Pure-bred Asiatic lions from Sakkarbaug set to fly abroad

Rajkot:

Sakkarbaug zoo

’s success with captive breeding of pure-bred Asiatic lions has achieved another milestone after the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) as well as an

Iran

zoo have approached the Indian zoo authorities to acquire several pairs of Asiatic lions.

Even as talks are taking place regarding the transfer of the animals, the silver lining is that animal exchange programmes between India and foreign zoos have restarted after the pandemic break. India has given 21 lions to zoos abroad since 1991.

In the past two years, Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh — home to the Asiatic lions — has seen the birth of 84 lion cubs since January 2020 under the captive breeding programme. Thanks to the zoo authority’s special efforts, the number of cubs born in captivity has increased significantly.

With the Central Zoo Authority’s (CZA) permission for the exchange of animals, the Sakkarbaug zoo sends lions to other zoos in India regularly. It is the sole source of pure-bred felines and that is why zoos across the world demand lion cubs from this zoo only.

EAZA has around 400 member zoos across Europe and the Middle East and it procures the animals for all these zoos. It also ensures that the member zoos maintain the highest standard of care and population management of the animal species.

Confirming the ongoing dialogues, a senior forest official, “EAZA has initiated dialogue with the CZA for several pairs of pure breed of Asiatic lions’ pairs to enrich their stock.”

The CZA, in turn, will get exotic foreign animals in lieu of the lions under the exchange programme. A zoo in Iran is also negotiating with the Indian government for a pair of Asiatic lions, said sources.

“EAZA and the World Associations of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) judicially maintain a gene pool of Asiatic lions and for that, they need pure breeding. If they take lion cubs from any other zoo across the globe, there are chances they may get cross-breed cubs of Asiatic and African lions. Only Sakkarbaug zoo in Junagadh is the sole source of Asiatic lions and so, these authorities prefer taking lions from here for gene pool purity,” a forest officer explained.

Sources in the forest department stated that the European zoos have a motto to maintain proper breeding and stock of the Asiatic lions as these are endangered species and then reintroduce them into the forest. These will prevent the total wipe-out of the lion species in case of an epidemic in the future.

According to the latest census, there are around 674 Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s four districts — Gir Somnath, Junagadh, Amreli, and Bhavnagar — while a majority of the wild cats have inhabited revenue areas too.


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