Two lions fall into open wells in separate incidents, both die

Gandhinagar, 7 October 2014

Accidental deaths of two lions are reported from two districts of Saurashtra region in Gujarat today. Both deaths have occurred due to open wells.

The first death has been reported from Bhavnagar district’s Mahuva belt where dead body of a lioness has been found from an open well. Forest department has recovered dead-body from well.

The second death has been reported from Chorwad belt of Gir-Somnath district where a lion cub has been found dead in an open well.

Since 20 September this is third death of lion due to open wells.

With the help of Reliance Industries and others, the forest department has completed the task of covering open wells with protection wall within Gir forest area, however in revenue area outside the forest, thousands of open wells are still existing.

Falling in an open well is one of the three major reasons of unnatural deaths of lions. Another two reasons are train/road accidents and electrocution.

In July this year the Gujarat government had admitted that 13 Asiatic lions died due to unnatural causes within last one year in and around the famous Gir Wildlife sanctuary in the state.

Among these, nine deaths were registered in Amreli, three in Junagadh and one in Gir-Somnath. Out of nine deaths registered in Amreli region, four lions died after being run over by trains, two died after they fell in an open well and three lions died in road accidents.

In Junagadh, one lion died after falling in an open well and two died of electric shock. Similarly, one lion in Gir-Somnath region died of electrocution.

As per the 2011 census, there are total 411 lions in the Gir forest, said Vasava while answering another question raised by Dhari MLA Nalin Kotadia. The next census will be carried out in 2015, he said.

Around 114 lions are also found in surrounding areas of Gir forest due to increase in their population.