17 Lions Isolated for Observation; Forest Department Intensifies Surveillance Across Gir Landscape
Gandhinagar: Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday chaired a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar to assess the situation arising from the recent deaths of lion cubs in the Gir landscape and to review the preventive healthcare and monitoring measures being undertaken by the Forest Department.
During the meeting, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, Dr. Vinod Rao informed the Chief Minister that four lion cub deaths have been reported from different locations in the Gir region. As a precautionary measure, around 17 lions from the affected areas have been isolated and are being closely monitored by forest officials and veterinary experts.
Officials informed the Chief Minister that intensive surveillance is currently being carried out for all lions within a 10-kilometre radius of the Gir Gadhada and Babariya regions. Authorities stated that no symptoms of any additional disease have been detected among the lions under observation so far.
The Forest Department has also expanded its monitoring operations to the revenue areas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts, where daily health status reports of lions are being compiled and reviewed on a continuous basis.
As part of seasonal preventive healthcare measures typically undertaken during the onset of summer, de-ticking drives and other veterinary interventions have been initiated for more than 350 lions across the Gir landscape, officials said during the review meeting.
Head of Forest Force and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Shri Jaipal Singh, informed the Chief Minister that expert veterinarians from Junagadh Veterinary College have joined the ongoing operations to strengthen disease surveillance, monitoring and treatment efforts.
Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel directed officials to ensure continuous vigilance, rapid medical response, and coordinated field-level action to safeguard the health of Asiatic lions in the Gir ecosystem.
Senior government officials and senior Forest Department officers were present during the meeting.