Lok Sabha Question No. 856 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-14
Subject: Deaths of Lions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 856

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.12.2018

## Deaths of Lions

## 856. SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the large number of unnatural deaths of lions in Gir forest in Gujarat since September 2018;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, month-wise and the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government is contemplating to seek help from national and international bodies to tackle this menace; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the other measures being taken by the Government to control or check these unnatural deaths of lions?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) and (b) The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India is in receipt  of  information  on  deaths  of  Lions  in  Gir  forest  of  Gujarat  since  September, 2018.  However,  no  large  number  of  unnatural  deaths  of  Lions  were  reported  since September, 2018. Month-wise details of Lion deaths along with reasons thereof is as follows:
- (c) and (d) Veterinary  support  from  IVRI,  Etawah  Lion  Safari,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  National Zoological Park, New Delhi was extended to the Government of Gujarat.

| Sr.   | Month                             | Death of Lion                                                                                                             | Death of Lion                                         | Death of Lion   |
|-------|-----------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
| No.   |                                   | Unnatural (man-made causes such as deaths due to road accident, hunting, electrocution, falling in well, poisioning etc.) | Natural (Old age, infighting, disease, injuries etc.) | Total           |
| 1.    | September, 2018                   | 0                                                                                                                         | 24                                                    | 24              |
| 2.    | October, 2018                     | 0                                                                                                                         | 07                                                    | 07              |
| 3.    | November, 2018                    | 0                                                                                                                         | 05                                                    | 05              |
| 4.    | December, 2018 (up to 10.12.2018) | 0                                                                                                                         | 01                                                    | 01              |