Asiatic lions and Cheetahs

• The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) recently stated that it would be detrimental to the survival of both species, lions and cheetahs, to introduce lions in the same area as cheetahs due to interspecies competition.
• Supreme Court had in 2013 ordered to translocate Asiatic lions from Gujarat to Kuno National Park (KNP) in Madhya Pradesh.
• Reason for relocation of lions– This was recommended because Gir (Gujarat) was becoming crowded, and there was a risk of a disease decimating the entire population.
• Recently, Cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were introduced in KNP.
• Earlier, Project Lion, prepared by Wildlife Institute of India for Gujarat government, envisaged landscape ecology based conservation in Gujarat by integrating conservation and eco-development. It also identified Barda (Gujarat) as a potential site where Asiatic lions can be introduced and populated.

About Asiatic Lion

• Only found in India
• Population limited to following protected areas in Gujarat – Gir National Park, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary, and Girnar Sanctuary.
• IUCN status: Endangered.
• Threat: Vulnerable to disease, genetic inbreeding, potential poaching, accidental deaths due to human causes etc.

About National Tiger Conservation Authority

• Headquartered at- New Delhi
• It is statutory body constituted under ‘The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972’ under Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change.
• Chairperson: Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change.