A dozen lions die in Gir forest

According to sources, eight lions died owing to infections, one due to food poisoning and three due to infighting.

File photograph of lions in Devalia forest of Sasan Gir, Gujarat.

Around a dozen lions have died in Dalkhania range of Gir forest in Amreli district of Gujarat within a week.

According to sources, eight lions died owing to infections, one due to food poisoning and three due to infighting. A probe is on.

“Some deaths have occurred in the Gir region. We have asked the forest department to inquire into the deaths,” Gujarat’s Additional Chief Secretary (Environment and Forest) Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta said.

Dr Gupta added that the dead bodies were sent for post mortem and the exact cause of deaths will be known after the port mortem report is prepared.

On Thursday, the forest guards stumbled upon dead bodies of three lions in decomposed and mutilated condition in the Dlakhania range while one body was found in rajula range. According to officials, deaths must have occurred 4-5 days ago in the deep forest.

“We are waiting for the post mortem report on the cause of deaths,” a forest official from Gir said.

“The authorities must investigate the cause of deaths and book the culprits in case of unnatural deaths of lions in the Gir,” said Rajya Sabha member Parimal Nathwani.