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Lion conservation plan
Why in news?
- Center and the Gujarat government have announced a ₹97.85 crore Asiatic Lion Conservation Project.
- An initiative has been taken after death of 20 lions in Gujarat affected to a virus.
More about the project
key outcome of the project:
- Dedicated veterinary institute.
- Lion ambulances.
- Back-up stocks of vaccines.
- Committee of experts for examining the suitability of Madhya Pradesh as a potential lion reserve.
- comply with guidelines of the IUCN on selecting suitable habitat, translocation.
Key aspects of the conservation project:
- Habitat improvement measures.
- Making more sources of water available.
- Creating a wildlife crime cell, and a task force for the Greater Gir region.
- GPS-based tracking system, which would look at surveillance tracking animals.
- Automated sensor grid that would have magnetic sensors, movement sensors and infra-red heat sensors.
Greater Gir Initiative:
- Greater Gir an initiative by Gujarat government that includes, other than the existing Gir National Park, sanctuaries in Girnar, Pania and Mitiyala.
challenges
No progress on earlier suggestions:
- Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh was identified to be the most suitable for reintroducing the species but there has been no progress on the proposal.
- SC in April 2013 had ordered the translocation of some lions from Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh within six months, but this hasn’t happened.
- It emphasized that the long-term survival of the lion as a species was best served if they could be present outside Gujarat.
Source
The Hindu