Lion Deaths

40 Lions Die Each Year, Habitat Disturbed

An average of 40 lions have been dying each year in the Gir Lion Sanctuary in Jungadh district and its adjoining areas of western Indian State of Gujarat which claims it has 411 lions as per a census concluded in April 2010. Some ten years ago the figures claimed 327 lived in the region. The forest department wants people to believe that each year the numbers increased by 50 of which 40 died and 10 others survived thereby increasing the population. Whom are they fooling? Obviously forest officials responsible for the sanctuary have manipulated figures to prove their fake achievements. The lion population is under a much bigger threat than perceived. They face a bigger threat of extinction than the tiger which is numbered three and a half times more. If official records confirm 40 lion deaths in 2007, 42 in 2008 and 30 in 2009, then certainly the real figures are much higher which the forest authorities are unwilling to disclose.

Alone in eight months after the April 2010 census there were 29 lion deaths admitted by the forest authorities. To save their skin the forest authorities maintain that only six lions were killed by poachers, they are silent on how the rest have died. They do not mention numerous traps that are laid by villagers and farmers to trap leopards, but result in death of lions. The farmers, at times, are also using electrified fencing around their property to protect their cattle from leopards and lions. There is no one to answer the query as to how the usage of high voltage electric fencing is allowed to be done. Traps using live goats are used to track down leopards and lions by farmers near the sanctuary without any fear of forest authorities who become blind to all such sins. On 28 May 2011, THE BLUE MOON caught on camera a lion which had its forehead and jaw injured. Sources in the forest department claimed that the lion had been injured in a fight, perhaps with another lion. This seemed untrue as the same lion was accompanied by two lionesses even when the forest guards were trying to administer treatment to it the same afternoon. One of the lionesses was guarding the lion so fiercely that it was not leaving him alone even as the guards treated him after a tranquilizer dose. Unconfirmed reports said the lion was injured after getting trapped in a cage put up by some locals. There was no further detail available on the injured lion.

The Sasan Gir lion sanctuary is no longer safe for the lions. One fails to understand how the forest authorities have allowed the movement of closed vehicles for safari. As per norms it has to be an open jeep or similar vehicle. Not only this, closed vehicles with beacons are also allowed to move within the forest. A senior police official of Ahmedabad along with his family was enjoying safari in an Innova. Yet another yellow beacon fitted closed vehicle belonging to a ‘Sarpanch’ of some ‘panchayat’ was moving as if they had a right o do whatever they wish to. No forest laws for them? A metre gauge railway track runs through the Gir Sanctuary. The forest officials have never thought of closing this section down as it is not a very important network. The train on this section is pulled by a highly polluting diesel locomotive. The track has three unmanned level crossings within the forest. Not only this, the forest authorities have thrown open about 16 kilometers of a stretch for regular vehicular movement through the sanctuary. From 6 in the morning to sun set, any vehicle can use this route to take a short cut towards Amreli. All vehicles including buses ply this route without any special permit. Each vehicle is given 50 minutes to cross the stretch. However, many vehicles stop in the forest for ‘fun’. There is no check.

Presence of human habitation within the protected area is a serious problem which the forest department has failed to tackle. In a sanctuary which is already polluted by train and vehicular movement, the lions are being displaced by the growing number of ‘nests’ (hutments ) of tribals in the forest. The total number of such habitations is said to be 54 which could together have a human population of over 1000 tribals who live off rearing cattle and selling milk. The children of these tribals can never go to a school – a future generation of illiterates is being brought up, thanks to the forest department which does not rehabilitate the families outside the forest. The tribals called Maldharis cannot marry their males outside the forest because then they will bring in the bride into the forest which is not allowed, therefore they must marry their males within the forest. Whatever the Maldharis earn from selling milk is their saving because they can spend on nothing in the forest. Some of the tribals complained that the forest staff made money out of them. They paid them 1000 rupees as compensation for a cow or buffalo killed by a lion, whereas the actual compensation they were entitled to was over 10000 for each animal. It is strange that the children of these tribals roam freely in the wild while the tourists are strictly restricted from getting off their vehicles in the forest. The forest department has strange set of rules, formulated by them, for their own benefit. Some local sources near the forest complained of smuggling of teak wood and coal from within the forest in large quantities, but officials were unavailable for comments. Vehicles for collecting milk from the Maldharis are allowed without any hindrance daily. Does all this movement not disturb the animals? All such disturbance is now forcing the lions to wander outside the sanctuary. They can be traced moving as far as 60 kilometers from the protected area.

Efforts to contact the District Forest Officer, Mr. Sandeep Kumar proved futile as he was ‘out of reach’ throughout the working hours after giving an appointment to THE BLUE MOON.

This is not all, forest officials are alleged to have been misusing their official position to arm twist resort owners for favors. A resort owner complained how a bunch of forest guards accompanied by two local policemen tried to wangle free boarding lodging for some petty official. When refused they threatened him with dire consequences. The forest officials treat it “like their fiefdom,” complained a resort owner. Another resort owner sheepishly admitted that he had rather entertain the forest ‘babus’ lest they would hamper his business.

It is also not understandable as to how the forest officials expect tourists from outside Gujarat to communicate with the staff at the entry permit counters of the department when they can speak no other language except Gujarati.

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