After the Gujarat Government's continuous refusal to part with a pride of Asiatic lions from the Gir Sanctuary, for purposes of relocation at Palpur Kuno in Madhya Pradesh, a glimmer hope has now emerged with the issue being slated for discussion at the upcoming National Board for Wildlife meeting to be held on October 8.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA) have prepared a plan for introducing lions at Palpur Kuno without Gujarat having to part with them.
As per the plan, Gir-bred lions housed in zoos across the country would be selected and relocated at Palpur Kuno. Initially the lions would be kept in enclosures where second generation lions born there would be provided herbivores as prey.
By 2011, the third generation of lions born at the enclosures in Palpur Kuno would be released in the wild, after it was ascertained that the lions would be able to take care of themselves. With this, the CZA and NTCA feel that they would be able to thwart Gujarat's resistance to parting with the lions.
The Gujarat Government had been under pressure to provide a pride of lions from Gir to Madhya Pradesh after a number of poaching incidents led to the killing of half a dozen lions. Also, conservationists have suggested that keeping all the lions at one location makes them susceptible to being wiped out in case an epidemic strikes the sanctuary. The Ngongoro crater in Tanzania witnessed the death of a large number of lions due to an epidemic some decades ago.
A Wildlife Institute of India study in 1996 led to the selection of Palpur Kuno as a possible second home for the Asiatic lions. Since then crores have been spent on preparing the reserve for the lions through relocation of villages and introduction of prey base but the quest has largely been unsuccessful.
Gujarat has been trying to stall the transfer of lions prompting many to suggest that the State does not want to lose its monopoly of being the only State to have Asiatic lions in the country. Interestingly, forest officers in Madhya Pradesh have been claiming sighting of tigers in Palpur Kuno last year. If the CZA-NTCA plan is successful, Madhya Pradesh might just become the first State in the country to have both the big cats, the tiger and lion, housed in one Protected Area.
The National Board for Wildlife meeting is chaired by the Prime Minister and is attended by Chief Wildlife Wardens of some States. Member Secretary NTCA Rajesh Gopal is incidentally an MP cadre IFS officer.
