Ahmedabad : Gujarat : 09/08/2018 : FILE PICTURES : WORLD LION DAY AUGUST 10TH : An Asiatic Lion adult Cub at Sasan Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat. According to Wildlife lover enthusiastic from Junagadh Hardik Nimbark, says Right now the Asiatic lions are enjoying their vacation. This is the matting season going on for them. According to the recent few articles in news papers, lioness gave birth about 50 cubs in Gir as well as greater Gir in last month. It means the numbers of lions are increasing, and they are rehabitat in their old areas. The Asiatic lion was first described in 1826 by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer who named it Felis leo persicus. Until the 19th century, it occurred in eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River to Bengal and Narmada River in Central India.Since the turn of the 20th century, it is restricted to the Gir Forest National Park and surrounding areas. Since 2010, the population has steadily increased. In May 2015, the 14th Asiatic Lion Census was conducted over an area of about 20,000 km (7,700 sq mi); the lion population was estimated at 523 individuals, comprising 109 adult males, 201 adult females and 213 cubs. In August 2017, a similar census revealed 650 wild individuals. The lion is one of five pantherine catsinhabiting India, along with the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard. It was also known as "Indian lion" and "Persian lion". Gujarat state officials resisted the relocation, since it would make the Gir Sanctuary lose its status as the world's only home of the Asiatic lion. According to a recent internal lion count by the forest department in July this year, there are nearly 650-odd lions in the reserved forests and even outside the national park in Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir-Somnath districts. World Lion Day is observed on August 10. Photo : Vijay Soneji.
The Union Health Ministry has stated that healthy lions in the Gir forest should be shifted to an alternative location, after an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) has been confirmed. Samples from 27 lions from their nasal, ocular (ear) and rectum area were sent to Indian Council of Medical Research’s National Institute of Virology (NIV) on October 6. CDV has been confirmed in 21 lions. These 27 lions are sick and under observation in Sakkarbaug Zoo of Junagadh in Gujarat. “Since CDV is transmitted through air as well as body secretions, healthy lions from the Gir forest may be shifted to an alternative location,” an ICMR statement says.
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