Gujarat state forest minister informed the state assembly that a total of 313 lions had died in Gir jungle in the span of just two years from January 2019 to December 2020.

News update:  The Gujarat government on Friday informed the state Assembly that in the last two years a total of 313 lions have died at the Gir National Park of Junagarh District. Except Africa, Gir Forest National Park in Gujarat is the only place in the world where you can see lions roaming in the open.

A wriiten question was raised by the Congress MLA of Lathi constituency, Virji Thummar. Replying to the answer, the forest Minister Ganpatsinh Vasava informed the house that a total of 313 lions had died in Gujarat in the two years from January 2019 to December 2020.

According to the report, 69 lions have died natural deaths while two died unnaturally; 77 lionesses had died natural deaths, while 13 died unnaturally.

Out of the total 152 deaths of lion cubs, 144 died naturally while eight died of unnatural causes.

On the sub-question by the legislator on what steps were being taken by the government to curb unnatural deaths of the big cats, the minister informed that patrolling was carried out day and night by the Forest Department using patrol vehicles, weapons, walkie-talkie sets and tablets.