150 artificial points for lion's outside Ahemedabad's Gir sanctuary

AHMEDABAD: With the census result throwing surprises that over 160 Asiatic lions were situated outside the protected area, the forest department has now shifted its focus in these areas. The department in the bid to provide relief from the scorching heat has constructed 150 artificial water points.
The department officials said that to the growing population of Asiatic lions, the Gujarat forest department has set up 150 new artificial water points in Gir national park for the convenience of felines to quench their thirst.

Deputy Conservator, Gir National Park, Sandeep Kumar said 150 new water points have been constructed, apart from the 400 already existing water points across the wildlife sanctuary covering eight districts of Gujarat.

According to the latest census announced early this month, the number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary, the only abode of these big cats, has increased to 523 lion as against the 411 in 2010. Of these 523 lions counted, 167 were outside the protected sanctuary, while another 356 lions were in Gir Sanctuary, Mitiyala, Gir and Pania protected sanctuaries.

"These artificially created water points are being filled up at regular intervals. We are doing it manually, through tractor-driven water tankers, solar pump sets and wind mills," said the Kumar.

The water points are being filled from last couple of days after mercury soared to 44 degree Celsius across the Saurashtra region.

Officials said that the pockets where the lions have made it their home there is shortage of water and hence the department was filling up these ponds.

In Amreli district in Liliya and Kachraj area, the villagers themselves have joined hands with the department to fill up these artificial water points. In several villages in case of shortage of the water tankers, the villagers themselves are filling up the points and ensure that the lion don’t go thirsty.