SGNP to get two more lions from Gujarat in exchange for two tiger cubs

The summation of these 2 caller lions volition instrumentality the full lion colonisation successful SGNP to four. In speech of these lions, the SGNP medication volition beryllium giving 2 tiger cubs to Sakkarbaug Zoo administration.

The connection for acquiring these 2 lions was sent to the CZA earlier connected March 2024. This volition besides beryllium the 2nd clip successful 2 years that SGNP volition beryllium acquiring lions from the Sakkarbaug Zoo. Prior to this, successful November 2022, the SGNP medication had got 2 lions from the Sakkarbaug Zoo by exchanging 2 tigers. The property of lions astatine the clip of procurement were 3 years.

When these lions were brought astatine SGNP, determination was lone 1 surviving lion–Jespa astatine the park, which died owed to aged property wrong a fewer days aft the caller lions arrived.

“Since the lion safari is portion of SGNP now, determination is simply a request to person much lions wrong the park. Considering this, we had requested the authorities of Gujarat to springiness america 2 lions nether an speech programme, pursuing which a connection was sent to CZA which got approved today,” Dr V Clement Ben, further Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) told The Indian Express on Tuesday.

Clement said the 2 lions that volition beryllium brought to SGNP are cubs astir 1 twelvemonth old. The tiger cubs that volition beryllium exchanged also beryllium to the aforesaid property group. The tiger colonisation successful SGNP excluding the 2 cubs stands astatine six astatine present.

“The lions volition get wrong 15 days. At archetypal a squad comprising a veterinary doc and a wildlife serviceman volition sojourn Sakkarbaug to place and medically inspect the animals. Later they volition beryllium brought to Mumbai,” added Ben.

After the lions are brought to Mumbai, they volition beryllium initially kept successful an isolation zone, aft which they volition beryllium introduced successful the captive safari zone.

The SGNP has a 12-hectare onshore that has been earmarked for lion’s territory. Starting from 1975, determination utilized to beryllium lion safari wrong the parkland regularly, which became a main gross generator for the parkland arsenic well. Those lions were chiefly hybrid offspring of Asiatic and African lions calved successful the circuses.

However, aft the enactment of CZA successful 1992, breeding of hybrid animals was prohibited successful the zoo and the colonisation of lions started to diminution successful SGNP.

As portion of the safari, visitors are taken wrong lion’s territory successful a mini-van.