Tired of waiting for lions from Guj, MP to release tigers in Kuno-Palpur

BHOPAL: THE DECISION WAS TAKEN BY MADHYA PRADESH WILDLIFE BOARD AT A MEETING CHAIRED BY CHIEF MINISTER SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN

Giving up hope of getting lions from Gujarat, Kuno-Palpur wildlife sanctuary will now house tigers from different parts of the state. The decision was taken by Madhya Pradesh Wildlife Board at a meeting chaired by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Tuesday.

Proposed translocation of Gir lions to Kuno-Palpur was a part of an Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project initiated by the central government’s Wildlife Institute of India in 1995.

The project was aimed at protecting the lions from the threat of epidemic, natural disasters and others and thus create another sanctuary for them. Kuno-Palpur was considered as a suitable haven for the same.

The Supreme Court, too, mandated the translocation of lions from Gir to Kuno-Palpur, but it failed to move the Gujarat government. However, the Gujarat government has been opposing the plan and it has led to a legal tussle too. As per official spokesperson, CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan instructed the authorities concerned at the wildlife board meeting on Tuesday to shift tigers to Kuno Palpur from other parts of Madhya Pradesh.

Talking to Hindustan Times, principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Jiendra Agrawal said, “We will identify the tigers who have strayed out of their habitat and shift them to the Kuno-Palpur.”

As per the government spokesperson, the meeting also decided that the 5% of the amount “obtained from non-forest work under state’s protected areas will be deposited in Tiger Foundation Society”. It will be spent on conservation of forest and promotion of wildlife.