Lions in exchange for tigers: The Gujarat-MP face-off

Outside zoos, the last tiger in Gujarat was spotted in 1997, and three years later, the count came down to nought. When Project Tiger was launched in 1973, the state barely had eight tigers. On the other hand, the last census of Asiatic lions showed the population going up from 327 to 359 in five years.

‘‘We have no reason to shift the lion anywhere, we have already expanded the sanctuary area,’’ a proud Narendra Modi had declared.

‘‘Gujarat is the only political entity which had both lions and tigers. The tiger has become extinct in Gujarat but it can be re-established in the Dangs forest,’’ says Singh.

According to P R Sinha, director of the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehra Dun, there should be no problems in the ‘exchange’. Adds Dr Singh: ‘‘The habitat suitability will have to be studied keeping in view the World Conservation Union (IUCN) guidelines, protocol and procedures.’’

Singh has discussed the exchange with Gujarat government officials and their counterparts in Madhya Pradesh. Neither government is ruling out the possibility of a discussion, but the question is who will take the initiative given that the lion relocation project in Gujarat has come a cropper so far.

‘‘Let them come with a proposal, we will examine and study it. I can’t say ‘yes’ or ‘no’ off hand,’’ says Khanna. ‘‘There is no proposal from their side. We are ready if they approach us,’’ says Dr Gangopadhyaya. This, when the same political party is ruling both the states. ‘‘The answers could come when both the states regard this as a challenge rather than a problem,’’ concludes Singh.