Eight lion cubs die in Gir in per week; Gujarat govt steps up preventive measures
Eight Asiatic lion cubs have died within the Gir panorama over the previous week, prompting the Gujarat authorities to step up surveillance and containment measures, in response to a state authorities assertion.
Forest minister Arjun Modhwadia mentioned monitoring is being carried out by the chief minister’s workplace and the Prime Minister’s Workplace, and preventive measures, together with large-scale deticking operations, have been intensified inside a ten km radius of the affected space.
No new circumstances have been reported previously two days, he mentioned. Preliminary evaluation signifies the cub deaths could also be linked to babesiosis. Samples have been despatched to the Gujarat Biotechnology Analysis Centre, with experiences anticipated in three to 4 days, in response to the minister. Consultants from Junagadh Veterinary School are additionally concerned.
Lions inside a ten km radius have been remoted and deticking operations are being carried out in Gir and surrounding areas, the assertion mentioned.
Earlier, on Could 26, the minister mentioned two cubs have been suspected to have died attributable to Babesia an infection, whereas the remaining deaths have been attributable to infighting or different causes.
The Asiatic lion inhabitants, discovered solely in Gujarat, stood at 891 in 2025, up from 674 in 2020, with the species spreading into Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar.
In 2018, an outbreak involving Canine Distemper Virus and Babesia led to the loss of life of 24 lions in lower than a month within the Gir panorama. Authorities then carried out isolation and remedy measures to comprise the unfold. Officers mentioned no such clustering has been noticed now.
