After catfight, UP seeks two more lions from Gujarat

Four pairs of Asiatic lions - three from Gujarat and one from Hyderabad - were brought to the safari.

Akhilesh himself monitors work at Etawah’s Lion Safari.

Lions that Gujarat gave to Uttar Pradesh were part of the political discourse during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections with chief ministers of both states trading barbs over it.

A few months on, UP has again written to Gujarat for a pair of big cats — after its Lion Safari in Etawah suffered a major blow with the death of an ailing lioness, Lakshmi, a few days ago. Besides, another ill lion, Vishnu, is showing little signs of recovery, worrying the government further.

“Vishnu is very critical. Not much can be said about his condition,” said Anil Patel, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Chambal region that covers the lion safari.

“We are in talks with Gujarat officials and they are ready to give one more pair of lions. The formalities will be over soon,” Patel added. He also said the lions will reach UP in December.

Rupal De, Chief Wild Life Conservator of the state, too, said: “We are in the process of getting another pair of lions from Gujarat as Vishnu’s condition is deteriorating by the day,”

Four pairs of Asiatic lions – three from Gujarat and one from Hyderabad – were brought to the safari. Both Lakshmi and Vishnu were brought from Hyderabad.

Officials claimed the three pairs from Gir in Gujarat were doing fine.

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Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister had traded barbs over animals that they had given to each other.

During a rally in Bareilly, Modi had said the UP Chief Minister could not handle the lions given by the Gujarat government. He also said that Akhilesh should have instead asked for Amul from his state, which would have brought development in UP.

Akhilesh had retorted that the lions were “gifted out of political courtesy” and that it was time to tell about the animals they have given to Gujarat.

Minister of State for Zoo and wildlife Shiv Pratap Yadav, who is monitoring the safari after Laksmi’s death, said: Asiatic lions are available only at Gir in Gujarat. From where else can we get them. It is a normal process of exchange of animals which occurs at zoo level in the country and at times at international level. We also give several animals to Gujarat. BJP should desist from any politics on the issue.”

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Akhilesh himself monitors the development of lion safari that is his father and Samajwadi Party chief’s dream project.

During his Diwali visit to home town Etawah, he had checked on ailing Lakshmi.

Forest officials, meanwhile, claim that the work at lion safari’s will continue as per the schedule. “It will not be affected. Vishnu is critical but the three pairs are fine. We will go ahead with their breeding as per schedule,” Patel stated.

After Lakshmi’s death, veterinarians are present round-the-clock to attend to the lions. A daily report about their well-being is being sent to forest officials in Lucknow.

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