While Gujarat High Court is consciously following up with the government about the measures to be taken for the wellbeing of the Asiatic lions, the deaths of lions with accidents do not seem to stop. Highlighting the violation of the fine line between man-animal co-habitation, one more incident of death of a lioness happened in Botad district of Gujarat.
A lioness died after falling into an open well at Itariya village in Botad district, Gujarat. The unprotected well belongs to a farmer. The forest officials informed that the dead body of the lioness was brought out of the well and sent to an animal care centre for post-mortem.
Gir in Gujarat is the only place in the world where the specific species of lions known as Asiatic lions are found. However, the increasing number of lions thanks to splendid preservation efforts have given birth to different set of problems too. The lions are seen straying in the areas where they did not go hitherto, causing their accidental deaths, often on railway tracks or by falling in the open wells. Out of 238 Asiatic lions, including cubs, reported dead in Gujarat in 2022 and 2023, as many as 29 died due to unnatural reasons like getting hit by vehicles or falling into open wells.
The State Government had spent Rs 278 crore on the conservation of lions in the two years. The government have also taken several steps to prevent unnatural deaths of lions such as radio collaring of lions and appointing trackers. Government has also started setting up chainlinks around the Rajula-Pipavav railway track. The work of constructing parapets on open wells in areas around the Gir border is also on.
There are 674 Asiatic Lions in Gir sanctuary, as per the last census conducted in 2020.
