AHMEDABAD: Under fire for the deaths of 23 lions due to deadly CDV and babesiosis infection outbreak in Gir, the Gujarat government conceded it is set to fast track moving lions to the Barda Dungar sanctuary.Ganpat Vasava, forest and environment minister, said, “We have decided to expedite shifting lions to Barda Dungar following death of 23 lions. This will be a second home for the lions within the state."Barda Dungar is spread over 343 km and located 80 km from Gir in Porbandar district . Barda along with Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh and two other sanctuaries were shortlisted as probable second home for lionsway back in 1995. Later, when the SC directed Gujarat government to translocate lions to Kuno Palpur, Gujarat undertook work to develop it as a second habitat to host lions within the home turf.The move to expedite moving lions to Barda Dungar comes after both experts including global expert on lion conservation Craig Packer and lionexpert Ravi Chellam questioned the state dragging its feet on moving lions to a separate habitat and underscored translocation of lions is need of the hour.The translocation of lions has been a prickly issue for Gujarat after Supreme Court directed translocation of lions to Kuno Palpur sanctuary spread over 350 sq km. A 12-member committee too has been formed to oversee shifting of lions to MP.It is only a matter of time now when the state might be mandated to part with lions and move them to Kuno Palpur as directed by the apex court. In fact, earlier this week, SC expressed serious concern over lions death and asked state government to list out measures being taken to prevent deaths of lions.Sources say the MP petitioners, too, are now planning to move the apex court following the recent killings of 23 lions.Principal chief conservator of forest (wildlife) Akshay Kumar Saxena said, “In wake of the recent death of lions, we will be giving the Barda project a ‘fresh look’ and ensure that there is a healthy population of lions in the region. There are also unconfirmed report of couple of lions reaching the Barda area recently.”The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) in its report had advocated that lions should be physically transferred by forest department in Barda Dungar to ensure it remains a free range isolated lion habitat and not connected with Gir Sanctuary through any natural corridor.

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