Initial investigations have revealed that the lionesses were systematically trapped through a leg trap with ropes along three pits.
AHMEDABAD/RAJKOT: The human-animal conflict reared its gory head again on Saturday afternoon when forest officials found carcasses of three lionesses in Babariya village near Gir Sanctuary — minus their claws and teeth!
In what is turning out to be a well-planned poaching case, initial investigations have revealed that the lionesses were systematically trapped through a leg trap with ropes along three pits. The carcasses were found near the Jamwada-Una highway. Two of these were adult and one sub-adult. Parts of their body like tail, legs etc have also been found scattered at different locations.
“The area is inhabited by approximately 20-25 lions and this kind of poaching is taken as a serious threat to the wildlife of the sanctuary,” said Bharat Pathak, Conservative of Forest, Wildlife Circle, Junagadh. The forest department has taken the help of a forensic laboratory to further investigate into the matter.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Pradeep Khanna, said that his department was under “tremendous pressure from various sources because of the incident”.
“An offence has been registered and we are thoroughly investigating the matter,” he said. Sources inform that claws and teeth of a lion fetch around Rs 500 per nail totalling up to Rs 10,000 per animal, including the teeth.
Incidents of lions getting electrocuted due to barbed fences and villagers throwing poison on lions wandering into farms is common, but this kind of systematic poaching is a first.
“Lions’ skin does not fetch a high price, but its claws are revered by many tribes as a sign of manhood. None of the known gangs are believed to be operating in the region,” said Sanat Chawan, a Baroda-based wildlife activist.
“It is an example of man-animal conflict. The Gir forest area is spread over 5,000 sq km, surrounded by 100 villages. Lions venture out into farms, damaging crops and cattle,” Chavan added.
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