The Upcoming Lion Safari in Etawah may appear as a pet project
of Ruling party in India’s
Hindi heartland state of Uttar Pradesh ,but it’s necessity can not be
questioned in the wake of ever swelling population of Asiatic Lions in Gujarat’s Gir forest Sanctuary ,the only
dwelling left for Asiatic lions globally.
In recent floods in Gujarat ,many royal beasts could not swim to
safety in violently gushing rain water in their habitation ,and several carcasses were spotted when water receded.
It was shocking to watch the fate of this rare animal in its only
habitation the world over . Now, census shows
that the population of the big cat is increasing there and space of their free movement.
Natural disasters in any
region can not be ruled out ,so in order to ensure conservation of the endangered species,an
alternative sanctuary is necessary in more ways than one ,and its responsibility
of the world’s wildlife conservationists to back such
projects –may it be lion, elephant or
any other animal.
If the Etawah becomes a
success story, it will help conserve Asiatic lions whose number is around
525 globally.
Last census in Gir Forest had shown 523 lions, up 27% from
the last census conducted in 2010 in the sanctuary. Till now, it is the last
habitat of the sub species globally and the Etawah safari will be their second
home. ''There are 109 male lions, 201 females and 213 cubs in the Gir
sanctuary and nearby forest areas of Junagadh district,” officials had said
after the census in May this year.
Experts feel that a number of lions can be
shifted to Etawah as increasing population in Gir forests is resulting into shrinking
space for their free roaming and more chances of conflict with human
population.
Informatively, they mark their territories by
urination and loud roars.The Asian Lion, known as Leo persica is a sub
species of the African lion and survives in one forest in
India- Gir forest in Gujarat. Now the new Safari is coming up.
Asian Lions’ prides have
only two or three blood related females and cubs and no males. Males live
solitary life and interact with partners only at time of mating.
Their length is around two meters and their
tympanic bullae are less swollen and possess divided infraorbital forearm. They
have a belly fold and distinctive tuft of hairs on elbow which is not there in
case of African Lions.
Ironically, Africa’s iconic lions are also facing
the threat of extinction in its most common homeland. Three years earlier,
Nigerian conservationists had reported lions presence in six
protected areas but they had apparently disappeared in four.
Researcher Phillipp
Henschel, Lion Survey coordinator for New York-based Panthera Conservation
group, had gone to study all 21 protected areas believed to
harbour lions In West Africa.His paper published last year showed
that lions no longer exist in 99 per cent of their historic range in
West Africa.
That paper had prompted the International
Union for Conservation of Nature to put the lion of West Africa on
Red list as critically endangered species.
A report published last month showed a
sharp fall in lion population since 1990 in all habitats in Central
and West Africa. Both the regions are running risk of losing half of
their lions within next two decades.the situation with
Asiatic Lion is more pathetic. Experts say such protected areas
for lions should be encouraged at all costs.
Both types of lions,
though they appear similar, fall under different sub species They belong to same species Panthera Leo.
They live in
different continents, but African Lions have a bigger body
and weigh up to 200 kg. Body ranges from 1.5 to 2
meters. Lions prides group has two or three males and
10-12 females and in case of Asiatic lions pride has only females and
cubs and male live solitary live and meet partners only at time of mating.
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