Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Forest Department is actively working to protect lions in Gir and its surrounding areas, and the situation is under control, Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said after eight lions, most of them cubs, died under suspicious circumstances in the region.
Modhwadia said no fresh lion deaths have been reported in the last two days and that forest officials, along with veterinary experts, have intensified monitoring and disease-control measures in the affected areas, particularly in Girgadhada taluka and the Babaria region of Amreli district.
advertisement
The deaths are suspected to be linked to Babesiosis, a tick-borne disease, though the exact cause will be confirmed only after laboratory tests. Samples from the dead lion cubs have been sent to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (GBRC), and reports are expected within the next three to four days. A team of specialists from Junagadh Veterinary College is also assisting in the investigation.
As a precaution, lions within a 10-kilometre radius of the affected zone are being closely monitored, while a large-scale anti-tick drive has been launched across Gir and nearby areas to prevent the spread of the suspected infection.
The minister said the state government has taken immediate steps to contain the situation and is implementing all necessary preventive measures, including vaccinations where required. He added that Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel is closely overseeing the response, while the Prime Minister’s Office has also been monitoring developments.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to wildlife conservation, Modhwadia assured citizens and wildlife enthusiasts that every effort is being made to safeguard the Asiatic lion population and that there is no immediate cause for concern.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
