Forest officials hold Asiatic lion census in Gir sanctuary

Ahmedabad: Forest officials have begun the five-day enumeration of Asiatic lions in the Gir sanctuary in Gujarat.

The census, which is carried out every five years, started on Friday and will continue till May 5 in five districts of the state in and around the sanctuary.

According to the last census in 2010, there were 411 lions living in the sanctuary, up from 359 lions in 2005.

As many as 2,500 people, including wildlife experts from India's top universities are participating in the counting process.

In order to record accurate estimation and to avoid overlapping of the wild cats, this time experts are using robust technology like GIS, GPS, digital cameras, camera traps.

This will also help experts record unique identification marks such as scars on face, colour, shape of ears and tuft of hair on tail of every lion.

While the exercise continues till May 5, the final number is expected on May 10.

Asiatic lions are different from African lions, with a characteristic skin fold on their bellies and thinner manes on the males - once roamed most of Asia.

(With Agency Inputs)