Illegal live Asiatic Lion Baiting shows in Gir: Locals in & around Gir Forest, Gujarat, India illegally Bait wild critically endangered Asiatic Lions with Cattle for paying Tourists and sell them these live lion shows on a regular basis where wil

[Guest guest]

Illegal live Asiatic Lion Baiting shows in Gir:Locals in &

around Gir Forest, Gujarat, India illegally Bait wild critically endangered

Asiatic Lions with Cattle for paying Tourists and sell them these live lion

shows on a regular basis where wild lions are attracted to tethered live

domestic cattle which they kill and eat in front of tourists

 

 

***ASIATIC

LION NEWS***

 

 

Five held for Lion

Show in Gir

 

 

May 10, 2008, Gujarat Samachar (Briefly

translated from Gujarati)

 

Yesterday five persons named Jagdish Rajsi, Sutar Anubhai,

Ashok, Divyesh, Poonjal and Divyang Harshad have been nabbed by forest

department for doing illegal lion show. The incidence happened at Babra Vidi

near Sasan. They have been Fined Rs. 5000.

 

 

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/05/gir-held-for-lion-show-in-gir.html

 

 

To

stop ‘Lion Shows’ is hotelier’s responsibility

May 02, 2008,

Gujarat Samachar (Briefly translated from Gujarati)

Few

days back ‘Lion Shows’ for tourist using live baits was published in news

papers and TV Channels. As a reaction and to stop such shows PCCF – WL Pradeep

Khanna rushed to Sasan (Gir).

He

called for a meeting of Hotel owners, Restaurant owners and Farm owners of

Talala region. He strictly instructed them not to allow their guests to go out

of the hotel during night. He also informed them to submit list of guests

regularly to the forest department.

He

warned them that if such private lion shows are not stopped then he will stop

all the hotels in the area. Hoteliers feel that such warnings and instructions

of forest are just like shifting their responsibilities on to their soldiers.

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/05/to-stop-lion-shows-is-hoteliers.html

 

Wildlife park visitors pay £100 to see lions kill tethered cattle

Home News World News Asia News; Times Online UK

 

April 27, 2008; Dean Nelson in Delhi; From The Sunday Times; Times

Online UK

British tourists are paying more than £100 to watch endangered Asian lions

kill tethered cattle at an Indian wildlife reserve.

According to local officials, some visitors eat lunch at dining tables as

they watch cows and buffalo being devoured.

Animal welfare groups have expressed outrage, saying such gruesome displays

break the law and are not only cruel to cattle but also put the lions in

jeopardy by bringing them closer to humans. They blame western tourists for

encouraging the practice.

According to conservationists, the shows are being organised by tour guides

and farmers in collusion with junior park officials.

Only about 360 lions survive in India from a subspecies that once ranged from

Greece through the Caucasus and into China.

It is now confined to the Gir national park in Gujarat,

western India,

where the incomes of villagers depend on frequent sightings.

To ensure that tourists do not go home disappointed, tour guides are

offering “baitwalla shows”, in which the lions are lured out of the forest

towards villages on the outskirts of their sanctuary by cattle tied to

tractors.

When the lion picks up the scent, the cow is dragged towards the tour group

waiting close by and finally untied so that the tourists can watch it being

caught, killed and eaten from as little as 10ft away.

The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta)

denounced the tours and called on the Indian government’s forest conservator to

ban them.

Jaya Sinha, a spokesman for Peta, called on western tourists to give up

their “lion and tiger mania”, which, he said, was putting pressure on guides to

guarantee big-cat sightings.

“It’s not just the Gir lions. It’s the same in the tiger reserves: there’s a

tiger mania. The cats are shy animals, but the tourists go crazy if they don’t

see one,” he said.

Using live cattle as bait for protected animals is prohibited under India’s

wildlife laws, but the fines are paltry. One act carries a fine of just £1.

Nobody has ever been convicted of the offence.

