'Natural' Wildlife Conservation - Gir Asiatic Lions

What is the issue?

Twenty-three lions have died in around 20 days in the eastern part of Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary.
It draws attention to the larger issue of shortfalls in the wildlife conservation approach.

What is the threat?

The big cat population in Gujarat is the last of the Asiatic lions in the wild.
The recent mass mortality is a grave signal that the magnificent Asiatic lion is under threat.
Reportedly, the cats have been killed by disease, most likely to be infectious.
Some others have died due to poisoning and infighting.

What was the court's order?

In 2013, the Supreme Court had issued an order in this regard.
Under this, lions from Gujarat are to be relocated to the Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
This was ordered as a check against the threat of epidemic.
Rationale - A smaller population with limited genetic strength are more vulnerable to diseases and calamities than a large and widespread population.
The court noted how 30% of the lion population in Tanzania’s Serengeti was killed due to an outbreak of a viral disease.
Asiatic lion has been restricted to only one single habitat i.e. the Gir National Forest and its surrounding areas.
So an outbreak of possible epidemic or natural calamity might wipe off the entire species.
Very recently, after the series of deaths, the Supreme Court has asked the Central government to look into it.

What is Gujarat's response?

Gujarat has responded that lions are now spread over the Greater Gir region and this reduces the threat.
When ill, lions are routinely picked up, medically treated, and then released.
It thus said that good conservation practices and intensive wildlife healthcare had lead to epidemic free regime.
It has also said that the lions there are metapopulations in the State, which may be geographically separate but have interactions and an exchange of individuals.
So the current Asiatic lion population is not a single population confined to one place.
It consists of “metapopulation spread over several locations within the Greater Gir Region”.

What are the ecological concerns?

When wild animals go extinct locally, they are reintroduced as in the case of tigers in Sariska, Rajasthan.
When hungry, they are fed artificially, and even provided salts as supplements.
In other parts of India, wild animals are funnelled through artificial trenches, barriers and fences.
But this is wildlife conservation in the age of man, where protected areas sometimes resemble zoos.
In nature, wildlife conservation concerns itself with maintaining ecological processes and reducing threats to endangered species.
This does not entail treating wild animals for disease as done for domestic animals.
As it is not conducive to the ‘natural’ process of life and death, goes against the natural selection processes, and ultimately compromises immunity.
So intensive artificial medical treatment of wild animals does not augur well for long-term sustainability.

What should be done?

The role of wildlife managers should be to reduce unnatural threats, and not unnaturally prolong life.
E.g. Gujarat should turn its attention to reducing the drivers of disease, which includes controlling feral dog populations.

A geographically separate population of Asiatic lions needs to be created.
Gujarat should work towards colonising new habitats outside the Gir landscape within the State.
This is not for creating isolated populations but increasing suitable lion range from its present, much smaller area.

Source: The Hindu