Gujarat has gird up its loins to save its lions. After the killing of six lions by speeding trains this year, the State is working on a series of measures in coordination with the Western Railways to save the big cats from such accidents.
The measures were mutually decided amongst the two agencies in a meeting held last week. These include rescheduling in running time and reducing the speed of trains while passing through the forest areas, erecting barbed wire fencing near certain vulnerable stretches of railway tracks and building underpasses. Most importantly, special sensitising programmes are already being conducted for the train drivers.
According to experts, though these measures are “welcomed” but they are no more than patchworks. With manifold increase in lion population, their territory has almost doubled from the earlier 10,000 sq kms. Hence, they are straying out more frequently, leading to such incidents.
The Railway Department has, however, agreed to reschedule the timing of goods trains running on the tracks passing through the forest, said Chief Conservator of Forest Rl Meena. This is in response to the proposal of Forest Department to stop the running of goods trains in the morning and evening hours when the lions are most active and are being regularly found along the railway tracks in Amreli district.
Further, the Railways authorities have also agreed to reduce the speed limit of goods trains on this route from the current 100 km/hr to 30-40 km/hr. This will allow the driver to spot the lions or their cubs on the tracks from a distance and stop the train or further reduce its speed if required, said Meena.
The forest department will also bear expenditure of 30 km-long barbed wire fencing on railway tracks where frequent lion movements have been observed. The Railways on their part have shown preparedness to construct under passage to allow free movement of wildlife including lions,” said Meena.
Most importantly, the forest department has recently given training to 82 train drivers sensitising them about lions, on why they need to be protected and what they should do to ensure the safety of animals in case they are sighted on the tracks, said Meena.
The experts, however, argued that given the complex nature of the issue a larger and holistic policy is required for larger habitat management. According to a retired forest official, the lion population in Gir has increased from 180 in 1974 to the present 410 increasing its territory borders. Hence, the Protected Area is now not sufficient to accommodate them, he said.
Pointing to the growing biotic pressures in the forest, the experts said, there are five state highways and a railway track passing through the forest. To add to them, nearly three lakh tourists visit the site every year. Mining activities and factories in the vicinity of the forest are also adversely affecting forest resources and availability of water in the forest. The waterholes within the sanctuary are thus drying compelling the carnivore to stray out to look for water and prey, they said.