Gujarat: 21 Lion died In 18 days at Gir Wildlife sanctuary, officials admit viral infection

Ten carcasses of lions have been found in Gujarat’s Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park, a week after a lioness and cub died. Twenty-one lions have died due to several reasons including virus infections over the last 18 days.

The rising number of lion deaths in Gujarat’s National park in a short time is a reason of worry for forest officials and conservationists. A forest officer has claimed, Infighting and infections in liver and kidney are the main causes for the recent death of lions.

The Gir authorities have shifted almost 31 lions to an animal care centre and have kept them in isolation.  “No lions were found dead in any other area, 31 lions from Samardi area have been rescued and kept in isolation. Their check-up is being done. We are taking all preventive measures,” Dushyant Vasavda, Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) in Junagarh. The senior officer quoted by NDTV as saying.

Notably, sixty-four teams were formed last week to monitor and shift lions to rescue centres. A central government team of wildlife experts too had visited Gir to find out the reasons for the sudden death of lions.

Almost 100 lions die annually in India, more death takes place during the monsoon season. On an average, around 31 to 32 lions in Gir die during the three months of monsoon every year, the Forest Department said.

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is a home to 523 lions, including 109 male, 201 female, 73 sub-adults and 140 cubs, according to data available from 2015.

Relentless development near Gir – roads through the forest in the 1,400-square kilometre — wildlife sanctuary, expanding villages and illegal mining — is also forcing animal-human proximity.

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