Sanctuary Asia — January 2018

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were crucial in maintaining human-lion
interface to a bare minimum although
both lived in very close quarters of
each other, and thus,
were powerful ingredients of an
exemplary coexistence. Though
we frequently found lions close
to humans, only infi nitesimal of
those (<0.05 per cent) resulted in
aggressive encounters between the
two. The lions sustained themselves
mostly by scavenging on dead
livestock and actively predating on
unproductive un-owned live ones and
nilgai. Consequently, depredation on
productive livestock was low and very
promptly compensated (monetarily)
by the Forest Department. The losses
thus, have not yet made a dent on

the human-coff ers, and lions still

thrive outside the PA within socially

acceptable limits.

After four years of studying lions

up-close and personal in people’s

backyards, I cannot stop but marvel

at the adaptability and character of

these magnifi cent predators: tolerant,

fl exible and so very patient. The

story of the Asiatic lions stands as a

conservation success because of

these traits, and the commendable

eff orts of the Forest Department

and the local people. The people of

Gujarat have shown incredible respect

and reverence for these tawny cats,

unrivalled in any corner of the world

for any other carnivore. Owing to this,

the lions have bounced back from

the abyss to a handsome 500 plus

individuals while extending their range

from just within Gir to an additional

20,000 sq. km. of the agro-pastoral

Saurashtra landscape. Lions presently

occupy areas, which were out of bounds

for them for the last two centuries!

However, every time I see a pride of

lions cross a highway or move into

human settlements, kill livestock and

or get into uncomfortable encounters

with humans or a Prosopis thicket

being mowed down to give way to a

high-fenced resort; I feel a shudder in

my spine thinking about the daunting

task that lies ahead of us to reconcile

booming development of a progressive

state with conservation of the last

lions of Asia. t

After four years of studying lions up-close and personal in people’s backyards, I cannot stop but marvel at the

adaptability and character of these magnifi cent predators: tolerant, fl exible and so very patient. The story of the

Asiatic lions stands as a conservation success because of these traits, and the commendable eff orts of the Forest

Department and the local people.