Jessica & Tapasaya lend voice to Lion Pataudi roars in Yamuna Ravines; Foresters & Villagers envision roaring show

Betraying no sign of travel sickness, a Jungle King and  two Queens from  Junagadh in Gujarat have arrived in Eatwah  much to the delight of foresters of the upcoming Lion Safari there.After a three-day gruelling journey by road from Gujarat, Lion Pataudi, not Tiger Pataudi,nickname of former cricket tests star Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi of yesteryears, arrived there and walked with majestic gait to his confines .

He was accompanied by two roaring lionesses -Jessica and Tapasaya- which showing royal attitude gazed at surroundings and retired to the warm quarantine house.Special arrangements were clamped in the sprawling Safari’s quarantine house to keep away icy cold winds sweeping  the open area in this peak winter months .

Authorities are taking no chance with their New year gifts, earned by them after protracted dithering.

The safari is getting decked up with both flora and fauna ahead of its formal opening ,possibly by April this year-months ahead of the populous state slipping into the Assembly election mode.

The Lion Safari, the dream project of Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, has now total nine lions. The three new royal beasts  were brought from Junagarh in Gujarat .

At present, the emerging  Safari has  four lions and five lionesses.

Health of all the three new animals was good and to save them from the cold, heaters have been installed in their cages. All the three-- Pataudi, Jessica and Tapsaya-have been kept in separate cages.

The age of Lion Pataudi and Lioness Tapasya is around 3 and a half years while Jessica is all of seven years. “ You see the way they are adjusting to environs,is fabulous and within 72 hours, they are comfortable and appear in fantastic mood if their jumps and body movement is any indicator”, said Safari’s head Sanjay Srivasatva.

Later, these lions would be shifted to the breeding centre. Presently there are three pairs of lions-- Manan- Kawari,Bigo-Heer and Kuber -Girizma, all of them brought from Gujarat and they are presently in the breeding centre.   

 Lion safari had started with four pairs of Lions but Vishna and Laxmi, brought from Hyderabad, died. Efforts were on to increase the population of lions in the Safari so that it can be opened from the public in April next.

Silence of Yamuna-Chambal ravines,once notorious for gun toting dacoits near jungles of Etawah in the Hindi heartland state is now shattered by loud roars. Excitement among locals is mounting and they say the animals arrivals add to their increasing enthusiasm and prospects of Eco-Tourism in the belt which pines for employment generation and development of Tourists corridors.

At least half a dozen Asian lions walk leisurely with majestic gait amid pastel rich and green patches of their paddock in the Animal House in upcoming safari . Bewitching spectacle of Lions basking in sun shine leave their keepers awe struck.

Now , Thunderous roars has increased with arrival of three more lions and naysayers who have predicted that the project would never succced ,given its topography and hostile conditions, are revising their opinion,say villagers.

Authorities deputed for the uphill task are burning midnight oil to ensure that the safari opens to tourists soon. They appear elated over reports of Indian Veterinary Research Institute experts from Chennai that the breeding center, functional there, is fit to have cubs and the climate will not come in the way of “lionesses going the family way”.

Once these lions start breeding and population increases , The Safari will be second home to Asian Lions globally. Till now,only Gujarat had distinction of having Asian Lions which number around 523.    

The area was dacoits-infested and In Yamuna-Chambal ravines in early eighties --- lured by exploits of Phoolan Devi, more and more gangs were taking up guns–,but now whole scenario is witnessing a dramatic change. 

 Sounds of gunfire between dreaded brigands such as Malkhan Singh,Mustaqueem, Lalaram -Shriram, Ghanshyam alias “Ghansa”,Vikram Mallaha, Kusma Nain,Chabhi Ram Pothi and police and Provincial Armed Constabulary battalions have been replaced by roars ,growling and chirping of animals.

Many of these dacoits, after surrender, are languishing in different jails while some are on parole. 

 Pot holed kuccha roads of the fearsome ravines have been replaced by metalloid streets right upto the safari. 

 Nursing high hopes,villagers around the rich flora and fauna area, say that with the promotion of eco-tourism in erstwhile dacoit-battered belts, their lives, too, would be transformed in the near future. Older generations still recall the nightmarish nights during pillage sprees of gangs.

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.  Their population in Gir forests is around 523 and some of them died recently during floods in Gujarat. Their 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.  

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 if the Etawah safari clicks, a number of lions can be shifted there as increasing population in Gir forests may result in shrinking space for their free roaming and more chances of conflict with human population.    

  The second safari, some of them feel, should be developed as in case of any natural calamity, the entire population of lions would run risk of extinction.