SRP sent to Gir sanctuary to guard lions from poachers

JUNAGADH: With a spurt in incidents of poaching in the Gir sanctuary, the Gujarat government has decided to send two companies of the State Reserve Police (SRP) to guard the endangered Asiatic Lions.

The step comes after three lions were found killed in Babaria range of the sanctuary here on Friday which has taken the toll of lions killed by poachers to six this month.

"We are sending two companies of SRP to Babaria range in Gir-West to assist the forest department and prevent the reoccurance of poaching incidents," state home minsiter Amit Shah told mediapersons at the circuit house here.

Both Shah and forest minister Mangu Patel arrived here to visit Babaria range of the sanctuary where remains of three lions killed by poachers were discovered on Friday.

"This is a serious incident and it will be investigated by the CID-crime which is also looking into the March four incident (where two lioness and a cub were found killed by poachers)," he added.

Three Asiatic lions were found slaughtered on Friday and some of their body parts stolen from inside the Gir wildlife sanctuary.

Three other lions were killed and their body parts stolen earlier this month, prompting a CID and forensic inquiry by the government.

As per the forest department census of 2005, there are only 359 of the Asiatic lions in the Gir sanctuary.