Biodiversity & Environment
Rise in the Population of Asiatic Lions
- 11 Jun 2020
- 6 min read
Why in News
Recently, the Gujarat Forest Department has announced an increase in the population of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region.
- Total 674 lions were recorded compared to the 523 in the Lion Census of 2015.
- The count was estimated from a population observation exercise called Poonam Avlokan in place of the 15th Lion Census.
- The 15th lion census was due to be conducted on 5th and 6th June, but was postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
- Poonam Avlokan is a monthly in-house exercise carried out every full moon. It was a mechanism developed by the Forest Department in 2014 as part of preparations for the 2015 Lion Census.
Key Points
- Numerical Analysis:
- The lion population has grown by almost 29% from the last count in 2015.
- The lion population in the state of Gujarat has doubled since 2001.
- Moreover, the distribution of the lions has expanded from 22,000 sq. km in 2015 to 30,000 sq. km in 2020.
- Thus, the geographical distribution area for Gir forests’s lions has been increased by 36%.
- The lion population has grown by almost 29% from the last count in 2015.
- Significance of 2020 Count:
- The 2015 Census had counted 523 lions, up from 411 in 2010.
- But 12 lions were killed in a flash flood in Amreli just a month after the 2015 Census.
- The deaths of lions in 2015 was followed by deaths of more than two dozen lions in an outbreak of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and babesiosis in 2018.
- Babesia is a tiny parasite that infects red blood cells and is usually transmitted by a tick bite. Infection with Babesia is called babesiosis.
- Additionally, the babesiosis outbreak was also reported in Gir in 2020, and around two dozen lions were reported to be killed.
- The 2015 Census had counted 523 lions, up from 411 in 2010.
- Reasons for Increase:
- Over the last several years, the lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising.
- This increase has been powered by community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict.
Regular Lion Census
- History:
- The first Lion Census was conducted by the Nawab of Junagadh in 1936.
- Since 1965, the Forest Department has been regularly conducting the Lion Census every five years.
- Procedure:
- Time Period:
- The regular Lion Census is conducted once every five years. The last Census was conducted in 2015.
- The Lion Census usually runs for more than two days, including a preliminary census and a final census.
- However, the Poonam Avlokan is carried out for 24 hours assessing the number of lions and their locations in their respective jurisdictions.
- Participation:
- The Forest Department invites NGOs, experts and wildlife enthusiasts to join the Census for transparency and augmenting manpower.
- Whereas the Poonam Avlokan exercise is conducted only by forest staff.
- Thus, the Lion Census experiences larger participation of the people compared to the Poonam Avalokan exercise.
- Methodology Used:
- The Lion Census is done using the block counting method — in which census enumerators remain stationed at water points in a given block and estimate abundance of lions in that block, based on direct sighting of lions who need to drink water at least once in 24 hours during the summer.
- Under Poonam Avlokan exercise, the teams keep moving in their respective territories and make their estimates based on inputs provided by lion trackers and on chance sightings.
- Time Period:
Gir National Park
- The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat.
- The Gir Forests is the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions. It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975.
- Gir is often linked with "Maldharis" who have survived through the ages by having a symbiotic relationship with the lions.
- Maldharis are religious pastoral communities living in Gir. Their settlements are called "nesses".
Protection for Asiatic Lions
- Protection Status:
- IUCN Red List: Endangered
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I
- Conservation Efforts:
- The “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” has been launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
- The project has been approved for three financial years from 2018 to 2021.
- The project envisages scientific management with the involvement of communities in coordination with multi-sectoral agencies for disease control and veterinary care for overall conservation of Asiatic lions.
Way Forward
- Earlier, the lions from the gir forest had faced the threat of extinction but timely intervention has shown extraordinary recovery.
- Lions have recorded a healthy growth in population due to effective conservation and management efforts by the state government with support from the Centre.
- Further, more focussed protection programmes and health care programmes need to be implemented to control diseases like CDV, babesiosis which continue to take lives of lions from the Gir forest.