25 lions died of unnatural causes in a year after census

• TOI
• Ahmedabad
• Wed,15 Mar 2017
  

  Summary: JUNAGADH:The number of Asiatic lions that have died due to unnatural causes like electrocution and drowning in wells has shot up significantly in Saurashtra.The damning numbers have been revealed in official data procured using Right to Information (RTI) tool.The data shows that of the 95 lions that died between April 2015 and March 2016, 25 died of unnatural causes. According to sources in the forest department, at least 67 lions have died between April 2016 and March 2017, which means that after the census, 170 lions have died in Saurashtra. What is worrisome is that all the 25 unnatural deaths happened on the fringes of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and outside the protected areas. In the same period in 2014-2015, 13 lions had died of such causes. Moreover, these deaths have come in the period after the lion census conducted in 2015 revealed that there 523 Asiatic lions in four districts of Saurashtra.

  JUNAGADH:The number of Asiatic lions that have died due to unnatural causes like electrocution and drowning in wells has shot up significantly in Saurashtra.The damning numbers have been revealed in official data procured using Right to Information (RTI) tool.The data shows that of the 95 lions that died between April 2015 and March 2016, 25 died of unnatural causes. Lion experts and wild life activists have expressed concern over the steep increase. In the same period in 2014-2015, 13 lions had died of such causes.
  
  Moreover, these deaths have come in the period after the lion census conducted in 2015 revealed that there 523 Asiatic lions in four districts of Saurashtra. The RTI was filed by former Army jawan-turned-environment crusader Bhagvan Solanki of Lodhva village of Gir-Somnath district. What is worrisome is that all the 25 unnatural deaths happened on the fringes of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and outside the protected areas.
  
  Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/25-lions-died-of-unnatural-causes-in-a-year-after-census/articleshow/57641431.cms