Saturday, June 30, 2012

Ten lions kill a bullock at Nageshree village

30-06-2012
Ten lions kill a bullock at Nageshree village
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-RJK-10-lions-eating-on-bullock-3462949.html

નાગેશ્રીની સીમમાં એક સાથે દસ ડાલામથ્થાએ બળદનું મારણ કર્યું

ખેતીની સિઝનમાં સાવજોની હાજરીથી ખેડૂતોમાં ફફડાટ

જાફરાબાદ તાલુકાના નાગેશ્રી પંથકમાં સાવજોની વસતી ધીમી ધીમે વધતી જાય છે ત્યારે ગઇરાત્રે નાગેશ્રીથી થોડે દુર એક સાથે દસ સાવજના ટોળાએ બળદને ફાડી ખાધો હતો. આ વિસ્તારમાં સાવજોએ અગાઉ એક યુવાનનો ભોગ લીધો હોય ગામલોકોએ વનતંત્ર યોગ્ય પગલા લે તેવી માંગ ઉઠાવી છે.

અમરેલી જીલ્લાના અમરેલી, ધારી, સાવરકુંડલા, લીલીયા, ખાંભા અને રાજુલાની જેમ જ જાફરાબાદ તાલુકામાં પણ સાવજોની સંખ્યા વધતી જાય છે. ગીર કાંઠાના જાફરાબાદ તાલુકામાં રેવન્યુ વિસ્તાર સાવજોને માફક આવી ગયો છે જેને પગલે આ સાવજો છેક દરીયાકાંઠાના ગામો સુધી પહોંચી જાય છે. ગઇકાલે મોડી સાંજે એક સાજે દસ સાવજોના ટોળાએ નાગેશ્રી ગામની સીમમાં ધામા નાખ્યા હતાં.

નાગેશ્રીની સીમમાં બાબુભાઇ પરમારના બળદ પર સાવજોનું આ ટોળુ તુટી પડયુ હતું. દેશી બાવળોની કાંટમાંથી સિંહ, સિંહણો ઉપરાંત તેના બચ્ચા પણ દોડી આવ્યા હતાં અને જોતજોતામાં હટ્ટાકટ્ટા બળદને મારી નાખ્યો હતો. નાગેશ્રીના માજી સરપંચ અજયભાઇ વરૂએ આ અંગે વનખાતાની ટીમને જાણ કરી આ સાવજોને પાંજરે પુરી અહિંથી ખદેડવા માંગણી કરી હતી.

અહિં મોડે સુધી સાવજ દર્શન માટે લોકોની ભીડ પણ ઉમટી હતી. અગાઉ નાગેશ્રી પંથકમાં સાવજોએ હુમલો કરી એક યુવકને મારી નાખ્યો હતો. આ વિસ્તારના ખેડૂતો આ ઘટનાને ભુલ્યા નથી. મારણની ઘટનાઓ પણ વારંવાર બને છે. વન વિભાગે કંઇક કરવું જોઇએ તેવી ખેડૂતોએ લાગણી વ્યક્ત કરી છે.

પાણીની કૂંડીઓ ભરવા માગ

આ વિસ્તારમાં વન વિભાગ દ્વારા સાવજોને પીવાના પાણીની તકલીફ ન પડે તે માટે પાણીની કૂંડીઓ બનાવવામાં આવી છે પરંતુ વન વિભાગ દ્વારા પાણીની આ કુંડીઓ ભરવામાં આવતી નથી. જેને પગલે સાવજો દૂર દૂર ભટકે છે.

Leopard attacks sleeping man atvGundyali village in Mendarda Taluka

30-06-2012
Leopard attacks sleeping man atvGundyali village in Mendarda Taluka
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-leaopad-attack-on-youth-3459780.html

ગુંદિયાળી ગામે ઝૂંપડામાં સૂતેલા યુવાન પર દીપડાનો હુમલો 
- માથા તથા હાથ-પગનાં ભાગે ગંભીર ઇજા પહોંચતા રાજકોટ સારવારમાં ખસેડાયો


મેંદરડાનાં ગુંદીયાળી (રાણીધાર) ગામે મધરાતનાં સુમારે ઝુંપડામાં નિંદ્રાધીન કોળી યુવાન પર દીપડાએ અચાનક હુમલો કરી દઇ તેને માથા તથા હાથ-પગનાં ભાગે ગંભીર રીતે ઘાયલ કરી દેતાં આ યુવાનને વધુ સારવાર અર્થે રાજકોટ ખાતે ખસેડવામાં આવ્યો છે.

આ અંગેની મળતી વિગત મુજબ ગીર જંગલ બોર્ડરને અડીને આવેલા અને આશરે ચારસો માણસોની વસતી ધરાવતા મેંદરડા તાલુકાનાં ગુંદીયાળી (રાણીધાર) ગામે રહેતા ભુપતભાઇ મુળુભાઇ પરમાર (ઉ.વ.૩૮) નામનો શ્રમિક યુવાન પોતાનાં પરિવાર સાથે ઝુંપડા જેવા કાચા મકાનમાં રાત્રિનાં સમયે ભરઉંઘમાં હતો ત્યારે ત્રણેક વાગ્યાની આસપાસ એક ખુંખાર દીપડાએ ઝુંપડામાં ઘુસી જઇ ભુપતભાઇ પર હુમલો કરી દેતાં પરિવારનાં અન્ય સભ્યો પણ જાગી જતાં અને રાડારાડી કરી મૂકતા આસપાસમાંથી પણ લોકોએ દોડી આવી હાકલા-પડકારા કરતા દીપડો ત્યાંથી નાસી ગયો હતો.

આ હુમલામાં ભુપતભાઇને માથા તથા હાથ-પગનાં ભાગે ગંભીર ઇજા પહોંચી હતી. ગામનાં સરપંચ ખોડુભાઇ લાલુએ માળીયા ૧૦૮ને જાણ કરતા જતીન દેસાઇ અને જબ્બરદાન ગઢવીએ ગુંદીયાળી ગામે પહોંચી પ્રાથમિક સારવાર આપી મેંદરડા અને ત્યાંથી જૂનાગઢ હોસ્પિટલ ખાતે લવાયા બાદ રાજકોટ રીફર કરાયો હોવાનું જાણવા મળે છે. આ બનાવનાં પગલે દેવળીયા રેન્જનાં ફોરેસ્ટરે સ્ટાફ સાથે દોડી જઇ દીપડાને

Lioness operated for tail gangrin

30-06-2012
Lioness operated for tail gangrin
Divya Bhaskar By Arun Veghda, Dhari
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-lioness-tail-success-operation-3462912.html?OF5=

સિંહણની પૂંછડીમાં થયેલા ગેંગરીનનું સફળ ઓપરેશન

ધારી ગીર પૂર્વની જશાધાર રેન્જનાં વિસ્તારમાં એક બિમાર સિંહણ દર્દથી કણસતી હોવાનું ડીએફઓને માલુમ પડતાં રેસ્કયુ ટીમ દ્વારા થોડા સમય પૂર્વે આ સિંહણને પાંજરે પુરી વેટરનરી તપાસ કરાવતા તેની પૂંછડીના ભાગે ગેગરીન થયો હોવાનું જણાતા વેટરનરી તબીબે પૂંછડીના ભાગનું સફળ ઓપરેશન કર્યા બાદ આ સિંહણને જંગલમાં વિહરતી કરાઈ છે.

ધારી ગીર પૂર્વની જશાધાર રેન્જનાં ડીએફઓ અંશુમન શર્મા ખૂણે ખૂણે પેટ્રોલીંગ કરી વન્ય પ્રાણીની વેદના પણ સમજી રહ્યાં છે. થોડા સમય પૂર્વે ટીકરીયા બીટમાં આવેલા મેલડીઆઈના કુટીયા પાસે એક સિંહણ બિમાર હોવાનું અને કણસતી હોવાનું તેઓને જાણ થતા વનવિભાગની રેસ્કયુ ટીમ દ્વારા આ સિંહણને પાંજરે પુરી હતી. ત્યાર બાદ સ્ટાફના વેટરનરી તબીબ ડો.હિ‌તેશ વામજાને આ સિંહણની બિમારી બતાવતા તેની પૂંછડીના ભાગે ગેગરીન થયો હોવાનું બહાર આવ્યું હતું.

બે થી ત્રણ વર્ષની આ સિંહણને આ દર્દથી ભારે મુશ્કેલી વધી હતી અને જીવનું પણ જોખમ ઉભુ થયું હોવાની સંભાવના દેખાતા ડીએફઓની સુચનાથી ડો.વામજાએ આખરે ઓપરેશન કરવાનો નિર્ણય લીધો હતો. જે અંતર્ગત આ સિંહણના પૂંછડાને કાપી સડો દૂર કરી આ અંગેનું સફળ ઓપરેશન પૂર્ણ કરી સતત સારવાર ચાલુ રાખી હતી.

તબીબે સિંહણને ઈન્ફેકશન ન થાય અને ઝડપી પૂંછડીમાં રૂજ આવે તે માટે ત્રણ માસ સુધીની ટીટમેન્ટનાં અંતે એક સપ્તાહ પૂર્વે આખરે વનવિભાગનાં આ સ્ટાફે જાંબુડી બીટમાં કુડીયા જંગલના ભાગે તેના ગ્રુપ સાથે સિંહણને મુક્ત કરવામાં આવી હતી. આ કામગીરીમાં ડો.હિ‌તેશ વામજા, રેસ્કયુટીમના પ્રતાપભાઈ ખુમાણ, ધીરૂભાઈ ખુમાણ, માનસિંગભાઈ ખુમાણ, અમીનભાઈ ઠાકર, જીતુભાઈ ચાવડા સહિ‌ત રહ્યાં હતા.

