40 dogs vaccinated against CDV in Gir

Around 40 dogs have been vaccinated so far in the drive against as part of the forest department's drive to prevent the spread of CDV in the Dalkhaniya range. An officer involved in the vaccinations said that the vaccination drive for cattle was over while 23 dogs were vaccinated on Sunday and the rest on Monday. "Of the 20 villages in and around the Dalkhaniya range, complete vaccination of dogs was done for one village," said the officer.

"All the dogs were given CDV and anti-rabies vaccines. At present, the villages in the Dalkhaniya range where the affected lions were found is being covered. In the second phase all the villages of Gir, which comes to around 110, will be covered," said the officer. DT Vasavada, Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife Circle, Junagadh said that they are yet to take a decision on vaccinating the three lions who are under treatment at the rescue centre. "The three lions are stable now. We are in consultation with the experts on their vaccination," said Vasavada.

All the 33 lions that were rounded up form the range and isolated from the range has been vaccinated.

The Dalkhaniya range in Gir East had seen the death of 23 lions in just 20 days. Of this, 11 deaths were recorded in a week and the forest department had initially blamed infighting and infection for the death. Later reports from the National Institute of Virology had confirmed that four of the lions had succumbed to Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) while nine others died due to babesiosis infection spread by ticks.

FOR THE PRIDE

Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife Circle, said they are yet to take a decision on vaccinating the three lions who are under treatment at the rescue centre.