Gujarat today rejected the Centre’s offer to swap Asiatic lions in its Gir reserve with tigers in a bid to relocate them in a second home in a protected area in neighbouring Madhya Pradesh.

“There is no way Gujarat can part with its lions. The state has shown a successful model of conservation of lions and therefore it does not want to part with it,” the official said.

The official was responding to Environment and Forest Minister Jairam Ramesh’s “You give me lions and I will give you tigers” offer to the Narendra Modi government. Gir forest today is the sole and last bastion of the Asiatic lion.

“We have developed expertise in not only conservation of the wild cats through community protection, but also in wildlife crime management.

State Forest Minister Mangubhai Patel also denied any possibility of accepting exchange offer muted by central minister. Shri Patel said the case about shifting lions to Madhya Pradesh is pending in Supreme court. “The state does not intend to give consent to shift the lions”, he added.