Domesticated animals such as cows and goats are also banned from the lion

sanctuary because of fears that they may spread foot and mouth disease.

The lions’ hunting grounds have been shrunk in recent years by intense

cattle grazing, which has led to a cycle of lions eating cows, and cattle

farmers killing lions.

According to Peta, local farmers were conspiring with officials to charge

tourists for using their cattle as bait, and then claim government compensation

under a scheme to protect the lions. For each cow sold as bait, many are also

receiving an extra £60 in government compensation.

Maniswar Raja, the official responsible for protecting the lions, said he

was conducting an investigation to establish which officials and tour guides

were involved in the shows.

“We’re responsible for the lions inside and outside the national park, so

it’s a matter of great concern to us,” he said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3822607.ece

 

https://lists.princeton.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0805 & L=NATHISTORY-INDIA & T=0 & F= & S= & P\

=530

 

Related News:

WEIRD BUT TRUE

By NEIL GRAVES, Wire Services, New YorkPost, USA

April 28, 2008-- Don't

hand him that bull.

British tourists are dropping more than $200

to watch endangered Asian lions make mincemeat out of tethered cattle and

buffalo at the Gir wildlife reserve in western India.

Local officials say visitors watch the gory goings-on from nearby picnic

tables as they snack on lunch. Officials say villagers tie the Gir lions -

there are only 360 of them left from a rare subspecies - to tractors in order

to lure the animals out of the forest. Once the scent is picked up, the prey is

let loose and the slaughter begins.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04282008/news/weirdbuttrue/weirdbuttrue.htm

Bait may get Gir lions diseases

26 Apr 2008,

Himanshu Kaushik, Times Of India, Gujarat

Ahmedabad:

Asiatic lions may have been known to feed on sambars and cheetals, which are

fast moving animals, but lately some of them, in their last abode in Gir, seem

to have been tamed to eat buffalo meat offered on a platter.

The

lion shows, organized to provide a feast to tourists during their visit to Gir,

are not just spoiling the lions but also putting them under the threat of

various diseases contracted from the cattle offered as bait, say experts from

Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Experts

say cattle can transfer bovine tuberculosis, which had once gripped the African

lions at the Kruger National Park in South Africa, to lions in Gir also.

Besides, they

could also contract canine distemper, which had killed 800 of the 2,000-odd

African lions within four months at Serengeti National Park in Tanzania.

The

modus operandi of staging a lion show is to tie a non-productive cattle to a

tree and let tourists watch lions prey on them on payment of a premium.

Farmers,

who gave their livestock as bait, also claim compensation from the government.

The danger of these shows is that the cattle offered as bait are not checked

for diseases.

Moreover,

these shows domesticate the lions. That the lions are getting used to eating

buffalo meat is established from the fact that in 2007-08, 2,018 claims for

compensation were made for cattle killed by lions against 1,464 in 2006-07.

Dr

PK Malik, head (wildlife health management) WII, says: “The bait is hardly

checked in these situations, definitely some diseases can be transferred from

bovine to carnivores.”

Chief

conservator of forest (research) Dr HS Singh says: “Although no such major

outbreak has been reported from Gir, these activities could threaten the

Asiatic lion.”

The

basic instinct of the lion to hunt will be affected by such shows, added Dr

Singh.

He

says that the lions should be allowed to starve so that they become more active

and hunt for food. RG Jani, associate professor, Anand Veterinary College,

agrees with the view that lions should be allowed to hunt. Unchecked baits can

harm the animal, he added.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=T

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/04/bait-may-get-gir-lions-diseases.html

 

‘Lion shows only outside Gir’

25 Apr 2008, Times of India, Gujarat

Ahmedabad:

The state forest department has admitted that ‘lion shows’ of the kind that TOI

had exposed, could be going on, but outside the “protected area”.