બેકટરીયલ ઈન્ફેકશન સિંહણને થયું હતું

વેટરનરી તબીબે આ ઓપરેશન અંગે જણાવ્યું હતું કે, વન્ય પ્રાણીને આવી ગેગરીન (સડો) બેકટરીયલ ઈન્ફેકશનના કારણે થાય છે આ સિંહણને પણ આવું જ બન્યું હતું.

Infight lion injured

30-06-2012
Infight lion injured
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-round-infight-lion-injured-3462984.html

વિસાવદરના ખાંભડા રાઉન્ડમાં ઇનફાઇટમાં સિંહ ઘાયલ 
મેટિંગ પિરિયડમાં ઇજાગ્રસ્ત થયાનું અનુમાન : વનવિભાગે સારવાર આપી જંગલમાં મૂકત કરી દીધો


વિસાવદરનાં ખાંભડા રાઉન્ડમાં મેટીંગ પીરીયડ દરમિયાન ઇનફાઇટમાં ઘવાયેલા સિંહને વનવિભાગે સારવાર આપી ફરી જંગલમાં મૂકત કરી દીધો હતો. હાલ ગીર જંગલમાં સાવજોનું વેકેશન ચાલે છે.

આ સમયકાળ સિંહ સહિ‌તનાં વન્યપ્રાણીઓનો મેટીંગ પીરીયડ હોવાનું માનવામાં આવે છે. આ સમયગાળામાં સિંહોમાં ઇનફાઇટનાં સૌથી વધુ બનાવો બને છે. આવાજ એક બનાવમાં વિસાવદર રેન્જનાં ખાંભડા રાઉન્ડમાં મેલડી આઇનાં નાકા પાસે માનાપાટ વિસ્તાર નજીક વન વિભાગનાં સ્ટાફને ફેરણી દરમિયાન સિંહ યુગલ સંવનન કરતું જોવા મળ્યું હતું.

જેમાં સિંહને કાનનાં ભાગે લોહી નીગળતુ જોવા મળતા તાત્કાલિક આરએફઓને વાકેફ કરાયા હતા અને આ ઘાયલ સિંહ પર વોચ ગોઠવી દેવાય હતી. ત્યારબાદ આરએફઓ એન.એમ. જાડેજાએ સાસણ વેટરનરી ટીમને બોલાવી આ ઘાયલ સિંહને ટ્રાન્કવિલાઇઝરથી બેભાન કરી કાનનાં ભાગે પુરતી સારવાર કર્યા બાદ ફરી આ સિંહને જંગલમાં મૂકત કરી દેવાયો હતો.

Thursday, June 28, 2012

UP plans to get lions from zoos for safari project in Etawah

28-06-2012
UP plans to get lions from zoos for safari project in Etawah
The Asian Age
http://www.asianage.com/india/plans-get-lions-zoos-safari-project-etawah-779

Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is not happy with UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav's plans to start an Asian Lion Safari (ALS) in Etawah.
Mr Modi had been approached several times by former environment minister Jairam Ramesh to allow some Gir lions to be relocated to the Kuno Palpur wildlife sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh but the Gujarat chief minister had turned down his proposal.
Mr Yadav, taking a cue, has decided to side-step Mr Modi entirely. Rather than translocate lions from the Gir forest, the UP department of wildlife plans to initiate talks with zoos across the country so that they can get lions directly from them. These relocated lions will be kept in Lucknow, Kanpur and other zoos in the state and then shifted to the safari area which will be made ready on a war-footing.

The forest department has allocated 50 acres of forest in the Chambal forest region of Etawah district. The main tree available in this region is the exotic babool but forest officials pointed out that some of these will be removed to allow more mixed deciduous forest to grow in this area as is found in the Gir sanctuary.
Mr Yadav has sanctioned Rs35 crores for this project. UP chief wildlife warden Rupak De has clarified that the lions will be first kept in zoos from where they will be shifted to breeding centres inside the ALS.

Each of these breeding centres will have one male and three to four females. It is only when the numbers of animals increase up to 10 and more that the park will be opened for public viewing.

The project has still to receive final clearance from the Central Zoo Authority. Several wildlife enthusiasts have raised eyebrows at the speed with which this project is being rushed through. Given the clout that the Samajwadi Party enjoys at the Centre, they question whether wildlife experts will get a chance to study the project thoroughly.

The 2010 census highlighted that India had 411 Asiatic lions from which 297 were to be found at the Gir National Park.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Wild cat attacks man in Amreli village

27-06-2012
Wild cat attacks man in Amreli village
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Wild-cat-attacks-man-in-Amreli-village/articleshow/14439506.cms

A lioness attacked a 42-year-old man in Sara-Kadiya village in Khambha taluka of Amreli on Monday evening. The victim, identified as Suleman Dal of Sara-Kadiya village, has received minor injuries.

According to forest department officials, Suleman was returning home with his goats on Monday evening when the lioness suddenly attacked his herd and other cattle.

The lioness killed eight goats and when Suleman tried to save the rest, the wild cat turned on him and attacked him.

Suleman was rushed to a government hospital in Khambha where he was given primary treatment.

Spotted deer is favouriet dish of Gir lion, says Study

27-06-2012

Spotted deer is favouriet dish of Gir lion, says Study

Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-lion-like-chital-to-eat-in-armeli-3451391.html

સિંહોના ભોજનના 'મેનુ' વિશે થયો એક રસપ્રદ અભ્યાસ 
- જંગલના રાજાને ચિત્તલનો સ્વાદ અત્યંત પ્રિય હોવાનું તારણ, જંગલમાં રોજ મિજબાની માણે છે સિંહ પરિવાર

માણસજાતને જેવી રીતે ખોરાક આરોગવાની પસંદ નાપસંદ હોય છે. તેવી જ રીતે ગીરમાં વસતા ડાલામથ્થા સાવજો પણ પોતાની પસંદ નાપસંદ મુજબ ખોરાક આરોગે છે. કોઇ માણસને મીઠાઇ વધારે ભાવે છે. તો કોઇ તીખો ખોરાક આરોગે છે. જંગલમાં વસતા ડાલામથ્થા સિંહો પણ પોતાને પસંદ પડે તેવા ખોરાકનો શિકાર કરતા હોય છે. અને જાણે કે જંગલમાં અનેકવિધ આરોગતા નજરે પડે છે.

સિંહો જંગલમાં અને રેવન્યુ વિસ્તારમાં સૌથી વધુ ક્યાં પ્રાણીનો શિકાર કરીને આરોગે છે. તે અંગે સાસણ વનવિભાગ કચેરી દ્રારા એક રસપ્રદ અભ્યાસ કરવામાં આવ્યો છે. એશિયાટિક લાયનને નિહાળવા એ એક જીંદગીનો અમુલ્ય લ્હાવો છે. ધારી ગીરપુર્વના ૭૨૮ ચો.કિમી વિસ્તારમાં તેમજ ગીર પશ્ચિમ વિભાગ વિસ્તારમાં જંગલમાં સિંહ, દપિડા સહિત કાળીયાર, નીલગાય, ચિંકારા, શાબર, જંગલીભુંડ સહિત પ્રાણીઓ અને પક્ષીઓ વિહાર કરે છે. એપ્રિલ ૨૦૧૦ ની વસતી ગણતરી મુજબ ૪૧૧ સિંહોની સંખ્યા નોંધવામાં આવી છે. જેમાં ૯૭ નર, ૧૬૨ માદા અને ૧૫૨ બચ્ચા જંગલમાં વસવાટ કરી રહ્યાં છે.

માણસ જેવી રીતે ગુજરાતી, પંજાબી, ચાઇનીઝ સહિતની વાનગીઓ આરોગે છે. અને પસંદ નાપસંદ કરે છે. તેવી રીતે સિંહો પણ તેને જે સૌથી વધુ ભાવે તે પ્રાણીનો શિકાર કરી મિજબાની માણે છે. આ અંગે ડીએફઓ સંદપિકુમારે જણાવ્યું હતું કે સાસણ વનવિભાગ કચેરી દ્વારા વર્ષ ૨૦૦૯/૧૦ માં આ અંગે એક રસપ્રદ અભ્યાસ કરવામાં આવ્યો હતો. સિંહોનું મળ એકત્રિત કરી બાદમાં તેમાંથી મળતા પ્રાણીઓના વાળનું પરિક્ષણ કરવામાં આવ્યું હતું.

સિંહો જંગલમાં અને જંગલની બહાર સૌથી વધુ ક્યાં પ્રાણીનો શિકાર કરે છે. તે આ અભ્યાસ દ્વારા જાણવા મળ્યું છે. પ્રાણી વિશ્વના જિજ્ઞાસુ માટે આ અભ્યાસ મહત્વનો સાબિત થશે.

- સાબર, નીલગાય, જંગલી ભૂંડ અને ચિંકારાનો શિકાર
ગીર જંગલમાં સિંહો સૌથી વધુ ચિતલનો શિકાર કરી મજિબાની માણે છે. ટકાવારીની દ્રષ્ટિએ ૩૧.૦૬, આ ઉપરાંત ૧૨.૬૭ ટકા સાબર, ૨૬.૯૨ ટકા નિલગાય, ૨૪.૦૫ ટકા માલઢોર, ૩.૫ ટકા જંગલીભુંડ, ૦.૭૫ ટકા ચિંકારાનો શિકાર કરે છે.


- રેવન્યૂ વિસ્તારમાં નીલગાય વધુ આરોગે છે


જંગલની બહાર રેવન્યુ વિસ્તારમાં સિંહો સૌથી વધુ નિલગાય આરોગે છે. ૪૫.૭૨ ટકા તેમજ સાબર ૬.૪૧ ટકા, ચિતલ ૯.૨૫ ટકા, માલઢોર ૩૩.૫૨ ટકા, જંગલી ભુંડ ૩.૮૯ ટકા, ચિંકારા ૦.૨૨ ટકા શિકાર કરી મજિબાની માણે છે.

