Ahmedabad: Project LionEnvisaged with the aim of conserving the Asiatic lions and averting any risk of their extinction, the big cats will not be relocated anywhere outside the state.
The Rs 1,300-crore Project Lion has recommended setting up of eight satellite habitats for the King of the Jungle in addition to the Gir sanctuary in his native Saurashtra. Top sources said the project has received preliminary approval from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment and has been sent for the final approval of the Union Cabinet.
Satellite habitats for lions have been proposed in the coastal belt from Bhavnagar, Gir, Girnar, Mitiala, Jessore-Hipwadi, Babra Virdi, Hingolgarh, Rajula to Jaffrabad and Mahuva among others, senior state forest department officials said.
Ironically, the current version of Project Lion is rolled into motion, which is the exact opposite of the Project Lion draft. Wildlife Institute of India (wii) recommended the relocation of Asiatic lions outside Saurashtra to sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and northern Gujarat.
Project Lion draft prepared by WII recommended relocation of some lions to seven sanctuaries Madhav National Park, Kuno Palpur in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh; Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve and Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan and Jessore-Balram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary in Banaskantha, Gujarat. However, the proposal was rejected by the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment.
A WII member said, “Gujarat is not ready to move any lions outside the state. This is the main reason behind the rejection of WII’s proposal, which saw a small population of lions being moved to half a dozen sanctuaries in neighboring states.” and has been recommended to be shifted to a sanctuary in Gujarat.” Leo Specialist.
“The state’s authority over lions is not healthy as the lion population was proposed to be shifted to big cats to protect the lion population from any deadly virus outbreaks in future,” the member said.
It needs to be mentioned that Gujarat has been against shifting of lions to Kuno Palpur Sanctuary, as ordered Supreme court Even in 2010.
In 2015, the lion census had counted 523 lions in the state which increased to 674 in June 2020 as per the most recent official estimates. In 2018, 29 lions had succumbed to the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak in the Gir sanctuary and neighboring areas.
The Rs 1,300-crore Project Lion has recommended setting up of eight satellite habitats for the King of the Jungle in addition to the Gir sanctuary in his native Saurashtra. Top sources said the project has received preliminary approval from the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment and has been sent for the final approval of the Union Cabinet.
Satellite habitats for lions have been proposed in the coastal belt from Bhavnagar, Gir, Girnar, Mitiala, Jessore-Hipwadi, Babra Virdi, Hingolgarh, Rajula to Jaffrabad and Mahuva among others, senior state forest department officials said.
Ironically, the current version of Project Lion is rolled into motion, which is the exact opposite of the Project Lion draft. Wildlife Institute of India (wii) recommended the relocation of Asiatic lions outside Saurashtra to sanctuaries in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and northern Gujarat.
Project Lion draft prepared by WII recommended relocation of some lions to seven sanctuaries Madhav National Park, Kuno Palpur in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh; Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve and Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan and Jessore-Balram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary in Banaskantha, Gujarat. However, the proposal was rejected by the Union Ministry of Forests and Environment.
A WII member said, “Gujarat is not ready to move any lions outside the state. This is the main reason behind the rejection of WII’s proposal, which saw a small population of lions being moved to half a dozen sanctuaries in neighboring states.” and has been recommended to be shifted to a sanctuary in Gujarat.” Leo Specialist.
“The state’s authority over lions is not healthy as the lion population was proposed to be shifted to big cats to protect the lion population from any deadly virus outbreaks in future,” the member said.
It needs to be mentioned that Gujarat has been against shifting of lions to Kuno Palpur Sanctuary, as ordered Supreme court Even in 2010.
In 2015, the lion census had counted 523 lions in the state which increased to 674 in June 2020 as per the most recent official estimates. In 2018, 29 lions had succumbed to the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak in the Gir sanctuary and neighboring areas.
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