AP News, October 19th, 2007
Five rare Asiatic lions were found electrocuted Friday on the edge of western India's Gir National Park, authorities reported.
Pradeep Khanna, Gujarat state's chief wildlife warden, said the lions were killed by an electrified fence that he alleged was put up illegally by a farmer to protect crops near the sanctuary.
"The carcasses bore the marks of electrocution," Khanna said.
He said police had arrested the farmer, who faces seven years in prison if convicted of building an unauthorized fence that killed animals.
Such lions once roamed much of Asia, but only about 350 are known to remain — all in Gujarat.
The lions often wander outside park boundaries to seek food and water, sometimes falling prey to poachers. The Wildlife Protection Society of India says their bones are highly prized in traditional Chinese medicine as are their claws, which are sometimes used for amulets in India.
The society said the latest deaths raised to 32 the number of the park's Asiatic lions lost this year. Eight died at the hands of poachers, six were killed by electrified fences, five died from falling into wells, one was hit by a vehicle and 12 died of unknown causes, it said.
"The Asiatic lion is one of the most critically endangered species on this planet, and this added twist of so many lions being killed by electrocution from crop protection fencing is a catastrophe," said Belinda Wright, executive director of the wildlife society.
In April, the state government announced plans to improve security at the sanctuary. It allocated $9 million to protect the lions with more guards and advanced security equipment, including closed-circuit video cameras.
The sanctuary is 115 miles south of Ahmadabad, the main city in western Gujarat state.
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On the Net:
Wildlife Protection Society of India: http://www.wpsi-india.org/wpsi/index.php