A

report in TOI on April 22 and April 23 had exposed how villagers were

networking with farmers to stage lion shows for tourists by tying unwanted

cattle or goats as baits for lions to prey upon. And this was set up for

tourists at a premium. Later, the farmers claimed compensation on the ground

that the livestock had been killed by lions.

A

rejoinder sent by the principal chief conservator of forest on Thursday claimed

that no farmer had resorted to such illegal baiting of lions for tourism.

However,

the official said: “It is believed that due to increased communication

facilities in rural areas, people communicate fast about the natural livestock

killed by lions and as the wild animals take some time to consume the kill,

local people and occasionally tourists may be gathering at the site outside the

Gir protected area to watch lions.”

When

TOI contacted Junagadh collector Ashwini Kumar, he said the forest department

was yet to inform the collectorate about any such shows in the revenue area.

“But definitely action can be taken against such people under the Wildlife

Protection Act,” Kumar said.

Meanwhile,

the forest department has banned entry of over 30-odd jeeps taking tourists

inside the Gir sanctuary for the routine lion sighting, which would mean nearly

100 drivers and guides would be rendered jobless while the touts remain

untouched, said a senior officer.

The

ban was imposed after state forest and environment minister Mangubhai Patel

rushed PCCF Pradeep Khanna to Sasan to inquire into the involvement of drivers

and guides in lion shows.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Earth/Lion_shows_only_outside_Gir/articleshow\

/2980653.cms

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIA & login=de\

fault

Clips from a video footage of a lion show in Gir.

(Encircled) The rope with which the buffalo was tied to the tree. These clips

were sent to TOI by a reader after the expose.

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/04/lion-shows-only-outside-gir.html

 

Guesthouses packaging ‘lion shows’ dot Gir

24 Apr 2008, Himanshu Kaushik,

Times Of India, Gujarat

Sasan:

If you visit Sasan as a tourist, look out for those innocuous mud huts in the

middle of a farm. They promise to show you a lion in the wild. These are guest

houses that have sprung up around the Gir forest, that let out rooms at nominal

rates, with an additional charge if a lion show is on the cards.

These

guest houses might lack the creature comforts, but their owners woo guests by

marketing the bonanza of showing the king of the jungle at close quarters.

The

rates for these guest houses range from Rs 550 to Rs 1000 for a non

air-conditioned room. The fact, however is, that there are hardly any

air-conditioned rooms in these guest houses, which are conveniently marketed as

enjoying wildlife “in the lap of nature”.

The

charges for the lion show is exclusive of the room tariff, but they are far

lower for tourists. Sources say, majority of these guest houses are

unauthorized.

The

modus operandi was that over three-fourth of the land was used for farming,

while

a small portion was used to build these mud huts with hay roofs.

Apparently,

the guest house owners are networked with the touts and safari drivers. “The

safari driver comes to their guest house to pick up the guest and the owners

keeps tabs on the location of the lions,” said a senior officer.

Incidentally,

after the poaching incident last year, the state government officials cracked

down on such guest houses. Talala mamlatdar, Ami Doshi said, “After the

poaching incidents, we had cracked down on such guest houses and found that

these guest houses were operating on agricultural land without entertainment

licences.”

Officials

said that, to build such guest houses, it was essential to convert the

agricultural land into a non-agricultural land, and then utilize the same for

commercial purposes, but in the name of the farm houses these guest houses were

operating illegally without any check.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=TOIA & login=de\

fault

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/04/guesthouses-packaging-lion-shows-dot.ht\

ml

 

 

Gujaratgovt orders probe into 'lion shows'

 

 

24 Apr 2008,PTI – Press Trust of India

 

VADODARA: Gujaratgovernment has ordered a probe after reports in a section

of the media said that baits are being used to draw lions at particular spots

to attract tourists in GirNational Park.

 

Chief Conservator of the Forests (Wildlife) Pradeep Khanna said that an inquiry

would be conducted into the " lion show " using baits for drawing

tourists and action would be taken against those found guilty.

