Gir lion deaths not alarming but flag need for multiple populations, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Eight lions, including cubs, in Gujarat's Gir region have died due to suspected Babesiosis infection.
• The Babesia parasite, transmitted by ticks, is the suspected cause.
• The Forest Department has isolated lions within a 10-km radius of affected areas in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts.
• Wildlife scientist Yadvendradev V Jhala suggests that such deaths are not alarming but highlight the need for multiple lion populations.

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Detailed Insights:

• Babesiosis is a tick-borne parasitic infection; lions can contract it from ticks infected with the Babesia parasite.
• Domestic livestock and wild ungulates like chital and nilgai can act as asymptomatic reservoirs of Babesia.
• Babesia acts similarly to malaria, infecting and rupturing red blood cells, leading to symptoms like lethargy, anaemia, enlarged spleen, and high fever.
• Asiatic lions are genetically compromised due to a historical bottleneck, making them more vulnerable to disease outbreaks.
• Establishing multiple, unconnected populations of Asiatic lions across their historic range would mitigate the risk of extinction from epidemics.
• The only exclusive space for Asiatic lions is a 250 sq km national park in Gir, while tigers have much larger human-free spaces in multiple reserves.

Scientific/Technical Concepts Involved:

• Babesiosis: A tick-borne parasitic infection caused by the Babesia parasite, affecting red blood cells.
• Asymptomatic Reservoir: Hosts that carry a pathogen without showing symptoms, acting as a source of infection.
• Genetic Bottleneck: A sharp reduction in the size of a population due to environmental events or human activities, leading to reduced genetic diversity.