INDIAN STATES SPAR OVER LION RELOCATION

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Madhya

Pradesh, Gujarat in spat over relocation of lions Published: Monday, 5

June, 2006, 10:40 AM Doha Time

 

*BHOPAL:* The endangered Asiatic lion is caught in an unusual line of fire -

a spat between Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat over relocation of the big cat.

 

Gir in Junagadh district of southwest Gujarat is the only place where the

Asiatic lion is found. However, wildlife experts say that the entire

population of the beast being confined to one place does not augur well for

the species.

 

They say Gir has more than 325 big cats, too high a number, for the 1,400sq

km national park. It exposes them to the risk of being wiped out in case of

a natural calamity or fatal disease.

 

Though Madhya Pradesh has prepared a second home for the magnificent animal,

Gujarat is not ready to part with its prized possession.

 

The experts said overpopulation was one of the main causes behind the death

of several lions in Orissa's Nandankanan National Park in 2000.

 

Motivated by the threat of extinction of the lions, the Dehra Dun-based

Wildlife Research Institute began to hunt for a second home for the animal

and zeroed in on the 344sq km Kuno-Palpur Sanctuary in Sheopur district of

Madhya Pradesh.

 

A Rs640mn ($14mn) centrally sponsored project to shift the lions was

introduced in 1996-97, to be spread over a period of 20 years. It envisaged

tranquilising the animals and transporting them by air to Palpur. Here they

were to be housed in a pre-release centre near Palpur for acclimatisation.

 

While the Madhya Pradesh government has gone ahead with its part of the

preparations for their special guests, Gujarat refuses to budge.

 

Gujarat's officials have not even replied to a central government

communication, asking them to make preparations for the translocation of two

or three prides from Gir to Kuno-Palpur.

 

Madhya Pradesh Chief Conservator of Forests P B Gangopadhyay said the state

had already spent Rs100mn in making preparations and another Rs180mn would

be spent over the next six years.

 

" The 24 tribal villages (in Palpur) with a population of around 8,000 inside

the sanctuary limits have been shifted outside. This cost the government

Rs100,000 and two hectares of land per family to make the place conducive

for the lions, " he said.

 

However, Gujarat's forest officials say that the new site, richly populated

with herbivores, should be natural and not an artificial one.

 

" We are going to be extremely pragmatic in taking a decision and will take

all factors into consideration before allowing any shift, " an official said.

He added that a tiger-lion conflict in Kuno-Palpur could not be ruled out.

 

But Gangopadhyay said: " The new habitat at Palpur was chosen as the most apt

second home for the Asiatic lion after scientific deliberation based on

several parameters. "

 

Forest department sources said Kuno-Palpur, with its wind swept grasslands

punctuated with trees and low shrubs, was perfect for the lions which,

unlike tigers, move around in prides - each comprising up to 14 animals and

prefer grasslands with low shrubs.

 

They pointed out that the abundant water supply, better grass cover to

support the prey base and a minimal effect upon human settlement were the

factors that had favoured Palpur over other sanctuaries. – Indo-Asian News

Service

 

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