Guj govt identifies area in Rajkot for lion conservation

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat government has identified an area near Wankaner in Rajkot district for relocation of lions from the Gir National Park.

The area near Wankaner is the second area identified by the state government after Bardo Dungar in Porbandar district for the lion gene pool project which aims to guard against the threat of an epidemic that can wipe out the entire population of lions in Gir.

Gir is the last abode of Asiatic lions where there are an estimated number of 360 lions. The Gujarat forest department would conduct a fresh census later this month.

"We have identified vast area of land near Wankaner for conservation of lions," state forest minister Mangubhai Patel told the state Assembly recently.

The state government said they have identified this land for long-term conservation of lions. They have also planned to make drinking water available in the area and construct check dams, the minister informed the House.

"Land identified in Wankaner will be used for gene pool project to maintain gene diversity of lions," Chief wildlife conservator Pradeep Khanna said.