Forest dept increases vigil around Gir sanctuary

VADODARA: Gujarat Forest Department has increased surveillance around Gir National Park in Junagadh in the wake of outbreak of anthrax in a village in the neighbouring Bhavnagar district.

Anthrax is a serious disease of sheep and cattle, able to be transmitted to humans. It is caused by the bacterium bacillus anthracis which is highly lethal in some forms.

The department is concerned about the safety of wild animals in the park which also houses Asiatic lions, said Principal Secretary to the department Sudeep Kumar nanda.

Anthrax was reported from Bagdna village last week after samples of the some of the dead domestic animals tested positive for the disease.

Besides 359 Asiatic lions, the Gir sanctuary is home to 500 leopards and animals like jungle cat, hyena and jackal.

Some time in search of food, these wild animals stray into Bhavnagar district, where people from several villages around Bagdana have sighted lions in the past, he said.

If these wild animals consume anthrax-affected animals the disease can spread to the sanctuary, department officials said.

Nanda said Gir's forest guards have been told to bring to the notice of the department any incident of wild animals suffering from the disease.