‘Site’ing the right reasons critical evaluation o

Authors: Meena Venkataraman

Publish Date: 2009/11/25

Volume: 56, Issue: 2, Pages: 209-213

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Abstract

The resurrection of Asiatic lions Panthera leo persica from the brink of extinction is a remarkable conservation success story Yet occurrence of lions as a single population makes them vulnerable to extinction from genetic and environmental factors Asiatic lions exist as a single free ranging population of 360 individuals in Gir Protected Area PA about 290 lions and surrounding satellite areas 68 lions namely Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary WLS coastal areas hill ranges extending from MitiyalaSavarkundlaPalitanaShihor spreading across Junagadh Amreli and Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat State India This paper traces the conservation history current conservation pressures and critically evaluates current conservation planning based on lion ecology and existing anthropogenic pressures Conservation proposals for translocation of lions to alternate habitats in Kuno WLS and Barda WLS are awaiting final implementation An alternate initiative is aimed at developing satellite lion habitats improving corridor connectivity and facilitating natural dispersal and expansion of lion habitats The paper evaluates human population living within 2 km boundary of lion habitats and between Gir PA and satellite habitats to show that dispersing lions have to cross heavily populated habitations taking refuge in agriculture fields and scattered forest patches Satellite habitats vary in size from 18 km2 Mitiyala WLS to 250 km2 scattered forests HipavadliSavarkundlaPalitana zone along Shetrunji river and are inadequate to maintain natural ranging and movement requirements of territorial lions These habitats are varied in vegetation terrain human pressure and distance to source population Though satellite lion habitats are important suboptimal habitats for dispersing lions longterm conservation planning require planned restoration of mosaic habitats for growing populationsI would like to thank Shri Qamar Qureshi for guidance and providing Census of India database and permitting me to use GIS and computer facility at WII I am grateful to Nilanjana Roy for help with GIS analysis and Dr SP Goyal for giving valuable inputs to improve the manuscript I would like to acknowledge training and support received from DrYV Jhala during research study on lion ecology undertaken in Gir PA from 2002–2008

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