The five-day long high-tech census of Asiatic lions has been initiated in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat by the State Forest Department on Friday.
There would be pre-survey exercise for the first couple of day, then a day’s rest and then a final census of the big cat will be conducted on Monday and Tuesday in five districts of Saurashtra — Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amareli, Bhavnagar and Devbhoomi Dwarka. On the basis of collected data, the final figure is expected to be announced on May 10. In wake of the census exercise, the State Forest Department has decided to close the lion sanctuary and safari park for the tourists from Friday to Tuesday (May 1 to May 5).
Unlike previous census of Asiatic lions, this time direct sighting method is being adopted, said Principal Chief Conservator of Forest CN Pandey. Earlier, lion censuses were conducted on the basis of indirect method in which pugmarks of the lions were considered for the counting.
In the on-going census, nearly 20,000 sq km area will be covered that includes Gir Sanctuary and forest area, the only abode of Asiatic lions in the world as well as its surrounding areas, said Pandey, adding that high-tech system like Global Positioning System (GPS), geo-reference system, photography and videography will be used to get accurate numbers of lions in the area.
As many as 2,500 people including enumerators, wildlife experts, Government officials, trackers and few NGOs have joined the exercise of counting the big-cat, he said. Enumerators would record unique identification marks like scars on face, its colour, shape of ears, tuft of hair on tail etc, he added. In order to reduce chances of over-lapping, detailed notes on individual lion as well as its prides are being prepared, he said
Established in 1965, with a total area of 1,412 sq km, Gir National Park is the sole home of the Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species.
The forest area of Gir and its lions were declared as "protected" in the early 1900s by the Nawab of the erstwhile princely State of Junagadh. This initiative assisted in the conservation of the lions whose population had plummeted to only 15 through slaughter for trophy hunting.
The April 2010 census recorded the lion-count in Gir at 411 which includes the lions in Gir, Devalia (Gir Interpretation Zone) and Junagarh Zoo, an increase of 52 compared to 2005. The lion breeding programme covering the park and surrounding area has bred about 180 lions in captivity since its inception.