It is very sad and alarming to note that only 1,411 tigers are left in the country. Ever since the government came out with the figures, people all over the country have been doing all they can to raise awareness. In fact, most of the tigers die in the rural areas near the national wildlife parks. Does this mean that the forest departments are not able to take care of them? Our needs for skin, fur and medical science have outnumbered the tiger’s population. Poachers are still able to fulfil their needs by killing these tigers and other animals too.

People across the world are doing their best to raise awareness regarding the decreasing number of tigers. Drawing competitions are being held in schools, colleges and malls to support this cause of saving tigers.

While the wildlife is under threat and quite a few species face extinction, the story is different for Asiatic lions found only in Gujarat in India.

Owing to the timely protection by the princely rulers of the Junagadh state and the subsequent stringent protection and habitat management by the Gujarat forest department, the Asiatic lion did not only increase in number over the years but also showed a population spill over from the Gir into the surrounding mosaics of habitat matrices encompassing the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Mitiala Wildlife Sanctuary and the vast tract of agro-pastoral landscapes of Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts making it imperative for a landscape level conservation planning for the species. The department initiated a lion conservation programme, identifying “bruhad Gir” (greater Gir) by adopting various conservation measures

A lion census and seasonal lion census is being carried out to monitor population dynamics every five years by the department. The number of lions in Gir sanctuary and nearby areas has gone up by 52 in five years. There were an estimated 411 lions during the 13th lion census held in April 2010.

According to RV Asari, principal conservator of forests (wildlife), the number of big cats has gone up due to not only habitat management and identification of new habitat but also many measures like protection of Gir, strengthening conservation efforts and use of modern technology by the forest department. The sanctuary has a good protection regime against poaching by trapping, poisoning and electrocution. A strong network of intelligence gathering, patrolling and fire protection by watch tower is  under way. Therefore, according to a senior forest officer, there is little possibility of poaching in this sanctuary. The state government is not only carefully maintaining the habitat in this sanctuary but has also identified new habitat for the wild animals of Gir. Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi visited Gir and announced a package of Rs 40 crores for lion conservation.

There are also three well-equipped veterinary hospitals at Sasan, Jsadhar and Mahuva  for timely treatment and rescue of lions and other animals. Under the supervision of a competent medical team, they have conducted 228 lion rescues, treatment and operations over the past five years.

Gir has also become a wildlife tourist’s paradise. Eco-tourism is being excellently managed by the Sasan wildlife division. Revenue generated from this tourism also goes towards conservation of lions. A total revenue of Rs 2.4 crore was generated during 2009-10.

The forest department has recently initiated an innovative analysis of food habits of the lion. Ever since research and management interventions started in Gir in 1960s, one of the basic questions has been regarding the food habits of the Asiatic lion. In fact, it became so central to conservation that Gir National Park was constituted resulting in the phased relocation of local Maldharis. Even thereafter, many conservation lobbies disbelievingly argued about the food habits of the lions in Gir and attributed the spatio-temporal variation in sampling method for such discrepancies in food habits. The debate intensifies when one considers the survival pattern of lions in an agro-pastoral landscape of the Bruhad Gir. In order to understand the food habits in a more comprehensive manner, an extensive scat collection and analysis program had been organised.

Gujarat has truly shown the way in wildlife conservation.