150 new watering holes built for lions outside Gir

AHMEDABAD: The forest department has constructed 150 artificial water points for lions outside the Gir sanctuary in an effort to provide them relief from the scorching heat. The recent census of the big cat had indicated that over 160 Asiatic lions now lived outside the protected sanctuary area. For this reason, the forest department has shifted its focus to providing amenities for the lions in these areas, said sources.
The forest department has already set up water points for lions in the Gir National Park. Deputy conservator, Gir National Park, Sandeep Kumar, said 150 new water points had been constructed, apart from the 400 already existing in the wildlife sanctuary spread over 8 districts of Gujarat. The census conducted earlier this month indicated that number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary had increased to 523 lions as against 411 in 2010. “The new artificially-created water points are replenished at regular intervals. We are doing it manually, through tractor-driven water tankers, solar-pump sets and windmills," said Kumar. The water points are being filled with water for the last couple of days ever since the mercury soared to 44 degree Celsius across Saurashtra region.
Officials said that there is shortage of water in pockets where the lions have made their home. Hence the department was filling up these ponds.