Save the Asiatic Lion

Couple of hundred years ago, the majestic Asiatic Lion used to thrive in large jungles across Asia Minor and Arabia through Persia to India. In India alone, its range extended as far as eastern state of India, Bihar, till the Narmada river valley in the South. Slowly and slowly, each state of India began losing its lions especially to hunting games and lion teeth, bones and claws. In the beginning of the year 1900, the Asiatic Lions were almost wiped out from the world and last survivors were in a small part of India, Junagarh, in the state of Gujarat. During the first few years of the 20th century, the Nawab (King) of Junagarh reported lion estimates to be around a dozen. Presently, Asiatic Lions are present only in Gir Sanctuary of the Junagarh district, Gujarat, India.

Hazarika Sanjoy stated, "The Park was a game preserve before India became independent in 1947. At that time, permits for hunting were issued by the local administration. A National Sanctuary Protection was increased, new forest guards were employed to stop poaching, and the lion was declared an endangered animal; anyone caught hunting it or trading its skin was prosecuted " (4). It was in the 1970's, that Gir Park became a national sanctuary.

There are many reasons for the gradual fall of Asiatic Lion population. The British and many kings of India used to organize hunting campaigns and games, thus resulting in the steep decrease in the population of the Asiatic Lion. The poaching of lions for their bones to make traditional Chinese medicines is a big concern. "The animals poached at Gir were snared, using steel tiger traps, by experienced tiger killers, members of an "untouchable" community devoted to the task. Their bones practically indistinguishable from tiger bones were removed" ("More of a Whimper" 41). These bones, as they are indistinguishable from tiger bones, are sold in the market labeled as tiger or leopard bones. People are thus fooled into buying lion bones considering them to be tiger or leopard bones. Other than the bones, nails and teeth of lion are considered as a show of power and are hence, adorned by many people. The government is not keeping quiet. Gujarat state government started taking action. "The chief minister has pledged an additional 400m rupees ($9.8m) to Gir, which will pay for 300 extra guards" ("More of a Whimper" 41). They also started an investigation about the poachers and arrested 40 people who pleaded guilty.

Other than poaching for fake tiger medicines, there are many man-animal conflicts that effect the survival of the lion. They usually hunt down prey like antelopes and deer but many times they come across cows, bulls that happen to be livestock resulting in man-animal conflict. B. Pathak stated, " A 5-year study was done to document the diet and predation patterns based on direct observations of radio-collared lions, opportunistically located carcasses and scat analysis. Magnitude of livestock predation was assessed based on interviews or resident pastoralists in 20 settlements" (60). This study resulted in the conclusion that lions made one kill every 4 days and their diet consisted primarily of large preys.

As the livestock falls prey to the lions, the tribes have dug up many wells around the sanctuary, in order to protect their livestock. "Twenty-one lions have died over the last five years after falling into open wells in the park, raising questions about the safety of the wild animals and the conservation system in the 540-square-mile sanctuary" ("Wonder Where the Lions Are?" 8). Hundreds of wells have been dug by the local tribes, which have been traps to 19 lions who drowned in these pits. These wells need to be covered.

A big reason for man-animal conflict is the sudden rise in the population of livestock. According to Sanjoy, at one point the population of water buffaloes and other livestock numbered minimum 20,000 during the dry season and it soared up to 40,000 during the rainy months "when herders from neighboring villages would bring in their herds to feast on the leaves, grass, plants and shrubs in the forest" (4). So, the lions, instead of preying on the wild animals, started targeting the easy livestock, resulting in man-animal conflict.

Electrocution is another problem concerning the population of the lions. Sometimes, farmers and tribes, put electric fences in order to protect their crops from wild antelopes, deer and to protect their livestock from lions and leopards. "Five rare Asiatic lions were found electrocuted on the edge of Gir National Park in western Gujarat. The police arrested a farmer they said had illegally put up an electrified fence to protect crops near the sanctuary" ("India: 5 Rare Lions Electrocuted" 6). Over here, the farmer had put up fence to protect the crops but it resulted in electrocution of lions. A lion straying out of their natural habitat means only one thing, that Gir forest is getting over-crowded. This is actually good news because a new sanctuary needs to be made, in order to increase the population of the lion.

Asiatic lions, today, are present only in the Gir forest of India. As discussed earlier, in the beginning of the 20th century there were about a dozen lions in Gir. Today, if we compare any two lions, they have almost the same ancestors. They have an almost equivalent DNA. So, the lions face a risk of an epidemic. Sanjoy mentioned that the park officials at Gir said "the Indian Government and experts had been considering ways to reduce the vulnerability of lions for some years" (4). An effective way to do so would be to move lions from Gir to other areas they used to populate before.

If the species is not reintroduced to some other part of the world, they face a risk of being wiped out at one epidemic. The poachers can be caught and put behind bars, the tribes around the forest can be compensated for their loss of livestock but one epidemic strike will wipe out the Asiatic Lions once and for all. "A second lion colony is needed, in order to guard against a high risk of the Gir lions being