23 SHRI BAISHNAB PARIDA
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS be pleased to state :-
(a) whether it is a fact that the rise in the number of Asiatic lions is posing a number of challenges;
(b) whether it is a also a fact that the reserve forest area of Gir can ideally handle around 300 lions as per the census carried out last year; and
(c) if so, the details of steps the Ministry is taking to save lions from falling into open wells?
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRIMATI JAYANTHI NATARAJAN)
(a) to (c) The lion population in Gir is managed by the State Government of Gujarat. The Ministry has not received any reports from the State Government, related to any challenges due to rise in number of lions.