 

According to recent reports, some gangs were allegedly charging hefty sums from

tourists for giving them a glimpse of the lions at GirNational Parkin Junagadh

district, by using baits to bring the beasts

to a particular place, where tourists can easily see them, following which

government swung into action.

 

" I have asked top wildlife officials of the forest department to visit Gir

to look into the allegations and find out the truth, " Principal Secretary,

Forest and Environment Department S K Nanda said adding necessary steps will be

taken after conducting an enquiry into the matter.

 

Meanwhile, Forest Minister Mangubhai Patel said that there are no organised

gangs involved in luring lions for tourists by using baits.

 

He also added that it is a tendency among people to gather at spots where a

group of lions are feeding on the cattle after they have killed one.

 

However, Patel said that following the reports, two district forest officials

in the area have been asked to keep a vigil on the activities in the park.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Guj_govt_orders_probe_into_use_of_baits\

_for_lion_show/articleshow/2979378.cms

 

 

Probe ordered into 'lion

shows'

April 24, 2008; Regional, The Hindu

Vadodara (PTI): The alleged " lion

shows " , in which baits are used to attract tawny coloured cats inside the

Gir National Park to a certain place for tourists to see them, will be probed

into, the Gujarat government on Thursday announced.

Chief Conservator of the Forests (Wildlife)

Pradeep Khanna said an inquiry would be conducted into the " lion

shows " that use baits for drawing tourists and action would be taken

against those found guilty.

Some people were reportedly charging hefty sums

from tourists for giving them a glimpse of the lions at the Park in Junagadh

district.

Baits like a buffalo or cow are allegedly used to

bring the lions to a particular place, where tourists can easily see them.

" I have asked top wildlife officials of the

forest department to visit Gir to look into the allegations and find out the

truth, " Principal Secretary (Forest and Environment

Department) S K Nanda said.

Meanwhile, Forest Minister Mangubhai Patel said

there are no organised gangs involved in luring lions for tourists. He said

there is a tendency among people to gather at spots where a group of lions feed

on cattle after killing them.

However, Patel told PTI that following the

reports, two district forest officials in the area have been asked to keep a

vigil on the activities in the park.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/004200804241841.htm

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/04/probe-ordered-into-lion-shows.html

 

 

Gir lion show:

Sell cattle as bait, claim damages

 

23 Apr 2008, Himanshu Kaushik,TNN, Times of India, GujaratIssue

 

SASAN:

Call it the lion's share, twice over. For every " lion show " organised

in Gir — using cattle to be attacked and eaten by lions as tourists watch —

there is a bonus for those providing the bait.

 

While farmers here organise these shows to

earn money from tourists or sell their ageing cows and buffaloes to organisers,

they also claim compensation from the government to pay for the loss of

livestock. Statistics with the forest department shows the number of

applications and the compensation paid have shot up over the years.

 

On Tuesday, TOI reported how " live shows " are organised in and

around the Gir sanctuary, where live bait is used to lure lions and groups of

tourists pay anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 to watch. Forestofficials

claim it is non-lactating cows and buffaloes that are sold the most,

each fetching Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. As soon as the show is over, the farmer

informs the forest department that his has been killed by a lion.

 

" Not only are villagers in and around Gir earning from tourists by

organising shows or by selling their livestock as baits, they are making money

by fooling the government too, " said an official. While a compensation of

Rs 5,000 has to be paid for a milch cow, non-lactating cows fetch Rs 1,100. A

non-lactating buffalo would fetch Rs 2,100.

