lions from Gir now need not leave their home State to save their species. A study by Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has suggested a site within the State which can be an isolated lion habitat, without having connection with Gir Sanctuary. The proposed project has been on fast track by the State forest department after the Supreme Court’s order directing translocation of lions to Kuno Palpur.
The report prepared by a team of five WII experts including YV Jhala has suggested that Barda Dungar, in Gujarat can be an alternate relocation site for lions from Gir. According to the study, the total area of Barda landscape spans for about 410 square kms. Of this 374 sq km consists of larger forest patches and the remaining 36 km has smaller patches.
The report states that the larger patches of Barda landscape are likely to hold three lions per 100 sq km, while the smaller patches can hold two lions per 100 sq km. It states that Barda can be a separate free ranging habitat for the lion population so as to mitigate the threat of a catastrophe on an isolated single population on which debates and discussions are going on since past two decades.
It further says that lion population in Barda will have to be managed artificially as a meta population. Adding Barda, will augment the conservation importance and ensure long-term viability of lions in Saurashtra landscape, said the experts.
The report further recommends Barda sanctuary should be made free from human habitations to create habitats exclusively available for lions and biodiversity conservation. It also calls for restoration of prey population in Barda through continued restocking programme.
As per the study, nearly 98% Maldharis were ready for resettlement, while only two per cent were happy to stay inside Barda and not willing to move out. Better livelihood options, better amenities and human safety were the primary reasons behind Maldharis’ willingness to leave Barda sanctuary.
However, interestingly, the tug of war for lions between Kuno Palpur in MP and Barda in Gujarat was on since 1990’s, when both had been approved by wildlife scientists as suitable sites for lion relocation from Gir. It had been put on back burner since then to re surface after nearly a gap of a decade.
The Gujarat forest department had asked WII scientists to work on the Bardareport in October 2013. It was after the order of the Apex Court in April 2013 on translocation of lions to Kuno Palpur, that the state decided to put the project on fast track, said the sources.