(IN) 17 Asiatic Lions die in Gir sanctuary (Minister declared to translocate lions to Kuno)

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30-4-2007

 

17 Asiatic Lions die in Gir sanctuary

 

DNA - Mumbai

 

<http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1093809>

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1093809

 

 

 

NEW DELHI: Seventeen Asiatic Lions died in Gir sanctuary in Gujarat in the

past four months, eight of them due to poaching, and government has decided

to shift other members of the endangered species to a forest reserve in

Madhya Pradesh, the Lok Sabha was informed Monday.

 

Minister of State for Environment and Forests Namo Narain Meena said the

decision to shift the lions to Kuno-Palpur sanctuary was taken because of

fears that some 'adverse human actions or natural calamity may wipe out

their whole population'.

 

Kuno-Palpur has been recommended as the best suited alternative place for

the Asiatic Lions by an expert committee which had been asked to suggest

measures for their protection, he said in reply to questions.

 

Informing that 17 lions died since January, he said eight of them were

killed due to poaching. Three poaching incidents took place within last one

month, Meena added.

 

The state government has suspended a Ranger and two forest guards after

poaching incidents came to light and the matter is being probed by CB-CID,

the minister said.

 

Other nine lions perished due to disease, accident or because of natural

reasons, he said.

 

Meena said that locals are usually not found involved in poaching which is

done by outsiders mostly.

 

Environment and Forests Minister A Raja said the government was determined

to take strict action against poaching and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau

was set up recently with this intention.

 

Meena also added that the expert committee, in its preliminary report, had

also pointed out shortage of manpower at Gir and recommended strict vigil by

the state government.