Chotila lions may have origins in Gir sanctuary itself

RAJKOT: Their friendship is being described like that of Jay and Viru of blockbuster Sholay.
The two lions, who had found a new habitat in Chobari grassland near Chotila in November last year, are now moving together inside the deep sanctuary area of Gir. Till now, they haven’t encountered any other lion which could lead to a much-feared territorial fight.
Forest department officials now suspect that these two lions could have separated from this parental pride in Gir sanctuary itself, unlike the earlier theory that they had ventured into Chotila from Babra in Amreli district.
On Sunday, the two had reached Junagadh near the Girnar mountain. Now, they are moving deep inside the sanctuary in the direction of Gir-Somnath district. They are in search of a lioness and in order to do so, they may acquire the territory by defeating some old lion in the area.
Officials tracking these radio-collared lions are surprised to note that the duo are well-versed with the routes not just from Gondal side, but also the entire sanctuary area.
Talking to TOI, chief conservator of forest (Junagadh), S K Srivastava said, “The lions are moving downwards in Gir sanctuary area. When they came in Chotila, we were not sure from where they had come, but they way they are moving on a predetermined path, indicates that they have their origins in the Gir sanctuary itself.”
According to sources, the forest department will get a clear picture about their origin in a couple of days by studying their movements. The lions are continuing to move downwards from Gir mountain ranges, but forest officials are eagerly waiting to see that continue moving on same path or return back.
The lions were moving around in the peripheral areas of three districts- Surendrangar, Rajkot and Amreli - when they came to Chotila in November. They had also killed a leopard to prove their supremacy over the territory.