NE NEWS SERVICE
GANDHINAGAR, OCT 8
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Friday said the population of Asiatic lions in Gir forest has increased by almost 29 percent in five years.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said, “We have strengthened the spirit of coexistence of Indian culture by protecting, conserving and nurturing wildlife with the sacramental heritage of ‘Jivo ane Jivva Do’ (live and let live). We want development along with maintaining our forest heritage, wildlife and marine life.”
વન્યજીવ સપ્તાહની ઉજવણીમાં વીડિયો કોન્ફરન્સના માધ્યમથી જોડાતા મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલ
લાઈવ કાર્યક્રમની લિંક :https://t.co/9b9tmj9TOA
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) October 8, 2021
The CM was speaking at the concluding day of the wildlife week celebration – from 2nd October to 8th October – by the Forest Department in a video conference from Gandhinagar.
મુખ્યમંત્રી શ્રી ભૂપેન્દ્રભાઈ પટેલ વનવિભાગ દ્વારા આયોજિત ‘વન્યપ્રાણી સપ્તાહ’ની ઉજવણીમાં વીડિયો કોન્ફરન્સથી સહભાગી થયા હતા. તેમણે વન્ય જીવોની સુરક્ષા અને કાળજી, તેમજ વન વિસ્તારમાં વૃદ્ધિ કરીને વન્યજીવોને સુયોગ્ય વાતાવરણ પૂરું પાડવા માટે રાજ્ય સરકારની પ્રતિબદ્ધતા વ્યક્ત કરી હતી. pic.twitter.com/IzEIXVqS1l
— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) October 8, 2021
Patel said that the state has 23 sanctuaries and 4 national parks as well as Asiatic Lions.
“State forest department has made intensive use of technology to strengthen the wildlife tracking system. The government has developed technological facilities like radio caller system, vehicle facility with tracking device and GPS, rescue centers for treatment of injured wildlife and animal care ambulance. the number of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region has increased to 674 in 2020 from 523 in 2015, an increase of 28.87 percent. The area inhabited by lions has increased by 36 percent from 22,000 sq km in 2015 to 30,000 sq km in 2020,” added CM.
Patel also released a book titled, “Population Estimation”, an integrated report on the growth of birds in the Nal Sarovar Bird Sanctuary and Thol Wildlife Sanctuary during the two decades from 2000 to 2020.
State Forest and Environment Minister Kiritsinh Rana joined from Jamnagar as well as public representatives, including students and wildlife lovers, from 583 places across the state virtually took part in the function.
Additional Chief Secretary of Forest Environment Arun Kumar Solanki in his welcome address clarified the purpose of this week’s celebration.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Head of Forest Force Dineshkumar Sharma delivered the vote of thanks.
Principal chief conservator of wildlife Tikadar, additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) SK Srivastava, Additional Secretary Pandit were also present at the event.
