Mutated virus may have killed Gir lions

First time in many years that so many deaths have been attributed to a virus

Ahmedabad, Gujarat, 09/08/2018: FILE PICTURES : WORLD LION DAY AUGUST 10TH: An Asiatic Lion adult cubs at Sasan Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat. According to Wildlife lover enthusiastic from Junagadh Hardik Nimbark, says Right now the Asiatic lions are enjoying their vacation. This is the matting season going on for them. According to the recent few articles in news papers, lioness gave birth about 50 cubs in Gir as well as greater Gir in last month. It means the numbers of lions are increasing, and they are rehabitat in their old areas. The Asiatic lion was first described in 1826 by the Austrian zoologist Johann N. Meyer who named it Felis leo persicus. Until the 19th century, it occurred in eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east of the Indus River to Bengal and Narmada River in Central India.Since the turn of the 20th century, it is restricted to the Gir Forest National Park and surrounding areas. Since 2010, the population has steadily increased. In May 2015, the 14th Asiatic Lion Census was conducted over an area of about 20,000 km (7,700 sq mi); the lion population was estimated at 523 individuals, comprising 109 adult males, 201 adult females and 213 cubs. In August 2017, a similar census revealed 650 wild individuals. The lion is one of five pantherine catsinhabiting India, along with the Bengal tiger, Indian leopard, snow leopard and clouded leopard. It was also known as "Indian lion" and "Persian lion". Gujarat state officials resisted the relocation, since it would make the Gir Sanctuary lose its status as the world's only home of the Asiatic lion. According to a recent internal lion count by the forest department in July this year, there are nearly 650-odd lions in the reserved forests and even outside the national park in Amreli, Bhavnagar and Gir-Somnath districts. World Lion Day is observed on August 10. Photo : Vijay Soneji.

While Gujarat officials are grappling with the death of 21 lions in the last month, wildlife experts say that more than the numbers it’s the fear of a mutation in a virus as the likely cause of deaths that’s perturbing.

In 1994, the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) was responsible for an epidemic in the Serengetti region of Africa, where 1,000 lions died in 3 weeks. While the virus abounds in local tiger populations in Gujarat and is linked to deaths every year, this year it has seen a spike.

This is the first time in years, that so many deaths have been attributed to the virus, said Y.S. Jhala, a senior scientist, an expert on lions, at the Wildlife Institute of India.

“Rumours are that it maybe a new mutation …that may have jumped a host from dogs to lions. But it’s still to be confirmed,” he said in a phone conversation.

 

The WII, which is a body under the Union Environment Ministry, had sent a member as part of a Central team to investigate the lion deaths.

The last lion census in 2015 recorded 523 individuals and with a 3% growth, there were about 600 at present, said H.S. Singh, a member of the National Board for Wildlife. However, every year 80-90 lions died due to various causes. “For members in the cat family, a 20% (annual) death rate would still see the species’ overall numbers increase,” Mr. Singh told The Hindu . Last year there were 100 deaths and before that 80, he added.

There’s no official estimate so far of how many lions have died this year.

Because many of the Gir lions live outside protected areas and are in contact with domestic dwellings, their susceptibility to new pathogens has risen, he said.

Being a virus, there’s no specific treatment and the government was importing a vaccine from the United States as a preventive measure against future outbreaks. Mr. Jhala cautioned against the use of a vaccine.

“It would be stupid to vaccinate wild lions because it’s likely to compromise their immunity against future infections. These are wild animals and not ones in a zoo,” he added.

According to the State Forest Department, 11 lions died between September 12 to 19 in Gir’s Dalkhania and Jasadhar range. Out of those 11 deaths, carcasses of seven lions were found in the forest areas while four lions died during treatment.

Moreover between September 20 to 30, 10 more lions rescued from Dalkhania range have died during the treatment, taking the toll to 21.