Eight Lion Cubs Die in Gir in a Week; Gujarat Government Steps Up Preventive Measures

The Gujarat government is intensifying surveillance and preventive measures after eight Asiatic lion cubs died in the Gir landscape within the last week. The state government issued a statement confirming the deaths and the subsequent stepped-up containment efforts.

Preliminary assessments indicate that babesiosis might be the cause of the cub mortalities. Samples have been dispatched to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre for analysis, with results anticipated in three to four days. Experts from Junagadh Veterinary College are also contributing to the investigation. Lions within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected zones have been isolated, and large-scale deticking operations are underway in Gir and surrounding regions.

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No new cases were reported in the past two days

This situation brings to mind a similar outbreak in 2018, when an epidemic involving Canine Distemper Virus and Babesia led to the deaths of 24 lions in the Gir landscape in less than a month. Authorities at that time implemented isolation and treatment protocols to curb the spread. Officials have stated that no similar clustering of cases has been observed in the current outbreak.

The Asiatic lion population, found exclusively in Gujarat, has seen significant growth, reaching 891 in 2025, an increase from 674 in 2020. The species has expanded its range into the Amreli, Gir Somnath, and Bhavnagar districts. Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia confirmed that the Chief Minister's Office and the Prime Minister's Office are monitoring the situation closely.

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Preliminary assessment indicates the cub deaths may be linked to babesiosis