Gir deaths spark debate on lion translocation

The recent deaths of nine lions in Gir in flash floods have spurred a fresh debate over the proposed translocation of some of these species to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh. While certain wildlife experts have expressed fears that such a scenario is detrimental to its survival, especially in the post-flood period, scientists from Wildlife Institute of India (WII), however, have allayed these fears saying Gir has lot of elevated land and hills that lions retreat to when it floods.

Since such a natural disaster has left nine lions dead and several missing, Gujarat cannot rule out the fear of an epidemic, which can pose a threat to the lions. “We would request the Government to shift some of them to MP at the earliest,” said a senior wildlife officer on  condition of anonymity. Wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, in a mail to Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar,  mentioned, “Nine Asiatic lions have died following heavy rains in Gujarat of late, apparently due to drowning in the stream of Shetrunji river which flows alongside the Gir wildlife sanctuary.” Dubey requested Javadekar to implement the order of the Supreme Court to shift lions on a war-footing for their protection.

Dubey, who is the Secretary of an organisation called ‘Prayatna’ that works for wildlife and environment protection, said he had filed a contempt of court petition in the apex court against the department concerned last year for the violation of its 2013 order.”Now, I am going to petition the apex court to draw its attention towards the threat to the population of the ‘king of jungle’ in Gujarat,” he added.

A yet another wildlife expert pointed out, the floods are a reminder that we need to translocate some lions to other sanctuaries so that they can survive outside Gir as well but presently, we are putting all our eggs in the same basket.Another section of conservationists feels  that though Asiatic lions are endangered  and all of them  are located in Gir, they are not likely to drown in the floods.  According to Dr K Ramesh, wildlife scientist from WII, Gir has enough of highlands where lions can move to during rising water levels. Some amount of mortality for various reasons is natural, but lions have survived through many floods and can look after, he added. Flooding is a risk to all animals, but wildlife is far more likely to perish in flood plains as for instance in the Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary in Assam, said the experts.