In an important meeting on curbing death of Asiatic lions on railway tracks, the railway authority has given assurance to Gujarat Forest Department to take necessary precautions including speed reduction of trains, while passing through lion sensitive areas.
Gujarat’s Chief conservator of forest Rl Meena said that the meeting between the State forest officials and Western Railway authority was held in Mumbai. The meeting was conducted following deaths of six big cats in last three months near Pipavav Port in Amreli district, which is around 35 km from Gir Forest.
According to Meena, apart from reduction of speed, the railway authorities have accepted the State forest department’s suggestion of not running goods trains in morning and evening hours, when movement of lions are more near railway tracks, falling near Gir Forest.
Another important suggestion to train the railway staff was also instantly accepted by the authorities, he said, adding that the forest officials will impart training to train drivers to sensitise them on importance of conservation of Asiatic lions and how they can keep vigil on lion movements in order to avoid death of big cats on tracks.
The State Forest Department will also bear expenditure of 30 km barbed wire fencing on railway tracks with frequent lion movements. “The railway authority has also shown preparedness to construct under passage to allow free movement of wild animals including Asiatic lions,” he added.
With increasing population of Asiatic lions, some pride of the big cats have moved out of Gir forest and settled in coastal areas near Union Territory Diu as well as Jafarabad and Pipavav port in Amreli district. According to an estimate of forest officials, nearly 150 lions have spotted in these areas.
As per 2010 census, there are 411 lions in Gir Forest and surrounding areas that include 162 adult female, 97 matured males, 75 sub adults and 77 cubs.