GJ-LION-DEATH

Lion found dead in farmland in Junagadh district
    Ahmedabad, Feb 25 (PTI) A lion was found dead in a
farmland in Junagadh district of Gujarat Monday, with initial
observation indicating infighting as the cause, a forest
department official said.
    The carcass of the big cat, aged 4-5 years, was found
in the agricultural land of a farmer, Kalu Rathod, said Chief
Conservator of Forests, Wildlife Circle, Junagadh, D T
Vasavada.
    The farmland is located under Jasadhar range of Gir
East division of forest in Junagadh district, he said.
    The farm owner informed the forest department after
which officials rushed to the spot, Vasavada said.
    "As per primary observation by staff, the reason of
death seems to be infighting," he said.
    Over 200 lions have died in the Gir forest region in
Gujarat in the last two years, the Gujarat government told the
legislative assembly Friday last week.
    To a query by Congress MLA Bhagabhai Barad, Forest
Minister Ganpat Vasava, in a written reply, said 110 lions and
94 cubs had died in 2017 and 2018.
    The government said only 27 deaths were reported to be
due to unnatural causes.
    As per the 2015 census, there were 523 lions in and
around the Gir sanctuary, the last abode of Asiatic lions. PTI
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