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Asiatic lion (Panthera leo or Indian lion and Persian lion)
Why is it in news?
- Gir sanctuary in Gujarat had death of 21 lions in the just a month.
Asiatic lion (Panthera leo or Indian lion and Persian lion)
- Endangered — IUCN status
- CITES Appendix I
- Gir Forest National Park
- Only wild habitats supporting the Asiatic lion
- Gir is dry deciduous forest dominated by teak, the predominance of which is partially due to the silvicultural practices of the Gujarat State Forest Department, which permits logging and replants clear-cut areas with teak
- One of five pantherine cats inhabiting India
- Historical range included eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River to Bengal and Narmada River in Central India.
- Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project— to find an alternative habitat for reintroducing Asiatic lions
- Threats
- Currently exists as a single subpopulation, and is thus vulnerable to extinction from unpredictable events, such as an epidemic or large forest fire.
- Poaching
Sources
The Hindu, IUCN