As many as 13 Asiatic Lions died after falling in open wells in the last three years, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Monday. Union minister of state for environment and forest Mahesh Sharma said in a written reply in the Upper House that five lions died due to falling in uncovered wells in 2015-16, three in 2016-17, and five in 2017-18.
The information was provided in response to a question by Rajya Sabha MP from Sikkim, Hishey Lachungpa, who had sought details of animal deaths in forest and nearby areas due to uncovered wells, and steps taken by the government to to tackle the problem.
Sharma said that the ministry did not collate details of animal death in forest and nearby areas because of uncovered wells, but shared the information provided to it by the Gujarat government.
"The Ministry provides financial assistance to state governments under various centrally sponsored schemes for protection and conservation of wildlife and their habitats," the minister added in the reply. Gir in Gujarat is the only abode of Asiatic Lions in the world. Over 30 lions have died due to various unnatural causes in the state this year. The 2015 Census had pegged the population of the big cats at 523.
