Gir National Park, Gujarat
News Update: 21-Nov-2018
After a series of wildlife security violations by the locals and tourists, and in the wake of the death of numerous Asiatic Lions in the Gir National Park recently, the state forest department of Gujarat has taken some major steps to enhance the security and wildlife management in the only wildlife sanctuary for the Asiatic Lions in the world.
The Drone surveillance at night is one of the security measures that will be implemented soon, along with the other conservation measures which are recently announced by the Gujarat Chief Minister, Shri Vijay Rupani. The Chief Minister has announced the conservation package during a meeting with the members of the state wildlife boards that held on Tuesday in the Gandhinagar.
The meeting was chaired by the Chief Minister and attended by the other concern cabinet ministers and the senior forest officials of Gujarat. Shri Ganpat Vasava, the cabinet minister for Forest and Wildlife and Ramanbhai Patkar, the Forest Minister attended the board meeting along with the Chief Secretary J N Singh and Additional Chief Secretary (wildlife and environment) Rajiv Gupta.
Chief Minister Rupani said, “The government has planned to carry out extensive surveillance in Gir forest during the night using the drone and CCTV camera network. The surveillance should not only cover lions, but also other wild nocturnal animals. The system known as e-Eye will be set up along the lines of the one that exists at Corbett National Park.”
For the effective long-term conservation of the Asiatic Lions in the state, the Chief Minister has also sanctioned Rs 351 Crore for that purpose. In the meeting, he also appreciated the way the forest department handled and controlled the issue of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) due to which so many had died in the Gir National Park.
Along with conservation measures of the Asiatic Lions, a breeding farm for the critically endangered Bustard and Lesser Florican birds will also be established in the state. As per the forest department, only 17 bustards have been left in wild in Gujarat and there is only one male among them. It is said that fewer than 100 bustards have been left in the world at present. The conservation of “The Great Indian Bustard” is very important and the recently announced breeding center will help in this purpose.