AHMEDABAD: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani has reviewed the progress of the state government’s Rs 350-crore lion conservation project launched in November last year after more than 15 big cats died in Gir forest.
Rupani held a meeting at Sasan-Gir June 11 with senior forest officials and asked them to expedite the implementation of the project.
The project includes setting up of a dedicated hospital for lions, a research center, purchasing drones and radio collars for better surveillance, a quarantine facility, a vaccine center, apart from comprehensive training modules for forest staff, a state government release said.
During his visit to the Gir National Park in Sasan in Junagadh, Rupani visited the animal care and rescue center and also flagged off an ambulance to tend to injured or ill lions, it added.
The Gujarat CM also suggested that forest staff use electric vehicles instead of petrol or diesel ones for ferrying tourists inside the national park, it said.
Giving details about the animal exchange program with other states, Rupani said various zoos in Gujarat will get 142 rare wild animals from other states in exchange for 30 lions, the release added.
