Two stages out of the three-stage development is already over and everyone seems to be waiting for the big cats. The lions are facing survival problems in the Giri National Park at Gujarat and thus, the Central Government developed this park to rehabilitate the rare breed of lions largely found in Gujarat and a few other parts of the World.

Twenty-four villages were evacuated and rehabilitated to keep the species alive. There are around 328 Asiatic Lions in the Giri Park. 28 of these lions died in the Park during past one year for reasons unknown.

The large number of deaths of these wild animals was taken seriously and the Government of India decided to shift their habitat to a more safe and homely place. Kuno then came into existence and a Rs 64 crore project was launched for the Asiatic lion home.

The entire Sanctuary has been developed artificially in order to develop a natural habitat for the carnivorous beasts. Water streams, rocky area, greenery and lots of herbivorous animals have been introduced in the Sanctuary in order to provide sufficient quantum of feed for the 328 lions.

At Giri, reports informed that there have been a lot of illegal felling of trees and poaching too, could not be denied. The government, unable to stop mysterious deaths of the beasts, agreed to shift the animals initially and a team of senior officials including the state PCCF and the Principal Secretary and other officials visited Giri and accepted to have the prestigious guests (lions) in MP. The project was sanctioned and development commenced at Kuno.

Due to lack of political will of the Gujarat government, the shifting of the lions is still awaited and the delay has been adversely affecting the ecological balance of the sanctuary.

According to Forest department sources, several problems are being faced in the Kuno Park, in the absence of the lions. The lower breed herbivorous animals that were introduced in the sanctuary as feed for the wild lions, have increased in numbers to an alarming populance and are eating up the greenery developed to present a natural scene of the deep jungles, most suited for housing and breeding of these special lions.

The Gujarat polity is not interested in shifting of these lions from Gir because they assimilate maximum tourism revenues for the state. Gir lions, draw most of the domestic, internal and international tourist in Gujarat.

The state officials are reportedly ready to send the lions to MP as they are more concerned about the survival of the species and their natural breeding, but the political outfits are more interested in retaining the tourism revenues rather than survival of the Asiatic lions.

Meanwhile, Principal Chief Conservator of Forest Dr PB Gangopadhyay informed that compensation has been given to the villagers and last year, the chief minister of the two involved states had a meeting to discuss the issue.

The two parties had agreed and a team of senior officials visited Gujarat in order to get in a general consensus. Today our preparations are complete and we are waiting for the Gujarati prestigious guests.

Forest minister Himmat Kothari said we are waiting for the famous lions. It is the responsibility of the Government of India to get us the lions as Gujarat Government is not ready to part off with the rare Gir lions.

The Kuno project for rehabilitation of the lions is a Central Government project and we have completed all preparations, now we are waiting for the lions.