Gir wildlife sanctuary has seen a decline of three per cent in its lion population, with fresh cases of carcasses found in the jungles every alternate day.
NEW DELHI: While the government is still grappling with their ‘Save the Tiger’ scheme, the Indian lions are also facing the threat of extinction due to a thriving for its body parts in neighbouring China. According to the 2005 census, Gir wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat has already seen a decline of three per cent in its lion population, with fresh cases of carcasses found in the jungles every alternate day.
The recent rise in the killing of lions in Gir, has sent the conservationists in a tizzy and theories are being floated that the Indian lion may be going the tiger way, who disappeared at an alarming rate from the country. The body parts of lions, like nails, are in big demand in China, which also uses some of these parts to make traditional medicines.
The recent development in the case is that five more lions have gone missing from the sanctuary, which had a total of 362 lions in 2005. Belinda Wright, executive director, Wildlife protection society of India, said: “From the evidence collected so far, the poachers involved in the killing of the Gir lions seem to be professional poachers. They are also from Katni in MP, which is one of the prime hubs from where tiger poachers are known to belong. The fact that the bones and claws of the lions were missing, shows that these poachers were part of the organised wildlife trade that cater to traders across the border.”
In China, tiger and lion claws are commonly used as talisman and their bones used for medicinal purposes. WWF President Divyabhanu Sinh Chavda said: “They are now targeting lions after tigers. Chinese medicine allows the use of lion body parts for which tigers were targeted earlier. It is easier for poachers to target lions, as they are friendlier towards human beings compared to tigers and also move around in big groups and hence easier to spot.”
Experts have reasoned that the dwindling number of tigers in India has forced poachers to look at lions as the next best alternative. “It is difficult to tell the difference between tiger and lion bones. In fact, both are used in traditional Chinese medicine,” says Wright.
India has been the biggest source for China in its illegal tiger parts trade. Despite losing a huge number of tigers, India continues to be the only place with over 500 tigers. “If we want to save the tiger and the lion in India, there has to be a re-think in enforcement. Locals have to be involved and communication infrastructures have to be strengthened. Forming panels will not help,” adds Wright.
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