Lion Cub Deaths In Gir: Gujarat Forest Minister Says Situation Under Control, No New Cases In 3 Days

The health situation of Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir landscape continues to remain under close surveillance as officials balance reassurance with rising concerns over recent fatalities. While the Gujarat Forest Department has reported that no new suspected cases of Babesia infection have emerged in the past three days, the broader situation remains sensitive following multiple lion deaths in recent weeks.

Authorities confirmed that 17 lions under observation are being continuously monitored across Gir and adjoining areas after earlier deaths of cubs and adult lions linked to suspected infection. Officials have intensified veterinary intervention , surveillance and field-level tracking to prevent any further spread within the world’s only natural habitat of Asiatic lions.

Recent reports, however, indicate that the overall situation may be more complex, with investigations pointing to a possible combination of Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Babesia in the recent deaths of lions in the Gir landscape. Between four and eight cub deaths have been reported in different phases of the recent outbreak window, while some adult deaths have also been recorded, though authorities have attributed several to natural causes and territorial conflicts.

Forest officials have expanded deworming and tick-control operations , covering nearly 500 lions over the past three months, and have isolated animals within a 10-km radius of affected zones as a precautionary containment measure. Treatment includes controlled capture, medical examination, and administration of drugs targeting both internal and external parasites.

According to veterinary teams, enhanced monitoring is being carried out round the clock across core and peripheral forest areas, including revenue pockets where earlier cases were detected. Officials also noted that similar CDV–Babesia outbreaks have occurred in the past, making early detection and containment critical for conservation.

The Asiatic lion, which survives only in Gujarat, had a recorded population of around 891 in the latest census , making its health management a matter of high ecological significance.