lions in the Gir forests. The tiger population is more than the lion because tiger
can live within varieties habitats whereas lion can live within very limited surroundings and environments. Again, tiger can change its food habits to adapt with the habitat, which is not possible on part of lion. The Sundarvan tiger of West Bengal and East Bengal eats fish and crabs. Here the tiger is semi - aquatic to complete aquatic, which is not possible on part of lion.
lion is never afraid of its enemies. He always faces challenges with great courage; so it is more vulnerable to hunting than tiger. Tiger is not a brave animal; rather it is cunning and capricious which always looks for chances and circumstances to attack its prey. lion believes in social life and lives in family, which is not found in case of tiger. The tiger can either choose to live with family or live in isolation. It conceals itself from others where as lion always prefers to stay within open glade with family. lion is the only animal in the animal world which prefers to live with honour.
The writer served major parts of his service within tiger project areas. There were many chances to meet the cunning tigers. The writer also visited Gir forests of Gujarat and saw lions in close proximity. He saw a female lion going to quench her thirst from a nearby nala. The writer also inspected the Sunderban forests of West Bengal which is now included within project of tigers of West Bengal. The tiger always attacks from back, but not from front. So the inhabitants of Sunderban use masks in their faces while going to the forests for their livelihood to be saved from the tigers. The writer also used mask, while performing his duties within Sunderban in 1996.
Now the present Government of Prime Minster Narendra Modi desires to give prime position to lion as national animal of India in place of tiger. Modi’s ‘Make In India’ programme is symbolized by head of lion. lion is courageous, strong and bellicose. Modi wants to justify his much touted scheme with traits of lion. Modi belongs to the land of Gujarat which is an abode of lions. Again Gujarat is a land of kings. The kings of Junagarh took prime responsibilities for conservation and protection of lions. Had it not been so, this species would have been wiped out. The lions of Gir forests are the only remnant of Asiatic lion. As it is ascertained, the population of lion is now increasing in Gir forests due to intensive conservation measures of Gujarat forest department, but the propagation of Asiatic lion is not done and no attempt is also taken for such conservation measure. Not only lion or tiger but also all the big cats of Asiatic origin should be protected, conserved and propagated. The habitats and habits of these carnivores should be well protected for sustainable management of wild resources of India. It should be included in Make In India programme.
If we make comparison between Asiatic lion and tiger, there are many differences. lion can far beat cunning tiger in all respects. lion is the carrier of Goddess Durga. Both lion and tiger are the heritage animals of India and Asia but lion always is given importance for bravery. There is not much of difference between African lion and Asiatic lion. The average length of African lion and Asiatic lion is the same. The largest recorded Indian lion is 9.7 feet. African lion is 10 feet. Similarly the Asiatic lion has scantier mane that African lion, but it has fuller coat. Once, this Asiatic lion was found all over the whole of northern and central India. Due to human pressure it is now restricted to Gir forests.
The crop composition of Gir forest is not better than Similipal, Satkosia and Sundarban sanctuaries which are tiger reserves. No tiger is found in Gir forests. The whole Gir forests or the Gir sanctuary is 1,280 sq km. Satkishia is 745.25 sq km and Sunabeda is 500 sq km. The nature of flora of Gir forests is dry-deciduous. But the flora of all these sanctuaries is moist-deciduous to wet-ever green.
The Indian tiger is a short coated animal with rich colour and well striped body. The colour and size of tiger always change on the influence of climate. The Sunderban tiger is much smaller in size than non estuarine tigers. Invariably, tiger is a man eater and cattle lifter. In Sunderban, tigers are man eaters and cattle lifters. It is easy to know the presence of lion in a forest and others become scared by its roars, but it is very difficult to know the presence of tiger in a forest. Tiger does everything secretly and breaks neck of its prey and eats, but lion bravely captures its prey through its enormous strength.
(The writer is a former senior forest officer and an environmentalist. Tel no 9937460649)