Sasan Gir National Park - 836 crore assistance for Lions

For the Unique Ring Road to surround Sasan Gir Sanctuary and Gir National Park which will help in minimizing the man-animal clash and human activity in the region and for Lion conservation, Gujarat State Government has demanded Rs.836.17 crore central assistance from the Government of India.

The Gujarat State Government in a formal communication wrote to the Ministry of Forest & Environment (MOEF) that, As per 2010 estimation Greater Gir area had about 411 Asiatic Lions.

The only home of Asiatic Lion – Sasan Gir - needs to be intensively protected and managed with all out efforts in conservation of them.

In spite of successful conservation efforts over last four decades registering sustained increasing population trend the Asiatic Lion is still critically endangered on account of its total population being only about 411.

Therefore the long-term attention for conservation of Asiatic Lion is required.

In the recent times poaching of large cats for international market has imposed a serious threat to lions also.

“The Government of Gujarat is taking utmost possible steps. Considering the need for additional resources and contribution of Government of India, the Government of Gujarat has submitted a proposal of “THE LONG TERM CONSERVATION OF ASIATIC LIONS IN BRHUHAD GIR.”

The project cost was Rs.262.36 Crore with Government of India’s share Rs.236.17 Crores and Government of Gujarat share of Rs. 26.19 Crore.

The cost included the cost of relocation and rehabilitation of resident people and Gir Maldharis.

The proposal includes strengthening protection, habitat development, and wild life health care and mitigating man-wild animal conflict situation, use of modern technology, eco development works, public awareness, eco tourism, wrote the state Government to the MOEF.

The MOEF has provided only Rs.120.46 lakh as financial and technical assistance to the State Government for protection and conservation of Asiatic Lions in Gir forest in last four years.
Gir National Park and sanctuary area is 1412.13 Sq. Km.

Six State Highways and some minor roads pass through the Sanctuary and used by the local people.

Existing Highways passing though the sanctuary affect movement of animals and Forest cover, increase Wildlife mortality with the volume of traffic and increase possibility of poaching. To reduce this traffic a project of “Garland/Ring road” around Gir forest has been proposed.

The State Government wrote to the MOEF that, “The proposed garland/ring road is estimated to be a length of 269 Km. The estimated cost of project is about Rs.600.00 Crores.

The said project has been duly recommended by State Board of Wild life and is sent to Union Government on 2-06-2009 for consideration.

The ring road proposed 14 over passes and 16 under passes on specific migratory path locations for safe passages to wild life while crossing Highways and immunize the protected area from traffic playing through human interference.’’

Sasan Gir National Park – Closed doors on tourists this monsoon

As I read before few days ago, Sasan Gir National Park - located at Sasan in Junagadh district, is only home to pure Asiatic lions and attracts a large number of Indian as well as foreign tourists closed for tourists during the monsoon season owing to the breeding of wild cats and conservation efforts being undertaken at the sanctuary.

As per online Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Divisional Forest Officer Sandeep Kumar Interviews, he said that, “Its (Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary) closing is being done to provide some privacy to wild animals like lions, leopards and birds like peacocks etc during their mating season as the four months of monsoon period are considered the best for their breeding season.”

“Since we supervise the conservation efforts, we want to prevent any disturbance in the conservation activities, which could also be caused by the tourists. So we close the sanctuary,” Kumar said, adding that the park would be closed from June 16 and will reopen only in October after the monsoon season is over.

As per the 2010 census, the total number of lions in Gir sanctuary has risen to 411 from 359 in 2005. With a total area of 1,412 sq km (about 258 sq km for the national park and 1153 sq km for the sanctuary), the park is considered as safe haven for the lions and other species.

“It is also a natural habitat for leopards and antelopes like sambar, spotted deer, blue bull, black buck, and wild boar, jackal, hyena, langoors, porcupine, bear and crocodiles and over 250 species of birds.”

The officer also added that the roads in the park are kachcha and get damaged during monsoon. They need to be repaired before allowing tourists to visit (the park) after its closure period is over, he said.

“Not only that we have to monitor the movement of wild animals during rains and in case of heavy rain in the area, we have to chalk out a rescue plan and taking them to safer places.”

In addition, if big cats fall sick, we have to make arrangements for their treatment and that is why the closure of the park during monsoon season is required.