Save the Asiatic Lion in India From Death Traps

Please sign and share this petition in an attempt to encourage India to save the Asiatic Lion from common death traps affecting their mortality. Experts believe their deaths are due to human settlements infringing on their habitat and putting them at risk of auto accidents and other dangers. We need to ask the India Government Officials to consider a translocation program that can ban the animals from heavily populated areas of human settlements and move them where they have more space to survive without dangers.

Gir in India's Gujarat state is the home of the Asiatic lion but just in the past five years, more than 256 of these beautiful creatures have lost their lives with more at risk for survival. Experts believe it is due to their need to find a habitat amidst the new human settlements. In past years, the animal was in danger due to a big drought and increased hunting. However, a Mr. Khanji who was an animal lover with 300 dogs banned hunting and preserved the Asiatic lion of extinction.

Despite his efforts and that of the Gir sanctuary in Junagadh that outgrew its space to save more animals, the lion is again in peril. Often times the Asiatic lion is spotted on private farms, near village homes and many have been run over by speeding trucks and trains. Experts concerned about their decline stated "Lion numbers have increased, but the challenge is their safety. About 40% of the total lion population now lives outside the forest area. Open wells and live wires on farms, poachers and passing trains and trucks have turned this region into a death field for the Asiatic lion."

The Asiatic lion was placed on the list of critically endangered species in the year 2000 but removed from extinction in 2005. In current years, however, there are only about 411 lions in existence in the Gir forest and areas. "Although there is a decline in their numbers, only 20% are accidental deaths, which is a cause for concern but the situation is under control. Lions are territorial animals and they live in prides. They are moving out as a male needs an area of 50 sq km and a female needs 26 sq km."

The Asiatic lion is only doing what it does naturally in finding a place in society. They find their way onto people's farms where they are either killed or kill cattle and other farm animals in an effort to find food. The animals need to be protected and work through a translocation program although the Gujarat government does not feel comfortable with this idea. However, this government needs to take serious measures in protecting the Asiatic lion.        

It has been stated that so far some work has been done in an effort to protect and save lions and the rehabilitation of the two villages that would get displaced when lions come to the national park. Recently, the apex court in a judgment had directed that the lions be translocated to Kuno-Palpur in MP from the Gir Sanctuary.   Why translocation of lions As Asiatic lions exist only in Gir, where they number over 400, experts have often expressed apprehensions that high rate of inbreeding and less genetic diversity could make them susceptible to epidemics and make them extinct.

These beautiful lions face constant threats from humans, epidemics and natural disasters, traffic vehicles and speeding trains. Activists are hoping to establish a new population of the Asiatic lion at the Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh where they could be safe from extinction. Gir forest officials state they have to provide security for farmers as well as the lions. "Wildlife management has now become more of human management. We have to work round the clock to ensure human life doesn't get affected as it's only due to the local people here that the lion population has survived. There has been no incident ever when a local has knowingly killed a lion."

The lions do not need to be infringing on people's property and farms. They need to be confined to the forests areas away from farms, highways and human settlements. Implementing a translocation program that would transport the lions to safer areas in Saurashtra so that the animal would have the space it needs to survive while keeping it away from the highly populated areas of Gir forestry regions.

Please sign and share this petition in an attempt to encourage India to save the Asiatic Lion from common death traps affecting their mortality. Experts believe their deaths are due to human settlements infringing on their habitat and putting them at risk of auto accidents and other dangers. We need to ask the India Government Officials to consider a translocation program that can ban the animals from heavily populated areas of human settlements and move them where they have more space to survive without dangers.