Asiatic Lions For UPSC Revision Notes

Asiatic Lions

Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, has increased (from 523 in 2015 to 674 lions in recent count, up by almost 29%). The lion population in the state of Gujarat has doubled since 2001.

The geographical distribution area for Gir forests’s lions has been increased by 36% (from

22,000 sq. km in 2015 to 30,000 sq. km in 2020).

The count was estimated from a population observation exercise called Poonam Avlokan in place of the 15th Lion Census.

Poonam Avlokan is a monthly in-house exercise carried out every full moon. It was a mechanism developed by the Forest Department in 2014 as part of preparations for the 2015 Lion Census.

Protection Status:

IUCN Red List: Endangered
CITES: Appendix I
Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972: Schedule I

Census Of Asiatic Lions

The census is conducted once every five years. This year it was delayed due to lockdowns.

The first Lion Census was conducted by the Nawab of Junagadh in 1936; since 1965, the Forest Department has been regularly conducting the Lion Census every five years.

Key figures this year:

28% rise in population of Lions: Total estimated Lions in Gir region is 674. It was 523 in 2015.
36% Expanse in distribution: Today, Asiatic lions are present in Protected Areas and agro-pastoral landscapes of Saurashtra covering nine districts, over an expanse of about 30,000 sq. km. It was 22,000 sq. km in 2015.

Factors responsible for steady rise in population:

Over the last several years, the lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising.

This is powered by:

community participation
emphasis on technology
wildlife healthcare
proper habitat management
steps to minimise human-lion conflict

How was the census carried out this year? How is it different from previous census?

Reduced participation: Every year, the state Forest Department invites NGOs, experts and wildlife enthusiasts to join the Census for transparency and augmenting manpower. But this time, it was not advisable to send so many people inside the forest as the Bronx Zoo in New York had reported a case of transmission of novel coronavirus from a human to a tigress.

So, this year, the count was estimated not from a Census, but from a population “observation” exercise called Poonam Avlokan.

How it was carried out?

Poonam Avlokan (developed in 2014) is a monthly in-house exercise carried out every full moon.
Field staff and officers spend 24 hours assessing the number of lions and their locations in their respective jurisdictions.
Unlike previous census, which had nearly 2000 participants, this census had around 1400 staff and a few experts.
These staff kept moving in their respective territories and made their estimates based on inputs provided by lion trackers and on chance sightings.

What is Block counting method?

India uses this method to estimate the numbers.

In this method, census enumerators remain stationed at water points in a given block and estimate abundance of lions in that block, based on direct sighting of lions who need to drink water at least once in 24 hours during the summer.

There are inherent issues with this method. So, newer methods should be adopted- such as camera trapping and identifying lions based on permanent marks on their body, and statistical estimates based on the animals’ predatory patterns and numbers of their prey base.

Concerns over the estimates:

Few experts are doubtful about the estimated numbers. They say it could be an overestimation. It is because:

12 lions were killed in a flash flood in Amreli just a month after the 2015 census.
More than two dozen lions in an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) and babesiosis in 2018.
A babesiosis outbreak was reported this summer too, and around two dozen lions are reported killed.

Why we need to relocate the lions to other regions?

Presently, Asiatic lions are confined only to Gujarat. A single epidemic could wipe the entire population and the species might become extinct. Hence, introduction of species to new areas and states might be a good idea.

Additional information:

Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: Announced in Feb this year by the centre and Gujarat state government. Key aspects of the conservation project includeundertaking “habitat improvement” measures, making more sources of water available, creating a wildlife crime cell, and a task force for the Greater Gir region.

Relocation of lions: The Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was identified to be the most suitable for reintroducing the species, according to a Supreme Court-appointed technical expert committee, but there has been no progress on the proposal.

Supreme Court order: The SC in April 2013 had ordered the translocation of some lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh.

Its population is restricted to the state of Gujarat in India.

Wildlife under constitution: In 1976, the 42nd amendment incorporated protection of wildlife and forests in the Directive Principles.

It also included forests and protection of wild animals in the Concurrent List – Seventh Schedule (Article 246) of the Constitution

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