Three lion cubs die because of infighting in Gir

Three lion cubs died within 48 hours in Gir Forest — the last natural abode of the Asiatic lion — taking the death toll in the region to 29 over the last two months, according to officials. They said that two cubs died in Vadala Beat in Savarkundla district on Saturday, while a third died at Paniya range in Amreli district on Friday. Both the sites are located near the Dalkhania range, where 23 lions died in October due to infighting and a virus that experts have blamed on overcrowding. All three deaths have been attributed to infighting.

AHMEDABAD: Three Asiatic lion cubs have died reportedly due to infighting in the last 48 hours at the Gir Forest – the last natural abode of Asiatic lions.

The Gujarat forest department on Sunday said that two cubs died in Vadala beat in Savarkundla district on Saturday while the third one died at Paniya range in Amreli district on Friday. Both the sites are located near Dalkhania range, where 23 lions died in October due to infighting and canine distemper virus. In the last two months, 29 deaths of lions have been reported from Gir.

“Post-mortem of the two cubs died at Vadala has been done by a panel of the doctors. They died in infighting,” said a forest official. Forest officials said that injury marks were found on their bodies. A pride of three cubs, two lionesses and a lion made Vadala their home. Since the carcasses were found, the officials have not spotted the lion in the beat.

All the deaths in the recent past have been reported from the Gir east division. Spread over 1400 sq km, the Gir National Park and Sanctuary and other adjoining areas have 304 lions out of the total 523 (as per the 2015 census). About 200 lions have dispersed in the coastal zone outside the sanctuary, which include Greater Gir and Social Forestry areas.

“These are not overcrowded areas. These are away from the tourist attention... Here, territorial war is reported more often compared to the west division,” said Bhikha Jethva of Gir Nature Lion Club, the group working for the conservation of lions supported the department’s version.

“...There were injury marks..., suggesting they fell victim to infighting’’, added Jethva.