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

The seven rivers passing through Gir -- Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ghodavadi, and Raval -- have started drying up. 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 year ahead, the forest officials are worried. They said prides are moving to the sanctuary's edges, mainly in the direction of the coastal forests. They said the Palitana area in Bhavnagar district,which received sufficient rainfall, is attracting a large number of lions and other animals. A pride was recently spotted there.

The wildlife division in Sasan Gir is 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 (DCF) 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 artificial water holes soon.''

While prides migrate in search of water and a temporary habitat they face many risks. In the past when villagers, angry over lions preying on their livestock, have tried to poison them. Cubs sometimes don't survive the migration. ``Ungulates venture out, destroying crops and fields thereby becoming targets for farmers and prize hunters,''informed an officer.

Reptiles are also migrating in search of water. Last week, forest officials rescued a crocodile, over five-ft long, which had fallen into a well in a farm in Sarsai village of Visavadar taluka.

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.

``We have asked for help from all quarters. We have also approached for assistance from the state government as well as the Centre to tackle this drought-like situation,'' Singh said. Forest Minister Kanjibhai Patel said: ``There is a problem out there but I am a little out of touch with my department in this regard.''