Lions party through the night in Amreli

TIMES NEWS NETWORK[ THURSDAY, JANUARY 06, 2005 09:53:30 PM ]



RAJKOT: On Wednesday night, the residents of Virpur village in Amreli district were rudely awakened by a frightening invasion. Seven Asiatic lions had strayed into their village from the Gir sanctuary to prey on their livestock.


By dawn, the villagers, who had been helplessly watching the beastly assault from their homes, ventured out to count the carcasses — the village was strewn with the remains of 40-odd domestic animals.

Virpur resident Kanubhai Kothiya says, "Some seven lions killed 35 goats, four wild pigs and an ox. One or two lions stray into the village every week, but this was an army."

The invasion has raised pertinent questions about the proliferating population of wildcats, which has compelled them to extend their territories and stray into human habitat in search of food.

Virpur's residents claim is customary for villages in and around protected areas like Dhari, Mityana and Tulsishyam to entertain these hungry guests at night.

The people do not venture outside the village after sunset, and if they do, they only return the following day. Mansukh Bhura says, "It is impossible for farmers to tend the fields at night as a lion could be sitting right in the middle of the field." But this is a way of life here. As Bhura of Virpur describes it, "Lions are as visible here as stray dogs in cities".

Conservator of forests (CF), Junagadh, Bharat Pathak admits that the lions are straying out of the sanctuary. According to him, "In every census, we find them making new homes outside the sanctuary. The population of lions is increasing, hence we are surveying new areas."

Bhavnagar-Shretrunji range CF AK Mishra agrees and says, "With the increase in numbers, these lions are moving out to new areas, not just for food but in search of new homes."

Former principal chief conservator of forest Sanat Chavan is not surprised by the invasion. He recalls, "The 1953 census showed 250 lions in an area of 4000 sq km, the population decreased to 170 lions in 1968 in the same area, but the last census recorded 327 lions in just 1450 sq km."

Interesting story at a time the Indian Wildlife authorities want to catch lions from the Gir Park to replenish lions in zoos which have been seriously mis-managed by inbreeding and may need to be killed.

Previously we have only heard how the Gir lions were on the advent of extinction.

Cn any of our Indian friends on the board comment?

lol, what a goofy title. I was picturing a bunch of lions getting drunk and head banging to Andrew W. K's "Party Hard"