The revelation that the lion population in Gujarat has gone up by a 130 per cent outside Gir forest, has forced the State Government to form a task force to study the growing habitat of Asiatic lions near human settlements.
The lion census carried out earlier in the month revealed that increasing population of Asiatic lions forced some prides of majestic animal to move out of the Gir National Park and Sanctuary. The high-level task force to be formed by the State forest department will analyse the census data and suggest measures to reduce man-animal conflicts in a report with a view to conserve one the rare species of lions.
Additional Chief Secretary Forest & Environment PK Taneja said that the task force comprising five senior officials would suggest corrective measures for the preservation of Asiatic lions. The lion population has gone up to 523 in 2015 from 411 in the 2010. The Gir sanctuary is spread across 1,412 sq kms and its carrying capacity is only 260 lions. As revealed in the 2015, census the habitat area of the lions has increased from nearly 10,000 sq km to around 22,000 sq kms.