Gujarat Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia has assured that the situation in the Gir forest and its surrounding revenue areas is completely under control following the suspected deaths of eight lion cubs over the past week. Briefing the media in Gandhinagar today, the minister stated that no new casualties have been reported in the last two days, and that the state government is taking prompt preventive measures to protect the Asiatic lions.
Mr. Modhwadia noted that preliminary assessments suggest the deaths may have been caused by a disease called babesiosis, which is transmitted by ticks. To determine the exact cause, samples have been sent to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, and reports are expected within three to four days.
As a precautionary measure, lions within a 10-kilometre radius of the affected areas in Gir Gadhada taluka and the Babariya region of Amreli have been isolated, and a massive de-ticking drive is being carried out on a war footing. Expert veterinary teams from Junagadh Veterinary College are also assisting on-site.