New lioness arrives at zoo

27-06-2012
New lioness arrives at zoo
The Hindu By B.Madhu Gopal
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/article3575970.ece


New Asiatic lioness, brought from Hyderabad is kept at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam.


Lakshmi, the hybrid lioness at the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam.

Three-and-a-half year old pure Asiatic lioness was brought in a cage by the Godavari Express from Hyderabad to the Indira Gandhi Zoological Park in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday morning

A lioness sulked in her cage at Indira Gandhi Zoological Park here on Tuesday evening. She refused to eat when the animal keeper threw pieces of meat into the cage. A closer look revealed that the animal had bruises on her body and was under stress.

The big cat was a three-and-a-half year old pure Asiatic lioness, which was brought in a cage by the Godavari Express from Hyderabad on Tuesday morning. It refused to budge from its place even when photographers took pictures. The continuous flash from cameras seemed to have irked the animal, and after some time it growled angrily and walked up and down the cage.

A few feet away, in another cage, an Asiatic lion was seen growling and moving restlessly all the time. This five-year-old lion, Azam, had also been brought from Hyderabad last year. "It's in heat and has been restless after the arrival of the lioness, which has been brought from Hyderabad under the animal exchange programme, for breeding," Zoo Curator G. Ramalingam told The Hindu on Tuesday.

The total number of lions in the zoo has gone up to three with the new addition. There is another lioness, a hybrid named Lakshmi, which is in robust health. She came cautiously into her enclosure from the day crawl, perhaps, aware of the new arrival squatting in the cage next to it.

"Our lion enclosure is one of the best in India going by its large extent, gentle slope, landscape and natural surroundings. Lions, unlike tigers which are solitary, live in groups. They need more open area and lot of sunlight and hence the trees in the enclosure have been pruned," he said. "The life span of lions in the wild is 15 years while in captivity they live up to 20 years. In one litter, a lioness gives birth to one to three cubs normally but occasionally it could give birth to four or five cubs in a single litter. After the new lioness gets acclimatised to its changed environment and its wounds get healed we will arrange for its mating with the Asiatic lion in about a month," Mr. Ramalingam said. "The new lioness hasn't eaten anything since this morning. It's under extreme stress as it sustained bruises during the train journey. We will give diet supplements mixed in water for the next couple of days to hasten its recovery," Zoo Doctor Srinivas said.

Zoo visitors may see lion cubs by the year-end, if every thing goes as planned.

Scorpions attack in villages near Gir National park

27-06-2012
Scorpions attack in villages near Gir National park
Times of India By Himanshu Kaushik
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Scorpions-attack-in-villages-near-Gir-National-park/articleshow/14411943.cms

The villagers staying on the periphery of Gir National park and Mitiyala are worried these days as a poisonous scorpions.

This is the first time that the scorpions have surfaced in large number.

Officials in the forest department said on the onset of Monsoon, large number of maggots surface in the village making life difficult. But this time it is the scorpions which have surfaced in large number. Officials said that usually the farmers are not used to wearing shoes or even slippers when they get out of their houses, but with these poisonous insect surfacing, the farmers are forced to buy rainy shoes.

He said that at least eight to ten incidents of people getting bitten by scorpions have been reported in the villages around Mitiyala and Gir National Park.

Hasmukh Patel a resident on the periphery of the village says that "We farmers can wear shoes and go out, but what about the cattle, there is no protection for them. In Mitiyala along there are about 10 incidents where cattle have died after they bitten by these scorpion."

Patel says that he too had a marrow escape as he was wearing his shoes. People have stopped going out in the night as these insects are not visible during night.

Gir lions, Amdavadi autos to roar in New Jersey

27-06-2012
Gir lions, Amdavadi autos to roar in New Jersey
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Gir-lions-Amdavadi-autos-to-roar-in-New-Jersey/articleshow/14421909.cms

Gir lions will roar on New Jersey streets, which will also reverberate with the sounds of Amdavadi autorickshaws and Saurashtra chhakdas revving up. This may seem like a paradox but it is going to be a reality when Gujaratis living in North America experience 'real Gujarat' during a three-day extravaganza Chaalo Gujarat - World Gujarati Conference. The event, starting on August 31, will be held at Raritan Expo Centre, New Jersey. After a gap of nearly four years, the Association of Indian Americans in North America (AIANA) will hold its third event at which as many as 45,000 Gujaratis from across the world are expected to relive Gujarat in New Jersey.

"This is an effort to showcase Gujarat and its glorious past, enterprising present and bright future to the people living away from home," said AIANA president Sunil Nayak while addressing the media. "Our motivation is to give the youth who are cut off from their roots a glimpse of their rich cultural heritage." Nayak added that the event would bridge the gap between Gujarat and the Gujarat in America.

"Chaalo Gujarat is an effort to keep Gujarat alive," said MP Parimal Nathwani, who was present at the event. "Lot of hard work is required to organize an event of this scope. The sense of our rich heritage should be kept alive, especially among the youth living abroad."

The highlight of the event is that for the first time more than 10,000 people will watch a 3D film on Gujarat in Gujarati on a giant screen. Other attractions are a spiritual discourse by Morari Bapu, seminars, dayro, sugam sangeet, Miss Gujarati USA pageant, and not to forget, mouth-watering Gujarati cuisine.

"We will ship 15 rickshaws from the roads of Ahmedabad and 15 chhakdas from Saurashtra to New Jersey," Nayak said. "These will ferry people from the parking area to the main concourse and there will be vendors selling chana in newspapers on the stretch."

Besides, the famous pol areas of Amdavad will be recreated at the venue along a 30-feet wooden charkha. There will be a huge kaleidoscope showing images of Gujarat. The event will comprise a trade show, international property show for which Gujarati realtors will be invited, exhibitions, business meets, a youth festival, a Bollywood evening and mega cultural programmes.

The venue will also feature life-size statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel which will be specially designed by a Chinese company on the lines of the creations at Madame Tussauds. "Plans are also afoot to have ten people dressed as Gandhiji ride Harley Davidson bikes during the Independence Day parade in New York," Nayak said. "The idea is to send a message that Gujarat and Gandhiji have come to Manhattan."

Other eminent personalities at the event were Krishnakant Vakhariya, Harsh Bramhbhatt, and Harish Bhimani. Efforts are being made to ensure that personalities like Sam Pitroda, Zubin Mehta, Mukesh Ambani, and Paresh Rawal make it to the event.

Monday, June 25, 2012

India’s pride

25-06-2012
India's pride
Iol travel By Vivien Creegor
http://www.iol.co.za/travel/world/asia/india-s-pride-1.1326084#.T-hJOhcnzfI

The Lion Safari Camp of Sasan Gir in Gujarat's Gir National Park.

To tell the truth, I didn't know there were lions in India, and if it hadn't been for the animal-loving Nawab of Junagadh, they would have died out. In Gujarat more than a century ago, he was invited to hunt the last remaining few, but he had a brainstorm, said "hang on a mo" (or something similar) and suggested preserving these marvellous beasts.

Determined to see them for myself, I travelled with my friend Ange to Mumbai via Dubai. This was followed by another flight to the tiny airport of Rajkot, way up the coast of north-west India, before we took a three-hour drive to the Lion Safari Camp of Sasan Gir in Gujarat's Gir National Park.

This is where the last lions of India can be found.

We were put up in large tents, which had perfectly adequate bathrooms attached. Each tent also had a wooden veranda where you could enjoy your evening non-alcoholic drink (alcohol is forbidden in Gujarat) while soaking up the weird and wonderful sounds of nature around you.

That first night we were treated to a troupe performing an impressive fire dance before dinner. These people were Siddis, a tribe who arrived from Africa centuries ago.

The food – traditional Indian with a Mughal influence – was good and plentiful. For our first dinner we sampled lemon coriander soup, paneer dopiaza (twice-cooked onions in cottage cheese), mixed dhal, steamed rice and fried fish.

We were also served salad, which we surreptitiously washed at the table with bottled water. Although one waiter saw us doing it, we didn't attempt to explain our fear of "Delhi belly".

After temperatures of about 35°C the previous afternoon, there was a chill in the air the next morning when we set out for our first game drive. We bumped along in our Jeep with our excellent guide pointing out a never-ending parade of wildlife – mongoose, honey buzzards, sambar (an Indian deer the size of a small horse) storks, woodpeckers, wild boar, snakes and buffalo.

The sanctuary admits the lions are elusive "but you will see at least one". And one was indeed the sum total for us – but what a magnificent specimen he was.

He meandered along the track for a good 20 minutes and ignored us, intent instead on spraying every tree he came across to mark out his territory. It was wonderful to watch an animal behaving in a "real" way despite our presence.

Because the lion was padding along slowly, our guide was able to point out the differences compared with an African lion – a mane that grows only halfway round his head, and much paler fur.

As ever with wildlife-spotting, there's serious one-upmanship among the guests. Back at the camp, a doctor from New York told us she had seen a "cheetah". We were impressed until we realised there are no cheetahs in Sasan Gir and that she'd actually seen a chital – a deer of which there are 46 000 in the forest, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for the 300 or so lions.

In the afternoon we were driven to Kamleshwar Lake to see how many of its estimated 400 marsh crocodiles we could spot lurking just beneath the surface (quite a few).

Sightseeing before leaving Gujarat, we were driven to the Somnath Temple near Veraval in Saurashtra, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva.It was slightly disappointing to discover it was built only in 1947 because six previous temples had been, er, destroyed.

