New home for Gir Lions: Porbandar

Gandhinagar, October 6: Pride of Gir, its lions will be now shifted to Barda Dunga Sanctuary Porbandar due to the death of 23 Asiatic lions in their only abode in Gujarat’s Gir national park since September 20, some because of the canine distemper virus (CDV).

 

Experts say the paucity of big animals inside the park’s wildlife area for the lions to prey on, their increasing dependence on domestic cattle and congestion are some reasons for the spread of CDV. The Gujarat government has confirmed that four of the lions died of CDV, whose carriers are normally feral dogs.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Gujarat, India. It is situated approximately 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Porbandar and 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of Gir Forest National Park.

Ganpat Vasava, forest and environment minister, said “We’ve decided to fast-track the shifting of lions to Barda Dungar. This will be their second home within the state.”

Barda along with Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh and two other sanctuaries were shortlisted as probable second homes in 1995.