8,000 e-eyes to count lions across 25,000 sq km in Gir

Lion Census 2020 in Gujarat has got a shot in the arm as around 8,000-10,000 cameras would be used to count the burgeoning population of big cats in the last abode of Asiatic lions.

Against 15,000 sq km area surveyed in 2015 census, lions will be counted in 25,000 sq km area spread across seven districts.

For the first time, expertise of Wildlife Institute of India (WII) will be utilized in the census scheduled to be held in May next year.

Scientist at WII and lion expert, said. "The WII has sent a proposal to government of Gujarat and two rounds of meetings have taken place for finalizing the modalities of lion census."

The 2015 census had pegged the lion numbers at 523 in Gujarat. This number is expected to have grown phenomenally with internal assessments of the forest department hinting population may have crossed the 1,000-mark.

Top sources said the government has in-principle agreed to adopt the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) technology for counting lions.

 

8-10K cameras will catch lions

The census area will be divided into a three-km grid each. Officials said that first field officers will carry out human surveillance wherein scat, hair, teeth, nails of the big cat will be collected.

Physical forms will also be filled out noting description of the lions. This time, only 1,500-2,000 personnel will be out in the field. Unlike last census, 1,500 volunteers used will not be deployed. “In the second phase, 8,000-10,000 camera traps will be installed,” said a senior official.

lioness saves 'footloose' cub on busy highway

In an unusual occurrence, a month old lion cub strayed on to the busy Dhari-Visavadar highway in Amreli district on Saturday night.

With vehicles zooming past by in great speed, the terrified cub stood frozen in the middle of the road.

"However, before any harm came its way, the mother lion rushed to its rescue. Picking little Simba gently in its mouth, the lioness made it across to the other side of the road and escorted it back into the safety of the dark forest," a forest officer said.

A wildlife enthusiast who happened to be passing by the area stopped in front of the lioness and her cub and filmed the entire incident on his cellphone and uploaded it on WhatsApp and the social media which later went viral.

However, another cub of Amrapur village of Maliya-Hatina taluka in Junagadh district was not so lucky. Forest officials, who found the carcass of a two-year-old lion from a farm on the outskirts of Amrapur village, said it may have been a victim of in-fighting.

"The cub appeared to have fallen prey to a male lion which are known to kill cubs in order to mate with the lioness," an officer explained.

Source By : TOI