Further along the coast, we walked around the magnificent Diu Fort, built by the Portuguese in the mid-16th century after endless spats with the Sultan of Gujarat. The Portuguese have apparently voted it one of their seven wonders of the world.

From the north-west coast of India, we flew across the country to Guwahati in Assam, on the east coast, where the highlight would be visiting Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinos.

After a five-hour drive from the airport, we reached Wild Grass Lodge, near the park and our destination for the next three nights. We received a warm welcome from staff and in particular our allotted guide, Paulus. We asked to stay in a cottage in the grounds rather than the main guest building, and this turned out to be the better option.

The cottage was comfortable and the bathroom basic. We also had our own resident goat who appeared outside our door the next day, evidently aware that our early-morning coffee came with biscuits.

After breakfast, Paulus came to get us and we went to Kaziranga. The first difference we noticed compared with Sasan Gir was that this park is covered in 3m-high elephant grass and has lush, forest-like areas.

With an estimated 1 600 rhino, you're guaranteed to see one or two, though on our first trip it was only from a distance. Why? Because you don't mess with a one-horned rhino and her baby. We also saw wild boar, kestrels and elephants.

Enthusiastic about everything we saw, Paulus went into overdrive when he spotted a startlingly coloured hornbill in a tree.

In the evening, we were urged to gather in the grounds at Wild Grass Lodge for a dancing display by local children. They were all very sweet and wore gorgeous costumes.

After dinner we went to bed early because we knew we had a treat in store the next day – an elephant safari.

We gathered at 5.30am as the mist began to rise and waited to be assigned our animal. Ange and I met our mahoot and struck out on a huge male elephant.

Without a noisy Jeep to startle them, the rhinos were very accessible, grazing metres from us. Only once did a huge male make a mock charge and the mahoot knew it was time to retreat.

The next day's drive to the Brahmaputra River was lovely. We travelled through a fascinating village built on stilts, then saw the forests of Kaziranga, which eventually gave way to sand dunes.

The following day we bade farewell to the Wild Grass Lodge and flew to Calcutta for one night, eating the most sublime Bengali food in the Aaheli restaurant at our hotel, the Peerless Inn. Before heading home, we took a short stroll in the blistering heat to a market where we spent our remaining rupees on earrings, bangles, silk and cashmere.

It was my third visit to India in as many years. I'm hooked. – Daily Mail

Leopard kills man in Amreli village

25-06-2012
Leopard kills man in Amreli village
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Leopard-kills-man-in-Amreli-village/articleshow/14381220.cms

A leopard attacked and killed a 40-year-old man, who was sleeping on the outskirts of Dudhala village in Dhari taluka of Amreli district late on Saturday night.

According to forest officials, the deceased was identified as Hakabhai, a mentally challenged person. "Locals said that Hakabhai used to roam around in Dudhala and Jira villages and lived a vagabond life. He used to sleep anywhere in the village. His body was found on the outskirts of the village,'' said a senior forest official.

According to Anshuman Sharma, deputy conservator of forests (Gir East), Dhari division, the incident may have occurred after 10 pm on Saturday as locals told them that they had seen the victim at this time in the village.

"He used to stay anywhere and people gave him food. He was mentally challenged,'' Sharma said.

Forest officials said that sign of Leopard was found from deceased's body. "It is likely that the leopard attacked Haka while he was asleep,'' said forest official.

According to officials, leopards have killed at least 10 people in the last six months in Amreli and Junagadh districts.

Meanwhile, a one month-old baby was killed by a dog in Kesariya village in Una taluka of Junagadh district. The incident came into light on Sunday morning when the baby's family members did not find her in the house. Her body was found from nearby area.

"Earlier, we thought that it might be a leopard that killed the baby. But, our rescue team and trackers did not find any sign of leopard in the area where this incident occurred. Locals have never spotted any leopard in this area. In fact, we found some evidence suggesting that a dog dragged the baby and killed her,'' said Sharma.

Forest officials said that deceased' family members were staying in a makeshift huts and sell bangles in the villages.

Leopard kills mentally retarded man at Dudhada near Dalkhania in Amreli district

25-06-2012
Leopard kills mentally retarded man at Dudhada near Dalkhania in Amreli district
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-hunt-of-man-by-leopard-at-dhari-3445804.html?PRVNX=


દીપડાએ અસ્થિર મગજના યુવકને ફાડી ખાધો 
- પંદર વર્ષથી આ યુવાન દુધાળા ખીસરી રોડ પર દિવસભર આંટા મારતો હતો


ધારી તાબાના દલખાણીયા રેંજમાં દુધાળા ખીસરી રોડ પર ગત મોડીરાત્રીના એક અસ્થિર મગજના કોળી યુવક પર દીપડાએ હુમલો કરી ફાડી ખાધો હતો. આ અંગે વનવિભાગને જાણ થતા જ સ્ટાફ ઘટના સ્થળે દોડી ગયો હતો. અને યુવકની લાશને પોસ્ટમોર્ટમ માટે દવાખાને ખસેડવાની કાર્યવાહી હાથ ધરી હતી અને માનવભક્ષી દીપડાને ઝડપી પાડવા બે પાંજરાઓ ગોઠવી દેવામાં આવ્યાં છે.

યુવકને દીપડાએ ફાડી ખાધાની આ ઘટના દલખાણીયા રેંજમાં દુધાળા રોડ પર ગત મોડીરાત્રીના બની હતી. જ્યાં જળજીવડી ગામે રહેતો હકા શામજીભાઇ કોળી (ઉ.વ.૪૨) નામનો યુવાન છેલ્લા પંદરેક વર્ષથી અસ્થિર મગજનો હોય અને ગમે ત્યાં આંટાફેરા મારતો હોય ગત રાત્રીના આ યુવાન દુધાળા રસ્તા પાસે સુતો હતો. ત્યારે દીપડો આવી ચડતા તેના પર હુમલો કરી દીપડો તેને દોઢસો મીટર દુર આવેલ કાંતિભાઇ બાલધાની આંબાની વાડીમાં ઢસડી ગયો હતો.

દીપડો યુવાનના હાથ, ગળાનો ભાગ તેમજ પેટનો ભાગ ખાઇ ગયો હતો. ઘટના અંગે વનવિભાગને જાણ થતા ડીએફઓ અંશુમન શર્મા, આરએફઓ એ.વી.ઠાકર, નિલેશ વેગડા સહિત સ્ટાફ ઘટના સ્થળે દોડી ગયો હતો અને યુવકની લાશને ધારી દવાખાને પોસ્ટમોર્ટમ માટે લઇ જવાની કાર્યવાહી કરી હતી.

અત્રે ઉલ્લેખનીય છે કે આ વિસ્તારમાં અનેક દીપડાઓ વસવાટ કરતા હોય અવારનવાર માણસ પર હુમલાની ઘટના બની રહી છે. દોઢેક માસ પહેલા પણ કરમદડીમાં એક વૃધ્ધાને દીપડાએ ફાડી ખાધી હતી. આ ઉપરાંત લાઇનપરામાં પણ એક બાળકીને દીપડાએ ફાડી ખાધાની ઘટના બની હતી. જેથી લોકોમાં ભયનો માહોલ પ્રસરી ગયો છે.

- માનવભક્ષી દીપડાને પકડવા બે પાંજરા ગોઠવાયા

દુધાળા રોડ પર અસ્થિર મગજના યુવકને ફાડી ખાનાર માનવભક્ષી દીપડાને પકડવા માટે વનવિભાગ દ્રારા બે પાંજરાઓ ગોઠવવામાં આવ્યાં છે. માનવભક્ષી તુરત પાંજરે પુરાય તેવુ આ વિસ્તારના લોકો ઇચ્છી રહ્યાં છે. જેથી અન્ય કોઇ આવી ઘટના ન બને.

Saturday, June 23, 2012

Four lions searching forest department

23-06-2012
Four lions searching forest department
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-four-lions-searching-forest-department-alert-3444263.html

ચાર સાવજોની શોધખોળ માટે વનતંત્ર ઉંધા માથે

સાવજોએ ઝેર વાળું મારણ ખાધું હોય તો ખતરાની આશંકાથી વન વિભાગ ચિંતીત : વન વિભાગે બે દિશામાં તપાસ શરૂ કરી


ખાંભાના પાટીની સીમમાંથી ગઇકાલે એક સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ મળી આવ્યા બાદ બાજુમાં જ પડેલા ગાયના મારણમાં કોઇએ ઝેર ભેળવ્યાની આશંકા છે ત્યારે વનવિભાગે આ સિંહણ સાથે આંટા મારતા તેના ગ્રુપના અન્ય ચાર સિંહોની શોધખોળ શરૂ કરી છે. જો અન્ય ચાર સિંહોએ આવુ મારણ ખાધુ હોય તો તેના પર ખતરો હોવાની આશંકાએ વનવિભાગ ચિંતિત છે.

ગીરપુર્વની ખાંભા વન કચેરીનો સ્ટાફ પાંચ સાવજના ગ્રુપના છુટા પડી ગયેલા ચાર સાવજોની ભારે શોધખોળ કરી રહ્યો છે. ગઇકાલે ખાંભાના પાટી ગામની સીમમાંથી દુલાભાઇ માણસુરભાઇ વાઘની વાડીમાંથી આશરે દોઢથી બે વર્ષની ઉંમરની એક સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ મળી આવ્યો હતો. થોડે દુરથી એક ગાયનો મૃતદેહ પણ મળ્યો હતો.

