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World Lion Day 2023 : How do we conserve our Asiatic Lions?

The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo leo) is presently found only in and around the Gir Forest in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat in western India. Twelve lions were killed in a flash flood in Amreli during the 2015 monsoon. This was followed by deaths of more than two dozen lions in an outbreak of canine distemper virus (CDV) and babesiosis in 2018. Several dozen lions have died and continue to die since 2018 and diseases are responsible for quite a few of these deaths. A babesiosis outbreak was reported in Gir (east) during the summer of 2020, and around two dozen lions were reported dead as a result. A major reason for these risks is that most of the lion population today is found outside Protected Areas according to the 2020 population estimate (329 of the 674 lions.) This risk is ongoing, because almost all future growth in the population of lions is going to occur in unprotected forests, wastelands, agricultural fields and human habitations. The Asiatic lion currently exists as a single subpopulation, and is thus vulnerable to extinction from unpredictable events, such as an epidemic or large forest fire. Establishment of at least one other wild population is advisable for population safety, for maximizing genetic diversity and in terms of ecology. Kuno National Park in northern Madhya Pradesh has now been selected as the best candidate area. Communities will require resettlement to make room for the Lions, but this time great care is being taken to make the process participatory and to attempt to satisfy local needs, and not engender hostility toward lion conservation. The very limited availability of wild prey animals outside Protected Areas in human-dominated habitats has caused the lions to largely depend on livestock which they kill, as well as livestock carcasses which are dumped outside the villages to feed themselves. This greatly increases the risk of disease transmission as domestic and feral dogs are also feeding off these carcasses in the rural landscape. This necessitates the urgency for establishing geographically distinct populations with Gir. Hence, this translocation of lions to Kuno becomes crucial. On World Lion day 2023, it becomes important to recognise lions as a precious part of our collective natural heritage and how much we owe our support to ensure their long-term conservation. On world lion day 2023, one must take note that this majestic creature is under threat, even in its natural habitat. Last week in Kenya, 11 lions were killed by farmers in a retaliatory attack, following a night raid that resulted in the loss of livestock. According to Kenya Wildlife Service(KWS), the African lion population has declined by 43% in the last 20 years and lions now occupy only 8% of their historical range in Africa. The estimated number of lions across Africa is 20,000. In Kenya, the national population is now less than 2,500 lions. This reduction in lion numbers is primarily due to habitat loss and conflict with humans, typically when lions kill people’s livestock. Climate change, changing land use and human, livestock and wildlife population increase are the major drivers of spiraling human-wildlife conflicts in Kenya, according to multiple studies. Human-wildlife conflicts are rampant in the drylands of five regions, including Narok, Taita-Taveta, Lamu, Kajiado and Laikipia, (according to a 2022 report on Human-Wildlife Conflict Compensation Schemes by the Ministry of Tourism) Severe drought across the Horn of Africa, where communities, wildlife and livestock share landscapes, has worsened the situation. The three most common conflict types include destruction of crops (50%), attacks on humans (27.3%) and livestock depredation (17.6%). Elephants account for the most significant share of crop destruction (46%), while lions (63%) kill most cattle. Leopards and hyenas are responsible for the highest number of attacks on sheep and goats (44%) and (37%) respectively. Efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflicts in Kenya must involve local communities for peaceful coexistence, according to experts. Professor Fredrick Segor, a conservation expert, is exploring the use of technology like predator lights, among other efforts. Segor is also supporting water projects to reduce the distances women travel to fetch water and leave out natural sources like rivers, streams, caves and gorges for wildlife. WWF and UNEP called for an intervention, warning that Kenya was at risk of extinction of emblematic species such as lions if the conflicts persist.