Gujarat government now presses panic button to save lions

After declaring in fight as cause for death of Asiatic lions in the forest areas near Gir sanctuary and trashing reports of CDV infection to save face, the Gujarat government has now pressed panic button. The government is seeking the help of experts from within and outside India to salvage the situation.

As per the information shared by Forest and Environment Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava, about 11 of the 23 lions that died recently in Gujarat, had been victim of a deadly combination of canine distemper virus (CDV) and protozoa infection.

Vasava addressed a press conference in Gandhinagar on Wednesday and said, "Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) was found in the samples of four of the eleven dead lions by Pune-based National Institute of Virology, and protozoa in the rest seven. We have also sought national and international help to contain the disease on directions of Chief Minister Vijay Rupani. We are also seeking the help of experts of Royal Veterinary Society of London. As a precautionary measure, 300 shots of vaccine have been imported from the US and they will arrive by Thursday afternoon."

So far, as on Wednesday, the condition of three of over 36 lions currently under observation of Forest department is critical. Five other experts from Indian Veterinary research institute, five from Delhi zoo and two from Itava zoo in UP have also come to rescue lions in Gujarat.

According to a 2015 census, Gir is home to 523 lions, including 109 male, 201 female, 73 sub-adults and 140 cubs. Vasava said that though the next census would be in 2020, there were total 600 lions in state living in different forest ranges across Saurashtra region.

Vasava also added that 33 lions from Jamvala range also were brought to the rescue centre for lions and other three lions came from Dalkhaniya range. The three belonged to the same pride in which CDV was found and therefore are under observation.

"All 33 lions from Jamvala range seemed to be healthy but three from Dalkhaniya range are critical. Moreover our teams during screening found that 26 more lions in Jasadhar range could be in critical health condition. We have urgently imported 300 (shots of) a vaccine from Atlanta, which we will administer to 36 lions, if needed, who are under observation," he added.

Additional Chief Secretary, state forest department, Rajiv Kumar Gupta said CDV didn't cause deaths but it affects immunity of infected lions.

"Lions with CDV can be infected by protozoa which is spread by ticks. Presence of both of these causes death. We have found CDV in four and protozoa in seven out of eleven dead lions," Gupta said.

Gupta said Forest personnel will collect random samples of blood and swabs of lions from other ranges of the Gir forest, as a measure to ascertain their health status.

The Forest department had launched a screening operation in Dalkhaniya range of Gir sanctuary to identify sick lions following the death of 11 big cats between September 12 and 19.

A total of 12 sick lions, which were caught and shifted to a rescue centre, have died since then, taking the toll to 23.