Assessent of prey populations for lion re-introduction in Kuno wildlife sanctuary, Central India

Abstract

Realizing that it is unwise to keep the only free-ranging population of Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) in one location (Gir forests), the Government of India made an effort to establish the second population in Chandraprabha Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS, 96 km2), Uttar Pradesh, in 1957. This effort, for various reasons, did not succeed. In 1993-94, with the aim of finding a second home for the lions, a team from Wildlife Institute of India (WI!) surveyed three wildlife habitats in the states of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. Among the three, Kuno WLS (345 km2) was identified as the most suitable site. With assistance from the Government of India, a twenty-year project was initiated in 1995, to establish a disturbance-free habitat here for reintroducing lions. Between 1996 and 200 I, twenty-four villages, with about 1547 families, have been translocated from the Sanctuary by the Madhya Pradesh Forest Department. The Madhya Pradesh Government has also demarcated a 1280 km2 Kuno Wildlife Division, encompassing the Sironi, Agra and Morawan forest ranges around the Sanctuary. In order to assess whether the Sanctuary has sufficient wild prey base, the WII was requested to asses the availability of prey in early 2005. With the assistance of34 forest staff 17 transects totaling 461 km were surveyed over an area of 280 km2 The density of catchable wild prey (chital, sam bar, nilgai, wild pig) by lions was 13 animals!km2. There are about 2500 cattle, left behind by the translocated people which are considered to be the buffer prey for lions to tide over the likely problem of drought periodically killing wild ungulates. With the implementation of the recommendations such as the control of poaching, grassland management, building rubble wall around the Division and water augmentation, we predict a substantial rise (ca.20 animals!km2) in the wild prey base for lions by end of2007. This prey density would be able to support the first batch of five lions (three females and two males) to be reintroduced in the beginning of 2008. Even if all the three females raise cubs, there will be sufficient wild prey by the end of 2009 to support them. Meanwhile efforts should be made to implement all the recommendations given in this report with immediate effect and get the whole hearted support of Gujrat Government to make this historic venture a success.