In 3 years, Guj lost 50 lions to avoidable accidents

AHMEDABAD: Even as Gujarat has come under international spotlight after the deaths of 23 lions recently due to canine distemper virus and babesiosis infections, analysis of lions death figures revealed that 20% of the 253 deaths between 2015 and 2018 were accidental and could have been avoided. 

Fifty lions had died after being run over by vehicles on roads, by trains and by falling in open wells. The Gujarat government has also accepted that one incident of poaching was reported in 2016-17.

Electric fences killing lions

In 2008, a master-plan for conservation mandated all open wells in the territory be covered to prevent deaths due to accidental falls. Despite Gujarat high court’s intervention in this issue, there are still over 17,000 open wells that are potential death traps in Gir. Thirteen lions died after falling in open wells between 2015 and 2018. Nine lions died due to electrocution in this period.