UPSC Express

Headline : Vet institute, ambulances mooted in lion conservation plan

Details :

The News

• In a bid to step up conservation and protection efforts of critically endangered ‘Asiatic Lions, the Centre and the Gujarat government have announced a 3-year dedicated ‘Asiatic Lion Conservation Project’.

Background

About Asiatic Lions

• Asiatic Lions are critically endangered species, listed in the Schedule 1 of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972, Appendix I of CITES and endangered on IUCN Red List.
• Asiatic lions were once distributed in dry deciduous forests and scrublands from West Bengal in east to Rewa, MP in the west.
• Currently, the last surviving population of the Asiatic lions is confined to Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, which is the only habitat of the Asiatic lion.
• According to 2015 census, there are currently 523 Asiatic lion in India compared to about 50 in 1980s.

Need for the conservation project

• In the recent years, there is a rise in number of deaths of Asian Lions due to various unnatural causes.
• According to estimates, the numbers of deaths of Asiatic Lions are 104 and 80 in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
• The main reason for death of Asiatic lions:
  • Construction of open wells in their habitat
  • Electrocution
  • A viral disease known as Canine Distemper Disease. (a majority of deaths in 2018 are reported to be due to CDD)
• Further, Asiatic Lions are long-neglected with low allocation in conservation plans; Rs. 95000/ lion as compared to 15 Lakh/ individual in case of tigers.

About Asiatic Lion Conservation Project

• Asiatic Lion Conservation Project will be a 3-year centrally sponsored scheme funded from CSS-Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH) with centre-state contribution ratio of 60:40.
• It focuses both on protection and conservation of the lion species.
• It is mainly based on ‘species conservation over a large landscape” approach. Accordingly, Zone Plans and Theme Plans are developed.
• Zone Plans include expansion of habitat and developing a Greater Gir region including Girnar, Pania and Mitiyala.
  • The Greater Gir region is then divided into Core Zone, the Sanctuary Zone, the buffer Zone for different levels of conservation.
• Theme Plans include habitat improvement, protection, wildlife health service, addressing to man-wild animal conflict issues, research and monitoring, awareness generation, and ecotourism.

Main features of the project

• Habitat improvement,
• Bringing together multi-sectoral agencies for disease control.
• Stepping up veterinary care by construction of veterinary hospitals
• back-up stocks of vaccines that may be required
• Increasing the number of lion ambulances.
• ICT-driven monitoring and surveillance systems including
  • GPS Based Tracking
  • Automated Sensor Grid with magnetic sensors, movement sensors, infra-red heat sensors
  • Night vision capability enhancement
  • GIS based real time monitoring and reporting
• A wildlife crime cell to step up protection
• Creating a task force for the Greater Gir region
• Establishment of additional water points

Section : Environment & Ecology