You go on a long drive to the outskirts of Ahmedabad and while having chai at a road-side kitli, spot a lion strolling by? While it sounds unbelievable, this may just happen if the various reports of lions’ sightings around Ahmedabad are to be believed.
The arid terrains of the Kathiawar peninsula may soon add Botad, lying in the neighbourhood of Ahmedabad, for the king of the jungle.
As the population of the forest is on the rise, more area was proposed to be reserved for them, including Jasdan, Jetpur, and Botad.
Current lion population is at 674. For food, the lions have strayed to areas as far as Bhavnagar and Amreli too. In fact, lion footprints cover two-thirds of Saurashtra.
A proposal to add Botad in the revenue (non-protected) areas outside of Gir has also been made. If as per the proposal, Botad is added, the Asiatic lions will just be 150 kms away from Ahmedabad.
This means that the lion’s territory has been extended to Amreli, Mahuva and Palitana. The proposal also includes areas of Rajkot such as Jasdan and Jetpur, and Bhavnagar.
In fact, in July this year, there have been sightings of three lions, one lioness, and two cubs in Botad.
In 2007, the government adopted ‘Bruhad Gir’. This meant that in addition to the 1500 sq kms within the Sasan Gir National Park, lions’ habitat has expanded to encompass a vast area exceeding 20,000 sq kms, forming forest patches in what is known as ‘Bruhad Gir’ or Greater Gir.
Under this, the government defined the boundaries of Bruhad Gir and the Gir National park. Due to the lion sightings recorded in Amreli, some coastal areas, Shetrunji river, Mahuva and Palitana, they were covered under ‘protected areas’.
New habitats, new threats
Gujarat today boasts of being home to approximately 700 Asiatic lions. In 2020, about 674 Asiatic lions were spread over approximately 30,000 sq km in Gujarat.
In 2015, it was 22,000 sq km, 20,000 sq km in 2010, 12,000 in 2001, and 6,600 sq km in 1990.
With an increasing population of lions, the forest department will have to step up to the task. One forester covers 1,600 km of patrolling per month, while a beat guard covers 1,200 km in a month.
Notably, with the increasing population of lions in urban settings, the big cats roar for safety as they have faced deaths across the years.
Around 25 lions have been killed over the last nine years on railway tracks, with four killed in a span of only three months in 2023.
Railway tracks, diseases, open wells, and electric shocks often take a toll on Asiatic lions in Gujarat.