Ahmedabad: Forest department officials said five Asiatic lions, including two cubs, have died in the Gir district in the past 10 days, with no sign of an outbreak.
The deaths were reported from the Gir East and Gir West sections of the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary. Gujarat Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Tuesday that two of the dykes were suspected to have died from Babesia-related infections, while the remaining deaths occurred due to fighting or other causes.
He said the government did not see any widespread health concern in the region and described the deaths as part of routine deaths among the population. He added that samples were collected from the bodies and sent for laboratory tests.
A senior forest department official said that of the five deaths reported in the past 10 days, one was due to injuries sustained during combat and two were due to natural causes.
Babesia infection is spread by ticks and affects red blood cells, leading to weakness, shortness of breath, and nasal discharge. Following the deaths, forest teams intensified monitoring operations in the affected areas. Officials are monitoring lion groups and checking for symptoms.
The Asiatic lion is found only in Gujarat in the wild. The 2025 census recorded 891 lions, up from 674 in 2020. The population has expanded beyond the protected area to areas such as Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar.
Forest officials said lion deaths occur every year due to age, disease and territorial conflict, with the cubs being more vulnerable to infections and environmental stresses. They said the current deaths do not indicate any unusual trend.
In 2018, an outbreak of canine distemper virus and secondary babesiosis virus killed 24 Asiatic lions in less than a month in the Gir Natural Area. The authorities then implemented isolation and treatment measures to contain the spread of the disease. No such clustering or pattern has been observed in the current deaths, officials said.
The forest department conducts post-mortem examinations of all lion deaths and maintains disease surveillance. Tissue samples are being sent to laboratories for examination, and veterinary teams remain on alert in Gir and neighboring areas.
Forest department officials said monitoring would continue in Gir East and Gir West with increased patrolling and sample collection in the coming days.
Last year, the Center approved the lion project at an expense of approx $Rs 2,900 crore to secure the long-term survival of the Asiatic lion through habitat expansion, disease control and scientific management.
Under this plan, a National Wildlife Health Referral Center is being established in Gujarat to enhance disease surveillance, diagnosis and treatment. The project also includes developing the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Porbandar district as a second habitat for lions to create a separate community outside the Gir area and reduce the risk of epidemics.
