Heartbreaking: 21 lions die in Gujarat's Gir forest in 18 days

A week after a lioness and a cub died, carcasses of 10 more lions have been found in the forests of Gir in Gujarat. As many as 21 lions have died in Gir in the last 18 days alone, causing worry to forest officials and conservationists.

The Forest Department attribute infighting and infections in liver and kidney to be the main causes for the recent death of lions. Gir authorities as an immediate measure have moved 31 lions to an animal care centre to be kept under isolation.

Sixty-four teams were formed last week to screen and move sick lions to rescue centres. A central government team of wildlife experts had also visited Gir to probe the sudden death of lions.

Around 100 lions die annually, with the death rate peaking during monsoon. On an average, about 32 lions in Gir die during three months of monsoon every year.

(Representative image)