Already the water shortage has led to the death of one lion cub near Devalia. Officials say more cubs have died elsewhere.

The seven rivers passing through Gir -- Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ghodavadi, and Raval -- have started drying up. Water-holes are full of slush. Now less than 100 watering points are available for the more than 300 lions, 290 leopards, and 40,000 ungulates, including spotted deer, sambar, nilgai, chinkara, antelope, and wild boar. Besides, Gir harbours 300 species of birds and 26 species of reptiles.

With a long, dry summer ahead, forest officials are a worried lot. They said prides are moving to the sanctuary's edges, mainly in the direction of the coastal forests.

They also said the Palitana area in Bhavnagar district, which received sufficient rainfall, is attracting a large number lions and other animals. A pride was recently spotted there.

The wildlife division in Sasan Gir is at present sending in a large number of tractor-tankers to replenish water holes and is also keeping a watch on movements of the prides.

Says Deputy Conservator of Forests Mahesh Singh, who is holding charge of the Gir Wild Life Division: ``There is no doubt we will face a major water-scarcity problem this year. The main Hiran river has dried up and others have very little water. There are 100 `gunas' (water points) but they are not sufficient, and we will have to start providing water artificial water holes soon.''

While prides migrate in search of water and a temporary new habitat they face many risks. There have been instances in the past when villagers, irate over lions preying on their livestock, have tried to poison them. Cubs succumb during the migration. ``Ungulates venture out, destroying crops and fields thereby becoming targets for farmers and prize hunters,'' informed an officer.

Besides the mammals, reptiles are also migrating in search of water and are falling prey. Last week, forest officials rescued a crocodile, over five feet long, which had fallen into a well in a farm in Sarsai village of Visavadar taluka. Forest officers said that with the streams and rivulets drying up, crocodiles migrating in search of water fall into wells.

The state government has prepared a master plan to deal with the drought which comes into effect October 1 onward. According to Singh, a similar plan had been prepared for the 1986-88 drought.

However, Forest Minister Kanjibhai Patel only said: ``There is a problem out there but I am a little out of touch with my department in this regard.''

The minister was also unable to divulge any details of the master plan being worked out in Gandhinagar.