આ સિંહણે ગાયનું મારણ ખાધુ હોવાનું માનવામાં આવી રહ્યું છે. સિંહણના મોઢામાંથી લોહી પણ નીકળી ગયું હતું. ત્યારે હવે વનવિભાગે બે દિશામાં તપાસ શરૂ કરી છે. એક તો આ ગાયના મારણમાં કોઇએ ઝેર ભેળવ્યું હતું કે કેમ તેની તપાસ થઇ રહી છે. તથા બીજી તરફ આ સિંહણ પાંચ ગ્રુપના સભ્યોમાંની એક હોય બાકીના ચાર સાવજોની પણ શોધખોળ થઇ રહી છે. જો ચાર સાવજોએ આ મારણ ખાધુ હોય તો તેના પર પણ ખતરો હોય તેનાથી વનવિભાગ ચિંતિત છે.

Thorne removed after 5 days from ailing lion's foot


23-06-2012
Thorne removed after 5 days from ailing lion's foot
Divya Bhaskar
http://digitalimages.divyabhaskar.co.in/gujarat/epaperpdf/23062012/22CRA-PG8-0.PDF

Thursday, June 21, 2012

2 dead leopards found in canal

21-06-2012
2 dead leopards found in canal
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/2-dead-leopards-found-in-canal/articleshow/14306073.cms

Two leopards were found dead in a canal of Surajwadi dam on the outskirts of Luvara village in Savarkundla taluka of Amreli district on Wednesday morning.

The incident came to light when resident of Luvara village Bhavesh Chandu spotted suspicious carcasses floating in the canal water. Chandu soon informed other villagers and forest department officials about the incident.

Savarkundla forest range officials reached the spot and fished out the leopards' carcasses from the water with the help of local villagers.

According to forest officials, both leopards were male and about an year-old. Primary investigation suggests they may have accidently fell into the water and drowned. However, we will be able to know the exact reason after the postmortem.

Forest officials said there are about eight leopards in the area. In fact, Luvara villagers informed the forest department officials about the presence of leopards around their village a few days ago.

Earlier, on Tuesday, two-year-old lioness was found dead in mysterious circumstances in Raydi-Pati village of Khambha taluka.

Leopard attacks farmer at Gadhiya village near Dhari

21-06-2012
Leopard attacks farmer at Gadhiya village near Dhari
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-RJK-c-120-2880-3437520.html

ધારીના ગઢીયા ગામે યુવાન પર દીપડાનો હુમલો

- કુદરતી હાજતેથી પરત આવી રહેલા પ્રજાપતિ પ્રૌઢ પર હુમલો કરી દીપડાએ ગંભીર ઇજા કરી


ધારી તાલુકાના ગઢીયા ગામની સીમમા બુધવારે સવારે દીપડાએ વધુ એક પ્રૌઢ પર હુમલો કર્યાનો બનાવ બનતા ગ્રામજનોમાં ફફડાટ ફેલાયો છે. જીરા રોડ પર ભનુભાઇ ઘોહાભાઇ પાંડવની વાડીમાં ખેત મજુરી કરતા ગોરધનભાઇ નારણભાઇ ટાપણીયા નામના પ્રૌઢ આજે સવારે સાતેક વાગ્યે કુદરતી હાજતે જઇ પરત આવતા હતા.

દરમિયાન ઝાડીમા સંતાયેલા દીપડાએ ઓચિંતો ગોરધનભાઇ પર હુમલો કર્યો હતો. હુમલામાં ગોરધનભાઇને માથા સહિતના શરીરના અન્ય ભાગોમાં ગંભીર ઇજા પહોંચી હતી. બનાવની જાણ થતા નિવૃત પોલીસ અધિકારી આર.ડી.ઝાલા તેમની જીપમાં ઘવાયેલા ગોરધનભાઇને સારવાર માટે ધારી લઇ ગયા હતા. બનાવના ત્રણ ત્રણ કલાક વિતવા છતા વન વિભાગના કોઇ અધિકારીઓ નહીં ડોકાતા ગ્રામજનોમાં રોષ ભભૂક્યો છે.

Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Lioness found dead in farm

20-06-2012
Lioness found dead in farm
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Lioness-found-dead-in-farm/articleshow/14284676.cms

A lioness, believed to be around two years old, was found dead in mysterious circumstances near Raydi-Pati village in Khambha taluka of Amreli district on Tuesday morning. Senior forest officials reached the spot after they were told about the incident.

"The dead lioness was found in a farm. The cause of the death is yet to be ascertained. Primary investigation shows there were no external injuries found on lioness. We have called in forensic team from Junagadh to investigate the death," deputy conservator of forests, Gir east division, Dhari, Anshuman Sharma said.

Sharma added that they have also found carcass of a prey from the spot where the lioness was found.

"Only the forensic report can throw light on the exact cause of death," Sharma said. Forest officials have also taken the sample from the carcass.

Lioness found dead in farm in Pati village near Khambha in Gir east; viscera of lioness and carcass of calf near it sent to forensic lab

20-06-2012
Lioness found dead in farm in Pati village near Khambha in Gir east; viscera of lioness and carcass of calf near it sent to forensic lab
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-found-dath-lion-in-khamba-3433846.html?OF11=

ખાંભા નજીક વાડીમાંથી સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ મળ્યો 
- સિંહણના મૃતદેહ પાસેથી મળેલો વાછરડીના મૃતદેહના નમૂના લેવાયા


ખાંભા નજીક પાટી રેવન્યુ વિસ્તારમાં આજે સવારે એક વાડીમાંથી દોઢ વર્ષની સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ મળી આવ્યો હતો. રાયડી આદસંગ રોડ પર આવેલ પાટી ગામના સરપંચ દુલાભાઇ માણસુરભાઇ વાઘની વાડીમાંથી દોઢેક વર્ષની ઉંમરની સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ મળી આવ્યો હતો. દુલાભાઇ સવારે પોતાની વાડીએ મજુરો સાથે ગયા હતા. ત્યારે સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ નજરે પડતા તેઓએ તુરત વનવિભાગને જાણ કરી હતી.

વાડીમાં સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ પડ્યાના સમાચાર ગામમાં ફેલાતા ગામલોકો જોવા માટે અહી એકઠા થયા હતા. ધારી વનવિભાગના ડીએફઓ અંશુમન શર્મા તેમજ આરએફઓ પરડવા, ફોરેસ્ટર ભટ્ટી સહિતનો સ્ટાફ ઘટના સ્થળે દોડી ગયો હતો. અને સિંહણનો મૃતદેહ કબજે લીધો હતો. સિંહણના મોતનું કારણ પોસ્ટમોર્ટમ રિપોર્ટ બાદ જાણી શકાશે. બીજી બાજુ સિંહણના મૃતદેહ પાસેથી મળી આવેલી વાછરડીના મૃતદેહના નમૂના લઇને વાછરડીના માંસમાં ઝેર છે કે કેમ તે જાણવા તપાસ હાથ ધરાઇ છે.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Gir lions - increase pride (tourism) of Gujarat; 44% rise in tourist

19-06-2012
Gir lions - increase pride (tourism) of Gujarat; 44% rise in tourist
Divya Bhaskar
'ગીરના સાવજો' એ ગુજરાતનું વધાર્યું ગૌરવ
 
- પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યામાં ૪૪ ટકાનો વધારો
- વિદેશી પર્યટકોની સંખ્યા પણ ૩૮ ટકા વધી: વન વિભાગને સવા ચાર કરોડની ધીંગી આવક થઇ
સમગ્ર એશીયા ખંડમાં માત્ર ગીરનાં જંગલમાં વિચરતા એશીયાટીક સિંહોનું સત્તાવાર વેકેશન ૧૬ જૂનથી ચાર માસ માટે શરૂ થઇ ચૂક્યું છે. ગીર જંગલનાં દ્વાર ૧૫ ઓક્ટોબર સુધી પ્રવાસીઓ માટે બંધ રહેશે. વનરાજોને વેકેશન પહેલા જોઇ લેવા પ્રવાસીઓનો રીતસર રાફડો ફાટતા ગતવર્ષની તુલનામાં પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યામાં ૪૪ ટકાનો તોતીંગ વધારો થયો હોય ગીરનાં સિંહોએ દેશ-વિદેશમાં પ્રવાસીઓને ઘેલુ લગાડી ગુજરાતનું ગૌરવ વધાયું છે. વનરાજોનું તા. ૧૬ જૂનથી ચાર માસનું વેકેશન શરૂ થઇ ચુકયુ છે. ૧૫ ઓક્ટોબરથી ૧૬ જૂન સુધીનાં આઠ માસમાં સિંહદર્શન કરવા આવતા પ્રવાસીઓએ સાસણમાં રીતસરની કતારો લગાવી હોય તેમ ગતવર્ષની તુલનામાં પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યામાં ૪૪ ટકાનો ધરખમ વધારો નોંધાયો હોવાનું વનવિભાગે જણાવ્યું છે. આ અંગેની વિગતો આપતા વન્યપ્રાણી વિભાગનાં ડીએફઓ ડૉ. સંદપિકુમારે જણાવેલ કે છેલ્લા બે વર્ષથી પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યામાં ભારે વધારો થતો જાય છે.

ચાલુ વર્ષે ગત સાલ કરતા પ્રવાસીઓ ૪૪ ટકા વધ્યા છે. તેમાં વિદેશી પ્રવાસીઓએ પણ સાસણ ગીર જંગલની વીઝીટ કરવાનું વધુ પસંદ કરતા ૩૮ ટકા વિદેશી પ્રવાસીઓનો વધારો થયો છે. પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યામાં ભારે વધારો થતા વનવિભાગને સવા ચાર કરોડની માતબર રકમની આવક થઇ છે અને ગીરનાં સ્થાનિક લોકોની રોજગારી મળવા સાથે લોકોની આવક વધી છે. સિંહપ્રજાતિનાં સંરક્ષણ અંગે વન વિભાગની સતત સર્તકતાનાં પરિણામે સિંહોની સંખ્યામાં વધારો થતો રહે છે. ગીર જંગલમાં સિંહદર્શન કરવા આવતા ટુરીસ્ટોને સિંહો જોવા મળતા હોય લોકોનું આકર્ષણ ગીર જંગલ અને સાવજો પ્રત્યે વધ્યું હોવાનું ડૉ. સંદીપકુમારે જણાવેલ હતું.

- પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યા ૪,૩૨,૭૧૩એ પહોંચી
દેવળીયા પરીચય ખંડ પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યા ૨, ૩૮,૫૮૦ વન વિભાગને થયેલી આવક ૨, ૩૦,૦૬,૭૩૦ ગીર નેશનલ પાર્ક પ્રવાસીઓની સંખ્યા ૧, ૯૮,૧૩૩ વન વિભાગને થયેલી આવક ૨, ૦૦,૭૦,૬૬૦ કુલ પ્રવાસીઓ ૪,૩૨,૭૧૩ કુલ આવક ૪,૩૦,૭૭,૩૯૦ રૂપિયા

Monday, June 18, 2012

Lioness who lost tail to gangrene, ready to be released in the wild

18-06-2012
Lioness who lost tail to gangrene, ready to be released in the wild
Times of India By Himanshu Kaushik
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Lioness-who-lost-tail-to-gangrene-ready-to-be-released-in-the-wild/articleshow/14240265.cms

A young lioness, who lost its tail to gangrene, will soon be joining the other members of her pride. The young lioness is now fit to be released into the Gir national park at Sasan in Junagadh.

It was in on May 8 that the forest department found the lioness who had infected her tail with gangrene. The incident took place at Jasadhar range in Gir east when the forest officials realized that the lioness had a swollen tail and there was foul smell was emanating from her as one approached.

Deputy conservator of forest Anshuman Sharma said "After assessing the situation, the doctors were of the opinion that the gangrene has set in too deep and if the tail was not amputated, it might prove to be disaster for the lioness."

The doctors then decided to carry out the operation without waiting for any further treatment and finally in order to save the gangrene from further advancing the lioness's body, had to sacrifice her tail, said Sharma.

Finally after 40 days of treatment and observation at the Sakarbaugh Zoo, in Junagadh the department has decided to release it back into the wild. Officials said they have made all arrangements and the lioness after release would be constantly monitored to see if the group from where she belonged to accepts her back or not.

Pathan brothers visit Gujarat's Gir National Park

18-06-2012
Pathan brothers visit Gujarat's Gir National Park
Times of India
 
Cricketers Irfan and Yusuf Pathan visited the sole home of the Asiatic lion, the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, with their family here on Sunday.

The brothers, on a two-day recreational visit after a tiring cricket season, were happy to be in the wildlife park.

"We saw three lions earlier. They were resting, two of them were sitting and another one was sleeping. Then we saw a family of seven lionesses who were sitting at a place, after that we saw eleven lions and lioness who passed by our vehicle. We felt very good after watching all these things," Yusuf Pathan said.

The younger Pathan, seen with his father and mother, said that the most interesting part of the trip was a lion killing an animal to feed on, which was a rare spectacle and felt an adrenaline rush.

"We were feeling good and at the same time we had an adrenaline rush that a lioness was walking so close to us and was staring at us. It passed by my mother who was sitting in the vehicle behind me, I made a video of this incident and I believe that me and my family will never be able to forget this thing throughout my life," said Irfan Pathan.

Established in 1965, the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan-Gir, is the sole home of the majestic Asiatic lions.

Besides, Gir harbours around thousand species of birds and 26 species of reptiles.


Friday, June 15, 2012

Rs 12,000 fine for illegal stay in Boriadevi

15-06-2012
Rs 12,000 fine for illegal stay in Boriadevi
Times of India By Himanshu Kaushik
The forest department has arrested 30 person all residents of Rajkot who had illegally stayed in Boriadevi within the Gir sanctuary the last abode of the Asiatic Lion.
Officials in the forest department said on Thursday night, the forest department official got the tip off that some eight vehicles were parked in Boriadevi, inside the sanctuary. The officials rushed to the area and found a group of 30 people including 15 female and eight kids.
The forest department arrested all of them and during investigation they revealed the entire group had come from Rajkot. The forest department during investigation found that these people had come for the religious prayers, but they could not get out of the sanctuary by 6 pm and hence they decided to stay back.
Officials said that after investigation, the entire group was allowed to go once they paid a fine of rs 12,000.
Officials said that as per the notification of the state government, any person cannot stay within the sanctuary after 6 pm. If any one is found to be staying within the sanctuary after 6 pm, the person can be booked under the Wildlife Protection Act. Forest officials said that this was a big group and hence they caught, but there are several incidents where people stay illegally in these religious places without the knowledge of the forest department.

Lioness operated for tissue infection, fit to move in wild

15-06-2012
Lioness operated for tissue infection, fit to move in wild
Indian Express
A young lioness, who lost its tail to gangrene, is now fit to be released into the Gir national park at Sasan in Junagadh, forest officials said. "The lioness was operated at the rescue centre located at Jasadhar for gangrene in the tail last month," said Anshuman Sharma, the deputy conservator of forest, Gir.

The veterinarians had no option but to remove the tail in order to save life of the big cat otherwise the infection could have spread over the entire body, Sharma added.

Gangrene had infected her tail after she was injured in a territorial infighting, he said, adding the wild cat is now fit to be released in its natural habitat.

Gangrene is a potentially life-threatening condition in which a considerable mass of body tissue dies (necrosis) after an injury or infection, primarily caused by reduced blood supply to the affected tissues, resulting in cell death.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Activists join hands to stop lion shows

12-06-2012
Activists join hands to stop lion shows
Times of India By Himanshu Kaushik
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-12/flora-fauna/32194351_1_lion-king-wildlife-gir-sanctuary

Wildlife lovers have joined hands to give the lion king of Gir some peace and quietness. With the help of NGOs working in Saurashtra, a group of wildlife enthusiasts has decided to take up cudgels against illegal lion shows organized in the revenue areas outside Gir Sanctuary.

On Sunday, a group gathered in Ahmedabad to decide on the future course of action. In all, 20 wildlife lovers from Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Amreli and other places attended the meeting, where they decided to launch a drive for the effective conservation of lions.

Monday, June 11, 2012

Neighbour’s Pride is Owner’s Envy

11-06-2012
Neighbour's Pride is Owner's Envy
The Kathmandu Post
http://www.ekantipur.com/the-kathmandu-post/2012/06/11/india-today/wildlife/235934.html

Gujarat opposes plan for a home for Asiatic lions

A proposed second home for Asiatic lions has pitted the BJP-led state governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh against each other. Gujarat, whose Gir sanctuary is the only abode for Asiatic lions, is upset with the plan to shift some of the big cats to the Kuno-Palpur sanctuary near Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, as decided in the late 1990s by the Union government on the advice of the Wildlife Institute of India.

The issue came up for hearing in Supreme Court on May 1 on a petition by Biodiversity Conservation Trust, a wildlife NGO. The Madhya Pradesh government bluntly told the court that Gujarat's allegations that Madhya Pradesh forest officials were incapable of handling the lions and that there was poaching in the area and not enough prey base for the lions were baseless. The debate further escalated when the Madhya Pradesh state tourism department posted on its website that "Kuno has been selected as an alternative home for the endangered Asiatic lion, which is now confined only to the Gir National Park and Sanctuary of Gujarat".

Gujarat claims it has done enough to protect the lions and that a second home for them is unnecessary. Not only has the number of Gir lions gone up to 411, the state government has also added 400 sq km in grasslands and forests to the 1,400-sq-km sanctuary as part of its concept of Greater Gir. Gujarat forest officials also say the poachers who operate in Gir come from Katni in Madhya Pradesh, not very far from Kuno-Palpur, which means the proposed second home is no safer for the lions. "There is absolutely no need for shifting the lions out of Gujarat. The endangered species is more secure here than anywhere else," says Pradeep Khanna, Gujarat's principal chief conservator of forests. Madhya Pradesh Forest Minister Sartaj Singh counters: "It is wrong to say lions won't be safe in Kuno-Palpur when Madhya Pradesh has done a good job of managing other national parks in the state which have tigers. Gujarat should understand that it is for the future benefit of the species that a second home is necessary."

Another Gujarat forest official reminds that the Wildlife Institute of India's recommendation to shift lions to Kuno-Palpur was itself a political decision as it was dominated at that time by officials from Madhya Pradesh. He adds that the second home strategy is flawed as Kuno-Palpur is just 344 sq km in area and the recommendation is for shifting only six lions.

Eminent wildlife experts such as AJT Johnsingh, however, believe that a second home for the Asiatic lion besides Gir is necessary. "No one can deny Gujarat's efforts to protect lions. But nature knows no barriers. In 1994, one-fourth of the 4,000 lions at the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania were wiped out by a dog-borne epidemic. Serengeti is spread over 30,000 sq km-several times the Greater Gir area, and yet the tragedy struck. A second home for the Asiatic lion is a sensible thing to do," he says.

The Madhya Pradesh government has added another 700 sq km to Kuno-Palpur so that more lions can be accommodated when the relocation begins. But with Gujarat in an election year and 'pride' literally at stake, the relocation plan may have to wait.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

The last lions: Rare big cats, baby rhinos and wild wonders aplenty in awesome India

10-06-2012
The last lions: Rare big cats, baby rhinos and wild wonders aplenty in awesome India
Mail Online
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-2157189/India-wilflife-holidays-Lions-wild-wonder-Gujarats-Gir-National-Park.html?ito=feeds-newsxml

To tell the truth, I didn't know there were lions in India, and if it hadn't been for the animal-loving Nawab of Junagadh, they would have died out. In Gujarat more than a century ago, he was invited to hunt the last remaining few, but he had a brainstorm, said 'Hang on a mo' (or something similar) and suggested preserving these marvellous beasts.

