Lok Sabha Question No. 1989 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-19
Subject: Translocation of Asiatic Lions
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: D.K. Suresh

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1989

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.12.2022

## Translocation of Asiatic Lions

## 1989. SHRI D.K. SURESH:

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

- (a) whether the Government is aware that according to the Supreme Court ruling from 2013, priority must be given to the translocation of Asiatic Lions over the African Cheetahs;
- (b) whether the movement of Cheetahs from Africa is the reason for the delay in the transfer of Asiatic Lions to Kuno;
- (c) whether the Union Government is planning to move the Asiatic lions from Gir forest to another location, if so, the details of sites earmarked and time frame fixed for this purpose and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (d) the reasons for not listing the translocation in the 25-year roadmap of Project Lion instead of Supreme Court ruling in 2013;
- (e) the number of Asiatic lions that have died in the Gir Forest since the Supreme Court  judgement  from  2013  till  2022  and  the  steps  taken/propose  to  be taken to protect the lions in the Gir forest;
- (f) whether  the  Government  has  listed  other  sites  for  the  transfer  of  African Cheetahs, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and
- (g) the  details  of  the  cost  of  transfer  and  yearly  maintenance  cost  of  African Cheetahs and the Great Indian Bustard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) and (b) The  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  Indiavide  order  dated  15.4.2013  had directedthe  Ministry  of  Environment,  Forest  and  Climate  Change  to  take urgent steps for re-introduction of Asiatic lion from Gir forests to Kuno in accordance  with  the  guidelines  issued  by  IUCN.The  Hon'ble  Supreme Court, vide order dated 28.01.2020  allowed introduction of African Cheetah  intoIndia  on  an  experimental  basis  and  Cheetahs  from  Namibia were translocated in pursuance of the said directions.
- (c) A Committee was constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change with a view to assess the suitability of habitat for lions in potential sites in Gujarat and make recommendations regarding facilitation of  natural  dispersal  of  lions  and  the  modalities  for  establishment  of  lion

population in newly identified sites in the State of Gujarat. The Committee has recommended a participatory management approach for expanding lion population, greater involvement of communities and awareness and sensitization  programmes,  especially  in  newly  occupied  territories.  The Ministry  is  providing  financial  assistance  to  the  State  of  Gujarat  for  lion conservation activities including for habitat improvement, water management, grassland development and prey augmentation. These activities  will  also  facilitate  the  natural  dispersal  of  lions  beyond  the  Gir landscape.

- (d) As per the document titled ' Project Lion: Lion @47 vision for Amrutkal' the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat has been identified and assessed by the Wildlife Institute of India as a potential site where a population of 40 adult and sub-adult lions can be accommodated in the larger landscape of Barda-Alech hills and coastal forests through natural dispersal.
- (e) The Gujarat Forest Department has informed that during the period from 2013-14  to  2022-23  (up  to  November  2022),  240  lions  have  died  in  Gir forests.

The important steps taken to protect lions includes:

- i. Listing the species in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,  thereby,  according  it  the  highest  degree  of  legal  protection from hunting.
- ii. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for punishment for violation  of  its  provisions.  The  Act  also  provides  for  forfeiture  of any  equipment,  vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for  committing wildlife offence.
- iii. Asiatic  Lion  has  been  identified  by  the  Ministry  as  one  of  the  22 Critically Endangered species for focused recovery program under the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Development  of  Wildlife Habitat'.
- iv. Financial assistance is provided to the State Government of Gujarat under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of 'Development of Wildlife Habitats' for the conservation and protection of Asiatic Lions and their habitat.
- v. Appointment  of  'Vanya  PraniMitra'  (Wildlife  Friend)  in  villages around Gir area.
- vi. Wireless Network in and around Gir area for fast communication.
- vii. Checking Nakas on entry points for keeping track of movements of

vehicles and people.

- viii. Law enforcement authorities in the State of Gujarat maintain strict vigil against poaching of wild animals, including Asiatic Lions.
- ix. Wild  Life  Crime  Control  Bureau  has  been  set  up  to gather intelligence about poaching and unlawful trade in wild animals and animal articles and to achieve inter-state and trans-boundary coordination in enforcement of wildlife laws.
- x. The Ministry has formulated the 3 rd 'National Wildlife Action Plan' for a period of 2017 to 2031 to save wild animals, including Asiatic Lions  in  the  country.  The  Plan  focuses  on  landscape  approach  in conservation of all wildlife irrespective of where they occur.
- xi. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change released the  Advisory  for  management  of  Human  Wildlife  Conflict  in February 2021 and guidelines in June, 2022, which also provide for improvement of wildlife habitats.
- xii. In order to further strengthen conservation of wildlife,  EcoSensitive  Zones  (ESZs)  are  notified  around  National  Parks  and Sanctuaries  under  the  provisions  of  the  Environment  (Protection) Act, 1986.
6. (f) As  per  the  action  plan  on  introduction  of  Cheetah  into  India,  Nauradehi Wildlife  Sanctuary  and  Gandhi  Sagar  Wildlife  Sanctuary  in  Madhya Pradesh, Shahgarh Bulge, Bhainsrorgarh Wildlife Sanctuary and Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan have been identified as other suitable areas for Cheetah in India.
7. (g) Under  the  ongoing  Centrally Sponsored  Scheme  of  Project  Tiger  a budgetary  provisions  of  Rs.  38.7  Crore  has  been  made  for  five  years besides funding support of Rs. 29.47 Crore under Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA) which includes  cost  of  transportation,  maintenance  and  management  of  African Cheetahs and the habitat.

The  Ministry  has  taken  initiative  for  conservation  breeding  of  the  Great Indian Bustard in collaboration with the Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra  Forest  Departments  and  technical  support  from  Wildlife Institute  of  India,  Dehradun  and  has  sanctioned  a  Project titled  'Habitat Improvement  and  Conservation  Breeding  of  Great  Indian  Bustard-an integrated  approach'  with  a  budget  outlay  of  Rs.  33.85  crores  for  the duration of seven years.