State sticks to old plan without new lion habitats

Bhavnagar district and nearby areas are second to Gir National Park and Sanctuary in terms of lion population,and accounts for 74 big cats.

Chief Conservator of Forests S K Chaturvedi said: “The prime focus of the new management plan should be habitat improvement in the new areas. We have to take up focused plantation in Bhavnagar district; we will try to do this by planting Indian jejube (Ziziphus) and Carrisa carrandus. In the new areas there are more Nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus).”

R V Asari,Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,Wildlife,said about the delay in the new management plan: “The Forest Department will start working on it from next month. We are aware of certain issues. We understand the need for pruning the dense teak,but we cannot say that habitat is not conducive,because the lion population is increasing. The management plan would take at least a year to come in shape.” Senior forest officers said pruning the dense teak will require special permission from the Ministry of Environment and Forests. The new areas of dispersals might also be included in the ‘protected’ areas.

Meanwhile,the SCAT analysis of lions and their prey is being undertaken to see which areas serve as the transit points for the big cats with regard to their food and habitat.

Sandeep Kumar,Deputy Conservator of Forests,Gir National Park and Sanctuary,said: “We are working to cover the newer dispersal areas,and educating public to prevent man-animal conflict,besides covering the ravines with Carrisa carrandus,which are favoured by lionesses while giving birth. We also plan to cover the ravines with hedges so that the lions do not enter the fields.”