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Updated February 8th, 2019 at 18:12 IST

Centre allocates Rs 59 crore for Asiatic Lion conservation in Gujarat's Gir

In a bid to protect and conserve lions, identified as one of the endangered species by the government, the Ministry of Environment Friday launched a three-year Asiatic Lion Conservation Project in collaboration with the state of Gujarat, which is the last habitat of the big cat.

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In a bid to protect and conserve lions, identified as one of the endangered species by the government, the Ministry of Environment Friday launched a three-year Asiatic Lion Conservation Project in collaboration with the state of Gujarat, which is the last habitat of the big cat.

The Rs 98-crore project, for which the Ministry of Environment,  Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has allocated Rs 59 crores, spans three years -- 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 -- will focus on better management of the lion habitat, disease control and veterinary care for them.

READ| WATCH: Four Gigantic Lions Halt Traffic At Kruger National Park

While launching the project, Union minister Harsh Vardhan released an amount of Rs 17 crore to the Gujarat government for the implementation of the project aimed to protect over 600 lions in the state's Gir sanctuary in its first year.

The minister assured the state that this project will be a model scheme in the times to come and would not be like a routine affair.

"I am very happy that efforts are being made to conserve lions. It is God's blessing that such initiatives are taken for wildlife in our country. I assure the Gujarat government that this will not just be a routine project but a model scheme for wildlife in India in the times to come," Vardhan said.

The project will use modern information and communication technology for conservation and protection efforts of the Great Gir Region, including GPS-based animal and vehicle tracking, automated sensor grid with movement sensors, night vision capability, and real-time monitoring and report generation, the government said.

READ| A Pride Of 19 Asiatic Lions Spotted Together In Gir National Park

Gujarat High Court in October ordered the state government to garner expert aid for the protection of this endangered species.     

A bench of chief justice R Subhash Reddy and Justice VM Pancholi gave an order to Gujarat the state government to draw a progress report on the building of a wall around open wells in lion-populated areas and action has to be taken to curb the electrocution. While the next hearing is on 16 January 2019, the reports were to be filed in three months. 

Two common causes of the lion deaths in Gir were due to falling in open wells and electrocution by electric fences. Even the death of 23 Asiatic lions created an uproar over finding them a second home. The cause of death was the canine distemper virus (CDV) spreading in the sole-abode of this endangered species. 

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Published February 8th, 2019 at 18:05 IST

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