 

Sources say an elaborate racket is in place, whereby a beat forest department

guard certifies that the animal was attacked killed by a lion, despite knowing

that bait was offered to the beast. The department then pays compensation on

the basis of this certificate.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Gir_lion_show_Sell_cattle_as_bait_claim\

_damages/articleshow/2973533.cms

 

After lion show, make govt pay for bait!; Bonus For

Villagers Who Sell Baits & Claim Compensation

23 Apr 2008, Himanshu Kaushik,TNN, Times of India, GujaratIssue

 

Sasan: Call it the lion’s share, twice over. For every “lion show” organised in

Gir — using unproductive

cattle to be attacked and eaten by lions as tourists watch — there is a bonus

for those

providing these baits. While farmers here organise these shows to earn money

from tourists or sell their ageing cows and buffaloes to organisers, they also

claim compensation from the government to pay for the loss of livestock.

 

And, statistics with the forest department show that the number of applications

and the compensation paid have shot up over the years.

 

On Tuesday, TOI reported how “live shows” are organised in and around the Gir

sanctuary, where live baits are used to lure lions and groups of tourists pay

anywhere between Rs

500 and Rs 10,000 to watch them prey.

 

Forest officials say it is the nonlactating cows and

buffaloes that are sold the most, each fetching Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000. As soon

as the show is over, the farmer informs the forest department that the animal

has been killed by a lion. “Not only are the villagers in and around Gir

earning from tourists by organising shows themselves or by selling their

livestock

as baits, they are making money by fooling the government too,” said an

official.

 

While a compensation of Rs 5,000 has to be paid for a milch cow, non-lactating

cows fetch Rs 1,100. A non-lactating buffalo would fetch Rs 2,100.

 

Sources say that an elaborate racket is in place, whereby a beat guard of the

forest department certifies that the animal was attacked and killed by a lion,

despite knowing that the hapless bait was

offered to the beast. The department pays the compensation on the basis of this

certificate.

 

Conservator of forest (Junagadh range) Bharat Pathak admitted that “there has

been a rise of around 30 per cent in compensation paid”. “I am not aware of

this practice and will look into it,” he said.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Daily/skins/TOI/navigator.asp?Daily=T

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/04/after-lion-show-make-govt-pay-for-bait.\

html

 

 

Watch lions

feast in Gir, for a price

 

 

22 Apr 2008, Himanshu Kaushik,TNN, Times of India, GujaratIssue

 

SASAN:

The setting sun has painted the sky a bright red. But, for a group of wide-eyed

tourists, it's a different red that's attracting their attention. A bloodied

buffalo is being torn apart by two

lions while two cubs join in.

 

This is right in the middle of the lion country, just 25 km from Sasan, the

core of Gir lion sanctuary that is the last refuge of the endangered Asiatic

lions. At Babra Virdi, around 8 pm, the feast was on. So was the show as

tourists, including

some foreigners, watched in wonder.

 

The show is managed by locals by luring the lions with a live bait and costs

anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 10,000 for a group of five close to the core

area. This is not an isolated incident. Lion shows are a rage in Gir, with

several touts organising these shows in and around the forest. They are usually

drivers of tourist vehicles who are hand-in-glove with forest department staff.

These touts even have business cards and offer you a package which includes a

meal while the lion is having a banquet.

 

Since the lion has strayed far beyond the protected sanctuary and national

park, shows are organised even in villages on the outskirts of the sanctuary.

" These shows violate security for the lions and will only help guide

poachers at a time when poaching turning out to be a big menace, " says

Revtubhai Jadeja, former member of Wildlife Board. " We are looking for

people who organise such shows, " says conservator of forest (Junagadh

range) Bharat Pathak.

 

What's on show?

 

Venue: Sasan, core area of Gir

 

Tourists who do not sight lions during a tour of Gir are the targets of well

organised groups. They promise sure shot viewing at close quarters. They help

you take your car up to a pride of lions. While the car is stopped barely 10

feet from the lions, visitors are told not to take pictures as it would annoy

the lion.

