BACKGROUND
:
This
reports comes in light of the long hanging issue on Translocations
of Lions from Gujarat to M.P. basis the threat of concentration
risk of Lions in Gir, Gujarat. As a layman, the same sounds
logical and rationale,until one gets deeper into the issue, which
was our endeavor.
The
Hon’ble Supreme Court recently ordered the translocation on the
grounds of Government of Gujarat’s anthropocentric argument of
the Lion being the family member and a part of the civilization
and culture and pride of the state being not strong argument for
staying the translocation and have rather asked for ecocentric
views and scientific reasoning on the subject. The Government has
filed for Review Petition on the order and Empower
Foundation's endevour
was to support the cause in the larger interest of Wildlife
Conservation, with ecocentric views and scientific reasoning
rather than anthropocentric arguments which the Hon’ble court
had discounted.
- Analysis post field visit of the Lion habitat in Gujarat, which is not just Gir but much much beyond the same, unfortunately, what is not being rightly and strongly positioned by the government and the media.
- Study of International Translocation failures, Animal Stress and IUCN guidelines violations which proves, translocation unfavourable for the Lions.
- Comparative Analysis of Kuno Palpur and Sheopur area with the current Lion habitat in Gir, which proves that the translocation of the Lions can fail big time due to a 12 adverse reasons. The Govt. of MP on its website has also listed Sheopur as a chronic draught prone area.
OUR
RECOMMENDATION :
Basis the above 3 important
areas, we strongly recommend that the Lions should be allowed to
“migrate only
naturally (through corridors)” and “not
be manually translocated”
and even if the need arises, translocation can be tried, surely
not to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh,
which will result into a failed translocation and extinction of
the endangered lions from the new proposed habitat, a big loss to
the wildlife ! The
analytical report is of 44 pages, but below is an Executive
Summary
of the same.
We
respect the views of activists in favour of translocation, which
could look correct only from a certain point unless one digs deep
in, which this report tries by bringing a holistic view backed by
data, international best practices and results on the issue. It is
small contribution from our end to Conserve the Lions (even one or
two lions dying due to a faulty translocation is an issue) and we
hope this helps save not just Lions, but other wildlife (Tigers
and bears present in Kuno) and humans around the proposed
location, which could come under conflict as seen in the past
internationally and in India !
With
Best Regards,
For
Empower Foundation,
Jalpesh
Mehta
Founder Chairman
SUMMARY
-
WHY
LIONS
SHOULD
NOT
BE
TRANSLOCATED
FROM
GUJARAT,
ESPECIALLY
TO
KUNO
PALPUR,
M.P.
1
|
Argument
of
Concentration
risk
in
Gir
National
Park
and
hence
impact
of
Epidemic
is
Incorrect.
Reasonings
as
below
:
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2
|
International
Perspective
and
technicalities
on
Translocation
Failures
and
allied
negativities
around
translocation
|
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2.1
|
Animal
Stress : A Key reason of Translocation Failure – A technical
analysis
|
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Since
the
main
components
of
translocation
– capture,
captivity,
transport,
and
release
to
novel
area
– are
all
individually
stressful
events,
translocated
animals
will
inevitably
experience
a
state
of
chronic
stress,
which
can
lead
to
changes
in
both
the
stress
response
physiology
(fight-or-flight
responsiveness,
sympathetic
nervous
system
(SNS)
drive,
hypothalamic-pituitary–adrenal
(HPA)
axis
function,
and
overall
glucocorticoid
(GC)
secretion
and
in
function
of
the
immune
system
and
behavioral
coping
strategies
as
stated
by
Dickens
et
al,
2010,
“Stress:
An
inevitable
component
of
animal
translocation.”
It
is
concluded,
that
all
translocated
animals
will
be
chronically-stressed
to
various
degrees
upon
release
making
them
more
vulnerable
to
other
environmental
factors,
and
thereby
amplifies
the
potential
problems
encountered
when
released
such
as
succumbing
to
(1)
disease
(2)
reproductivity
issues
(3)
dispersion
(4)
starvation
or
(5)
predation
With
respect
to
Kuno-Palpur
Sanctuary,
chances
of
predation
and
infighting
with
Tigers
and
bears,
dispersion
to
nearby
tiger
territories
like
Ranthambhor
(from
where
2
tigers
traveled
into
Kuno
in
January
2013),
starvation
due
to
low
prey
base
and
adverse
drought
like
climate
(also
as
confirmed
by
MP
Government
for
Sheopur
district)
besides
serious
genetic
disorders,
diseases
and
reproductivity
issues
is
confirmed.
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2.2
|
Failed
Translocation – Case Studies Analysis at International Level
|
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Translocation
of
large
carnivores
is
a
sophisticated
management
practice
with
a
relatively
low
success
and
also
as
rarely
a
suitable
strategy
as
per
P.
Chardonnet
&
team
in
their
work,
Managing
the
Conflicts
between
People
and
Lion.
Also
termed
as
more
of
a
public-relations
exercise
than
an
effective
management
tool
(Linnell
et
al.,
1997;
Woodroffe
and
Frank,
2005).
|
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2.3
|
Growing
Lion Trade at International levels
|
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As
per
LionAid,
In
India,
all
carcasses
of
tigers
are
considered
poaching
incidents
until
other
reasons
for
mortality
can
be
supported.
Perhaps
lion
carcasses
should
now
be
treated
with
the
same
degree
of
suspicion
(China
values
skeleton
of
lion
at
$10000).
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2.4
|
IUCN
Guidelines on Translocation – Potential Risk and could be
Violations
|
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3
|
Comparative
Analysis
of
Kuno
Palpur
and
Sheopur
area
with
the
current
Lion
habitat
in
Gujarat
– A
summary
or
adversities
(Detailed
analysis
in
the
Report)
|
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The
following
issues
makes
Kuno-Palpur
a
complete
incompetent
location
for
Lions,
if
translocated
:
|
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Basis
above,
we
strongly
oppose
manual
Translocation
of
Lions,
moresoever
to
Kuno
Palpur
Wildlife
Sanctuary,
Madhya
Pradesh
More on the Foundation & the Team on About Us page
