The Gujarat Government on Monday told the High Court that 17 of the 23 lions that died within a span of three weeks in September suffered from viral and bacterial infections leading to respiratory and hepatic failure.
The 23 lions had died in Sarasiya range, which is part of Dalkhania range of Amreli district.
In an affidavit in response to queries raised by the division bench of Chief Justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice V M Pancholi, the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Junagadh, Dheeraj Mittal said, "The Government is sensitive and serious of all issues" related to the well being of the big cats in Gir forest.
"As per the postmortem report, 17 of these 23 lions died from bacterial and viral infection leading to respiratory and hepatic failure, three others died due to infighting, and case of death of remaining three could not be ascertained," Mittal said in the affidavit.
There has been no spread of the virus in other areas of Gir forest, he said in the affidavit.