 

Venue: Dhari, near the core area

 

A buffalo or cow is let loose on the top of a hillock, with a long rope tied

around its neck. The other end is tied to a tractor, which waits at a distance

down the hillock. Around 7 pm, when

lions approach the bait, the tractor pulls the bait down the hill with the lion

in pursuit. The rope is cut off, leaving it to the mercy of the lion. The lion

feeds on the cattle as the tourists

watch.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Watch_lions_feast_in_Gir_for_a_price/ar\

ticleshow/2969637.cms

 

The Economic Times, Times of India, Gujarat

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Earth/Watch_lions_feast_in_Gir/articleshow/2\

969637.cms

Lions doing “Human – Shows” in GirForest

7 Apr 2008, Divya

Bhaskar (Briefly translated from Gujarati)

Three decades back ‘Lion shows’ were

arranged by forest dept. for Tourists. But now, in Gir East, it seems a

pride of Asiatic lions is doing “Human-Shows” in Khilavad village of Una taluka.

The

pride visited the village three days back, killed two stray cows, eat at ease

and went back. Again yesterday, same group came, killed five stray cows, eat at

ease and went back.

Now

the question is how does the group get so much of animals for kill? It is heard

that, on the onset of summer season, many Maldharis from outside come to Gir

peripheral villages. Many farmers have animals which doesn’t give milk. They

sale their such useless animals to maldhari’s and tip them with Rs. 200 and 20

kg grains. This way they manage to get rid of unwanted animals.

This

unwanted animals become easy pray for lions. Such activity is happening in Gir

area since many years and has resulted in lions frequently visiting peripheral

villages.

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/04/lions-doing-human-shows-in-gir-forest.h\

tml

 

Kishore Kotecha’s Comment: Are such stray animals are used

as baits for private lion shows?

 

Gir lion attacks ‘Lion-show’ viewer

21 March 2008, Gujarat Samachar & Divya Bhasker (Briefly Translated from

Gujarati)

Lion

had killed a bullock in Old Janjariya village near Bagasara in Gir East.

On hearing this people from surrounding area had gathered in large number to

see ‘Lion Show’. A small shop-keeper from Bagasara, Dadabhai Abdulbhai (50

years) was also amongst them. But he tried to go too near the beast who got

aggravated. It attacked the man on his back side.

http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com/2008/03/gir-lion-attacks-lion-show-viewer.html

 

 

2007

 

Now showing, night safari just for you

 

 

10 Apr 2007, Nayan Dave ,TNN, Times

of India, Gujarat

 

 

SASAN: Darkness has descended on Gir. A pride of lions walks

up to a watering hole. While others watch, the male springs to its feet and

attacks a buffalo. The rest of the group then feast their eyes on the catch.

This is no fantasy.

 

This 'night safari' could be for your eyes only, right in the heart of Gir

sanctuary. The cost — anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 a night for a

group packed in two or three vehicles.

 

How to get there: Get the right contacts among the local populace who would

arrange the private show. Conservationists may fume at this, but those staying

in and around Gir seem to be doing a much better job hardselling the rare

Asiatic lions than the mandarins in Gandhinagar.

 

These Gir locals have created an alternative tourist circuit for people

clamouring for a dekko at the lions in the wild.

 

Sources say locals like Duru Baloch — detained under suspicion of being a part

of the lion poaching racket — were pioneers of this parallel tourist circuit.

 

Buffaloes and sheep are used as baits to lure the lions closer to where the

tourists are stationed. Ask villagers in Babariya, Zakhia, Jambur, Bhaka and

Dhoradi on the outskirts of the sanctuary and they will tell you how the night

safaris have continued for years now.

 

While it is the domestic tourists, mainly from Mumbai, that throng to such

shows, foreign tourists also join in the thrill. The fact that the sanctuary is

open from all sides, only makes it easier for the organisers of illegal night

safaris to thrive.

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1881343,prtpage-1.cms

 

 

 

Atul Singh Nischal

atulsinghnischal

 

ASIATIC LION GROUP

http://pets.Asiatic_Lions/

 

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accessible to all:

 

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