As Cyclone Biporjoy draws closer to the port of Jakhau in Kutch, Gujarat, worries are rising about the potential effects on the Great Indian Bustards (GIB) in the Naliya region and the Asiatic Lions in the Gir forest.
The Threat to Asiatic Lions
Gir forest harbours approximately 700 Asiatic lions, a species found solely in this region and marked as vital for conservation. Concerns are being raised due to the entire lion population’s vulnerability centered in one area. Past incidents of epidemics and natural catastrophes, such as the 2018 Babesiosis outbreak and Cyclone Tauktae in 2019, emphasize the considerable risks facing the lions’ survival.
In 2013, the Supreme Court instructed the transfer of Asiatic lions from Gir forest in Gujarat to Madhya Pradesh’s Kuno National Park (KNP). The court dismissed Gujarat government’s appeal against relocating the lions, even though they insisted that these animals were the state’s pride.
Great Indian Bustard at Risk?
Only four females remain in the grasslands of Naliya, Gujarat. Being avian creatures, they may sense danger and evade the cyclone’s path due to their superior mobility. But, the potential impact on their habitat owing to flooding caused by substantial rains is concerning. To ensure the wildlife’s safety during the cyclone, authorities have summoned rescue teams, revoked leaves, and prepared hospitals to treat harmed animals.
About Asiatic Lions
The Asiatic Lion, also called Persian or Indian Lion, is part of the Panthera Leo Leo subspecies confined to India. These lions used to inhabit West Asia and the Middle East before becoming extinct in these regions. They are slightly smaller than African lions. Currently, the Gir National Park is their only habitat.
Gir National Park
Located in Gujarat’s Junagadh district, Gir National Park was declared a sanctuary in 1965 and promoted to a national park in 1975. It represents the largest dry deciduous forests in India’s semi-arid western part. The park is often associated with “Maldharis”, traditional pastoral people who have sustained through the ages via a symbiotic relationship with the lion.
The Great Indian Bustard
Rajasthan’s State bird, the Great Indian Bustard, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird and represents the health of the grassland ecology. Their population is primarily concentrated in Rajasthan and Gujarat, with small groups residing in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. Frequent threats include collision/electrocution with power lines, hunting, and habitat loss due to agricultural expansion.
Measures to Protect GIB
The species recovery programme under the Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) includes the GIB. National Bustard Recovery Plans are being executed by conservation agencies. A conservation breeding facility has been established in Desert National Park at Jaisalmer in June 2019 by MoEF&CC, Rajasthan government, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The Rajasthan government has also initiated Project Great Indian Bustard which aims to construct breeding enclosures and reduce human pressure on habitats.