A case for dispersing lion numbers
The impressive increase in the number of Asiatic lions in India marks a major success in wildlife conservation. The latest census in the Gir forests in Gujarat, the only home to the animal, saw the number rise by a third – from 674 in 2020 to 891. Gir had only about 200 lions in the 1960s and the number has steadily increased over the decades. Much of the increase was after 1995 when the lions' range was doubled from 6,600 sq km to 13,000 sq km. The Project Lion programme, launched by the Union government in 2020 on the lines of Project Tiger, did much to enhance the number through habitat restoration and prey-base enhancement. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, who announced the new census numbers, claimed that the increase was also the result of the state government's dedicated efforts..But the numbers also raise concerns. Only 56% of Gujarat's 891 lions are resident in forested areas. As many as 507 live in revenue areas and lion corridors outside the habitat areas. The non-forest areas are close to human habitations and are not suited for large carnivores like lions. There have been cases of conflict, and lions have died of electrocution and drowning or have even been shot in self-defence. The number of lions is too high for the space that holds them, creating problems for both the animals and humans. The social carrying capacity in areas outside the habitat cannot be extended beyond a limit. The government has launched an awareness campaign among the villagers and compensation is paid for losses. The lions feed on the carcasses of dead animals, making them vulnerable to infections. The change in prey and hunting habits has also been cited as a concern..Increase in lion population from 674 to 891 'very encouraging': PM Modi.This makes a strong case for relocating the lions in Gir to other habitats in the country. But the Gujarat government considers them as the pride of the state and has been unwilling to let them go. Wildlife experts and conservationists have been demanding the dispersal of the animals for a long time. In 2013, the Supreme Court set a six-month deadline for shifting the lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh. The Gujarat government had also assured the court that it would comply with the order. Seven sites in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were identified under Project Lion for the relocation but the process has not commenced. A target has been set to double the lion population to 2,000 in the coming years. This cannot be achieved unless a major relocation effort is initiated.
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