Missing lions in Gir sighted in good health

Conservationists breathed a sigh of relief after nearly 30 Asiatic lions feared to have perished in heavy rains last month, were spotted in Gir forest area of Gujarat’s Amreli district, roaming and feasting on their prey.

Torrential rains and floods on June 22 had claimed 10 lions and about 30 others were believed to have been swept away by swirling waters but they were sighted on the hills recently, a senior forest official said.  “These lions were missing after the torrential rains on June 22 that killed at least 10 of them. They were recently sighted on the hills of Bhavadi and Hogoliya and surrounding area of Shetrunji river in Gir forest under Amreli district.

Three missing lions were traced this morning,” Deputy Conservator of Forest MR Gurjar told media on Friday. “The teams of trackers started visiting these areas after the missing report of lions and located the big cats on hills and surrounding areas of Gir forest, the lone home of Asiatic lions,” he said. About 40 lions were living near the banks of Shetrunji river in Liliya-Krakach area. “Since the water level in Shetrunji river near Liliya-Krakach had increased on June 22, the lions might have migrated to nearby villages,” Gurjar said.

Ten lions were swept away in the swelling Shetrunji river after the flood. Their carcasses were later recovered, he said.