Gandhinagar: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar to assess the situation following recent deaths of lion cubs in the Gir landscape and to review ongoing preventive and healthcare measures being undertaken by the Forest Department.
The meeting focused on strengthening surveillance, medical response, and monitoring systems across affected regions of the state’s key wildlife habitat.
Four Lion Cub Deaths Reported in Gir Landscape
During the review, Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, Dr. Vinod Rao informed the Chief Minister that four lion cub deaths have been reported from different locations across the Gir landscape.
Officials said the situation is being closely monitored, and precautionary steps have been initiated to prevent any further spread of potential health concerns among the lion population.
17 Lions Isolated and Under Veterinary Care
As a preventive measure, around 17 lions from affected areas have been isolated and are currently under close observation by forest officials and veterinary teams.
Authorities confirmed that these lions are being continuously monitored for any signs of illness or abnormal behaviour.
Intensive Monitoring Within 10-Km Radius of Affected Zones
Forest officials informed the Chief Minister that intensive surveillance is underway for all lions within a 10-kilometre radius of the Gir Gadhada and Babariya areas.
So far, no symptoms of any disease have been detected among the lions under observation, officials added.
In addition, daily health reports are being compiled for lion populations in the revenue areas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts.
Preventive Healthcare Measures for Over 350 Lions
As part of seasonal wildlife health management during summer, the Forest Department has initiated de-ticking and other preventive medical interventions for more than 350 lions in the Gir region.
These measures aim to reduce disease risk and improve overall health conditions of the Asiatic lion population.
Expert Veterinary Teams Deployed in Field Operations
Head of Forest Force and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Jaipal Singh, stated that expert veterinarians from Junagadh Veterinary College have been deployed to support ongoing monitoring and treatment efforts.
Senior government officials were also present during the review meeting, underscoring the seriousness of the situation and the state’s coordinated response.
Gir Wildlife Under Close Government Watch
The Gujarat Forest Department continues to maintain heightened surveillance across the Gir landscape, ensuring continuous monitoring, rapid response, and coordinated veterinary care to safeguard the region’s Asiatic lion population.
