Rajkot: The death of 11 lions in one forest range has raised several questions over the monitoring system of the department.Every forest range has a tracker, a forester and a beat guard, who religiously monitor each and every movement of lions.A senior forest department officer told TOI: “I am shocked to know that officers didn’t come to know for four days about the lions’ carcass. This is a failure of monitoring system. The system is to report about every animal’s movement, especially in a sensitive range like Dalkhaniya.”Dalkhania range is spread on nearly 12,000 hectares and there are around 60 lions here. It’s a grassland and there is enough population of nil gai (blue bull), a favourite food of lions. During monsoon, lions from other areas also come in this range, which sometimes results in fight over territory.Moreover, the most important position of range forest officer (RFO) in Dalkhaniya is vacant for the last two years. Another officer on condition of anonymity said: “It is high time that government drafts a vision document for lion conservation, specially when the population is increasing. Otherwise it will become difficult to manage the situation.”In-charge conservator of forest, wildlife circle, A C Patel said: “Lion is a royal animal and sometimes it happens that it hides itself behind the trees when unwell. This makes it difficult for trackers or forester to trace them for days.”Asked about vacant RFO position, Patel said: “We hope that the post will be filled up soon.”

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