Yawn to be wild: Asiatic lions have smaller manes and paler fur than their African cousins

Determined to see them for myself, I travelled with my friend Ange to Mumbai via Dubai. This was followed by another flight to the tiny airport of Rajkot, way up the coast of north-west India, before we took a three-hour drive to the Lion Safari Camp of Sasan Gir in Gujarat's Gir National Park.

This is where the last lions of India can be found.

We were put up in large tents, which had perfectly adequate bathrooms attached. Each tent also had a wooden veranda where you could enjoy your evening non-alcoholic drink (alcohol is forbidden in Gujarat) while soaking up the weird and wonderful sounds of nature around you.

That first night we were treated to a troupe performing an impressive fire dance before dinner. These people were Siddis, a tribe who arrived from Africa centuries ago.

The food - traditional Indian with a Mughal influence - was good and plentiful. For our first dinner we sampled lemon coriander soup, paneer dopiaza (twice-cooked onions in cottage cheese), mixed dal, steamed rice and fried fish.

We were also served salad, which we surreptitiously washed at the table with bottled water. Although one waiter saw us doing it, we didn't attempt to explain our fear of 'Delhi belly'.

After temperatures of about 95F the previous afternoon, there was a chill in the air the following morning when we set out for our first game drive.

We bumped along in our Jeep with our excellent guide pointing out a never-ending parade of wildlife - mongoose, honey buzzards, sambar (an Indian deer the size of a small horse) storks, woodpeckers, wild boar, snakes and buffalo.

The sanctuary itself admits that the lions are elusive 'but you will see at least one'. And one was indeed the sum total for us - but what a magnificent specimen he was.

He meandered along the track for a good 20 minutes and ignored us, intent instead on spraying every tree he came across to mark out his territory. It was wonderful to watch an animal behaving in a 'real' way despite our presence.

Because the lion was padding along slowly, our guide was able to point out the differences compared to an African lion - a mane that grows only halfway round his head, and much paler fur.

As ever with wildlife-spotting, there's serious one-upmanship among the guests. Back at the camp, a doctor from New York told us she had seen a 'cheetah'. We were impressed until we realised there are no cheetahs in Sasan Gir and that she'd actually seen a chital - a deer of which there are 46,000 in the forest, providing breakfast, lunch and dinner for the 300 or so lions.

In the afternoon we were driven to Kamleshwar Lake to see how many of its estimated 400 marsh crocodiles we could spot lurking just beneath the surface (quite a few). From here we also had a splendid view of both the Gir forest and a fiery sunset from a specially built watchtower.

The first leg of our short stay was over but we had time for some sightseeing before leaving Gujarat.

First of all we were driven to the Somnath Temple near Veraval in Saurashtra, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. According to locals, the temple has 'withstood the shocks of time and survived the attacks of destroyers'. So it was slightly disappointing to discover it was built only in 1947 because six previous temples had been, er, destroyed.

We were then driven a little further along the coast to Diu where we walked around the truly magnificent Diu Fort, built by the Portuguese in the mid-16th Century after endless spats with the Sultan of Gujarat.

It looked awesome in daylight, so it must be sensational at night when it's lit up. The Portuguese have apparently voted it one of their seven wonders of the world.

From the north-west coast of India, we then flew right across the country to Guwahati in Assam, on the east coast, where the highlight would be visiting the Kaziranga National Park, famous for its one-horned rhinos.

After a five-hour drive from the airport, we reached Wild Grass Lodge, close to the park and our destination for the next three nights. We received a warm welcome from staff, and in particular from our allotted guide, Paulus. We asked to stay in a cottage in the grounds rather than the main guest building, and this turned out to be the better option.

The cottage was comfortable and the bathroom basic but good enough. We also had our own resident goat who appeared outside our door the next day, evidently aware that our early-morning coffee also came with biscuits. He polished these off, looked at me expectantly for more and, after I showed him my empty palms, seemed to understand, slipping away without a glance.

After breakfast, Paulus came to get us and off we went to Kaziranga. The first difference we noticed compared with Sasan Gir was that this park is covered in 10ft-high elephant grass and has lush, forest-like areas.

With an estimated 1,600 rhino, you're guaranteed to see one or two, though on our first trip it was only from a distance. Why? Because you don't mess with a one-horned rhino and her baby! We also saw wild boar, kestrels and elephants.

Taken to tusk: Viv sets out to explore via elephant

Paulus was enthusiastic about everything we saw but he went into overdrive when he spotted a startlingly coloured hornbill in a tree.

In the evening we were urged to gather in the grounds at Wild Grass Lodge for a dancing display by local children. They were all very sweet and wore gorgeous costumes.

After a dinner of spicy vegetable soup, Bombay potato, spiced green beans, chicken curry, fish curry, pilau rice (and, hurrah, alcohol was served!), we went to bed early because we knew we had a treat in store the following day - an elephant safari.
We gathered at 5.30am as the mist began to rise, and there was a real air of excitement as we all waited to be assigned our animal. Ange and I met our mahoot and struck out on a huge male elephant who was able to multitask - walking and eating at the
same time, tugging with his trunk at the lush vegetation without a pause.

Without a noisy Jeep to startle them, the rhinos were very accessible, grazing just a couple of yards away from us. We got some angry snorts and glares from a few, but only once did a huge male make a mock charge and the mahoot knew it was time to retreat.

To get so close to rhino in the wild was a startling experience, especially with the early-morning noises and calls of other animals nearby, while the dawn mist gave the whole scene a slightly surreal look.

Paulus then blotted his copybook somewhat by insisting on taking us on a boat trip to search for river dolphins. We paid to hire a vessel (belonging to a 'friend' of Paulus) but there wasn't so much as a fin to be seen.

However, we weren't really angry with him as the drive to the Brahmaputra River was lovely. We travelled through a fascinating village built on stilts and then the forests of Kaziranga, which eventually gave way to sand dunes. Along the sand there were fresh tiger tracks but, alas, not the animal itself. It wasn't our afternoon for wildlife, clearly.

The next day we bade farewell to the Wild Grass Lodge and flew to Calcutta for one night, eating the most sublime Bengali food in the Aaheli restaurant at our hotel, the Peerless Inn.

Before heading home, we took a short stroll in the blistering heat to a market where we happily spent our remaining rupees on earrings, bangles, silk and cashmere.

It was my third visit to India in as many years - I'm totally hooked.

Travel Facts
Reef & Rainforest Tours (01803 866 965, www.reefandrainforest.co.uk) offers a nine-night holiday to see the lions of India from £2,315 per person.

This includes return flights from Britain with Emirates, domestic flights, two nights in Mumbai, three nights at Sasan Gir in Gujarat, three nights at Wild Grass Lodge near Kaziranga National Park in Assam, and one night at the Peerless Inn in Calcutta, most meals and excursions.

Saturday, June 09, 2012

Let lions live in their home, says Pathan brothers (star cricketers);Interested in wildlife conservation

09-06-2012
Let lions live in their home, says Pathan brothers (star
cricketers);Interested in wildlife conservation
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-pathan-brothers-ask-on-gir-lion-stay-own-home-3388926.html

ગીરના સિંહને એમના ઘરમાં જ રહેવા દો : પઠાણબંધુ

સાસણમાં પત્રકારોને ખાસ મુલાકાત આપી : વન્યપ્રાણી અને પર્યાવરણ જાગૃતિ
માટે તમામ પ્રકારનો સહયોગ આપવાની તૈયારી બતાવી
'ગીરનાં સિંહને એમનાં ઘરમાં જ રહેવા દો' એવી લાગણી સાસણ(ગીર)ની મુલાકાતે
આવેલા ટીમ ઇન્ડીયાનાં સ્ટાર ક્રિકેટર પઠાણ બંધુઓએ વ્યકત કરી વન,
વન્યપ્રાણી- પક્ષીઓનાં સંવર્ધન- સંરક્ષણ અને પર્યાવરણ જાગૃતિ માટે તમામ
પ્રકારનો સહયોગ આપવાની પ્રતિબધ્ધતા બતાવી હતી.
ટીમ ઇન્ડીયામાં ગુજરાતનું ગૌરવ વધારતાં વડોદરાનાં વતની એવા જાણીતા યુવા
ક્રિકેટર પઠાણબંધુ યુસુફ અને ઇરફાન એમનાં પરિવાર સાથે સાસણ(ગીર)ની
મુલાકાતે આવ્યા છે. વન વિભાગનાં આમંત્રણને માન આપી સિંહ સદનમાં રોકાણ
કર્યુ છે. આજે પત્રકારોને આપેલી ખાસ મુલાકાતમાં પઠાણબંધુએ જંગલમાં મુક્ત
મને વિહરતા સાવજ પરિવાર અને કુદરતી સૌંદર્યથી આચ્છાદીત જંગલની સુંદરતાની
પ્રશંસા કરી ગૌરવની લાગણી અનુભવતા હોવાનું જણાવ્યું હતું.
તેઓને મધ્યપ્રદેશનાં કુનો જંગલમાં ગીરનાં સાવજોનાં સ્થળાંતર અંગેની ઘણા
સમયથી હિ‌લચાલ ચાલી રહી છે તે અંગે પુછતા આ રાજય-કેન્દ્રનો નીતિ વિષયક
મુદો હોય તે અંગે કહેવાનું ટાળ્યું હતું પરંતુ ગુજરાત સાવજોનું ઘર છે અને
એમને એમનાં ઘરમાં જ રહેવા દેવા જોઇએ એવી લાગણી વ્યકત કરી હતી.
રાજયનાં બ્રાન્ડ એમ્બેસેડર અને 'બીગ બી' બચ્ચનની 'ખુશ્બુ ગુજરાત કી'
ડોક્યુમેન્ટ્રી બાદ સાસણ જંગલ અને સાવજ સમગ્ર દેશમાં જ નહી વિશ્વભરમાં
ખ્યાતનામ બન્યા છે. રાજય સરકાર, પ્રવાસન વિભાગ અને વન વનતંત્રની આ
કામગીરી કાબીલે તારીફ હોવાનું જણાવી વન, વન્યપ્રાણી- પક્ષીઓનાં સંવર્ધન-
સંરક્ષણ અને પર્યાવરણ જાગૃતિ માટે તમામ પ્રકારનો સહયોગ આપવાની અને એક
ગુજરાતી તરીકે આ મુવેમેન્ટમાં જોડાઇ શકીએ તો તે અમારા માટે ખુશીની વાત
બની રહેશે તેમ કહયું હતું.
સાવજનું ટોળું જીપ નજીકથી પસાર થયું ને બાળકો ડરી ગયા
સાસણ જંગલમાં બે દિવસ દરમિયાન ર૭ જેટલા સાવજને વિવિધ એંગલથી નિહાળ્યા એ
જીવનની યાદગાર ક્ષણ બની રહેશે. એક સમયે તો સાવજનું ઘુરકીયા કરતું ટોળું
અમારી જીપની સાવ નજીકથી પસાર થઇ ગયું ત્યારે મારી માતા અને બાળકો ડરી ગયા
હતા. જોકે, આ અમારા પરિવાર માટે એક અનેરા રોમાંચની ઘટના હતી અને તેનું
વિડીયો શૂટિંગ પણ મેં કરી લીધુ હતું તેમ ઇરફાન પઠાણે જણાવ્યું હતું.
પ્રાણી - પક્ષીઓને દત્તક લેવાનો યુસુફને શોખ
પ્રાણી - પક્ષીઓ પ્રત્યે મોટાભાઇ યુસુફ ખાસ લગાવ - પ્રેમ ધરાવે છે અને
તેમને દત્તક લઇ સાર- સંભાળ રાખે છે તેમ તેનાં નાનાભાઇ ઇરફાને જણાવ્યું
હતું.

Small nail cause of lioness death

09-06-2012
Small nail cause of lioness death
Divya Bhaskar
http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/article/SAU-lioness-death-small-nail-3388980.html?OF3=

નાનકડી ખીલી બની સિંહણનાં મોતનું કારણ

સિંહણ એવી શક્તિશાળી હોય છે કે એક પંજો મારીને શિકારને યમધામ પહોચાડી દે.
પરંતુ એવી ખૂંખાર સિંહણ માટે એક ખીલી મોતનું કારણ બની છે. નાની વડાળની
સીમમાં મૃત્યુ પામેલી સિંહણના પોસ્ટર્મોટમ દરમીયાન તેના પગમાંથી ખીલી મળી
આવી હતી. આ સિંહણને થોડા સમય પહેલા કોઇ રીતે જમણા પગમાં ખીલી ઘુસી ગઇ
હતી.
જેના પગલે સિંહણના પગમાં રસી થઇ ગયું હતું. જો વન વિભાગના નજરે આ સિંહણ
ચડી ગઇ હોત તો તેનો જીવ બચાવી શકાયો હોત પરંતુ તે કોઇના નજરે ન ચડતા
સિંહણના આખા શરીરમાં રસી ફેલાઇ ગયું હતું. જેના પરિણામે આ સિંહણ ગઇકાલે
મૃત્યુ પામી હતી.
નાની વડાળ પંથકમાં ગઇકાલે ધોધમાર વરસાદ હોય સિંહણના મૃતદેહને સલામત સ્થળે
લઇ જઇ તેનુ પોસ્ટર્મોટમ કરવુ પડયુ હતું.ગીર પૂર્વના ડીએફઓ અંશુમન શર્મા,
એસીએફ ધામી તથા વેટરનરી ડો. હિ‌તેષ વામજા વિગેરેની ઉપસ્થિતિમાં સિંહણના
મૃતદેહને સળગાવી દઇ તેનો નિકાલ કરાયો હતો.

Department keen to complete lions’ pride

09-06-2012
Department keen to complete lions' pride
Times of India By Neha Shukla
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Department-keen-to-complete-lions-pride/articleshow/13944886.cms.

The proposed lion safari, which is coming up in Etawah, the native
place of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav may not be another Gir.
However, it will certainly give glimpses into the behaviour of lions,
the most social of all big cats, and the population will be zoo-bred.

Dispelling doubts that the safari will be comparable to the Gir forest
where population comprises wild lions, PCCF (Wildlife) Rupak De, said,
"Safari is an extended zoo." The department is in consultation with
some of the zoos to bring in lions to Etawah, which will not only have
a safari, but also a lion breeding centre. Forest officials say that
the zoos of Hyderabad and Rajkot have also responded positively, so
far.

The ambitious lion safari project was conceived in 2005-06 by the
Mulayam Singh Yadav government. But, Mayawati, after coming back to
power in 2007, had put the project in the cold storage. The project,
however, was revived as quickly after SP swept the power this time.

Nearly 150 hectares of land in Fisher Forest on Etawah-Gwalior
national highway, close to the Chambal Sanctuary, was acquired and
notified as lion safari in 2005. But, work never progressed due to BSP
being in power. Though safari might still take time to assume shape,
officers said they can bring in the lions and keep them at zoos in
Lucknow and Kanpur.

The department plans to bring, initially, two male and 5 to 6 females,
which is the size of a Lion pride, mostly comprising five to six
related females, their cubs, and two males who mate with the females.
The safari might not have wild lions, but department is keen on
bringing Asiatic Lions of pure genetic bloodline. African and Asiatic
Lions are the two surviving species of the animal.

Considering that lions are extremely social, to the extent that cubs
born to same mother do not mate, and even those born to different
mothers but brought up together choose mating partners other than each
other, safari will have to be provided with lions, born outside it,
from time to time.

"Setting up a breeding centre, in such a case, is sustainable," said
BS Munal, member secretary, Central Zoo Authority. The lion safari has
got the clearance from both the CZA and the Supreme Court. "Since we
have to re-visit all the aspects of the project, after so many years,
hence there is a delay," said the PCCF (wildlife).

Rajkot city councellor and one caught in Sasan jungle in night; they were drunk with their car siren & red light ON

09-06-2012
Rajkot city councellor and one caught in Sasan jungle in night; they were drunk with their car siren & red light ON
Divya Bhaskar
http://epaper.divyabhaskar.co.in/rajkot/62/09062012/0/1/

Wednesday, June 06, 2012

How lion king got nawabi reprieve

06-06-2012
How lion king got nawabi reprieve
Times of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/How-lion-king-got-nawabi-reprieve/articleshow/13857653.cms

The Nawabs of Junagadh were trying desperately to save lions that were already dwindling in number. Had it been not been a diktat from the Viceroy of India - George Curzon, it would have been difficult for the local rulers to ward off requests from other royals to hunt big cats.

In 1900, Nawab Rasulkhanji of Junagadh invited the viceroy for lion hunting, a minimal gesture of courtesy a state had to show to their British masters. However, the day Curzon received invitation; he was apprised of a letter published in a leading Bombay daily by a prominent citizen.

AM Mosse recorded the incident in his 'The Lion of the Gir' that was published in Journal of Bombay Natural History Society. He mentioned that the letter was published titled as 'Viceroy or Vandal' criticizing Curzon's acceptance of invite in wake of reducing lion population, which were estimated at just 12 then. This prompted Curzon to cancel his hunting excursion.

"In the event, Curzon did not go to the Gir, he returned from Junagadh and urged the Nawab to give these animals strict protection," writes Divyabhanusinh in his 'Junagadh State and its Lions: Conservation in Princely India'.

Though he was against hunting of big cats, Curzon's abstaining from shooting forced the Nawab to express his disappointment. On November 27, 1900, he wrote to the viceroy, "I cannot but observe here that I fully appreciated and admired your noble consideration in abandoning the lion shooting. Your Excellency's giving up the idea has greatly disappointed me... I propose however to approach your Excellency later on with the request to favour me with a shooting excursion in the Gir before your Excellency's departure from India."

However, Curzon hoped that his example of restraint would be followed. He wrote to the Burma Game Preservation Association in 1902 how he was "on the verge of contributing to their (lions) still further reduction ... but fortunately I found out my mistake in time, and was able to adopt a restraint which I hope that others will follow".

Many British officials did not follow him, but Curzon's advice was a great excuse for local rulers and British administration to turn down lion hunting requests from other princely states. But some those who were not allowed to hunt down lions later were Kumar Shri Vijayrajji of Kutch, Maharaja Jam Saheb Ranjitsinhji of Navanagar, Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner and the Raja of Poonch from J&K.

Monday, June 04, 2012

Dethroned king given regal send-off

04-06-2012
Dethroned king given regal send-off
Times of India
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-04/ahmedabad/32030355_1_gir-sanctuary-gir-forest-sasan-gir

It is a law of the nature that the loser in any turf-war has to quit the lost territory. In Sasan though, foresters noticed an exception to the rule. Two new kings, who now lord over a huge portion of Gir sanctuary in the tourism zone, watched over the old king till he breathed his last on Saturday evening.

The two brothers who have established their supremacy over the biggest pride of the Gir forest, instead of pushing the old lion out, stayed close to the old lion till he died.

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