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Gujarat Moves to Isolate Lions Amid Potential Babesia Threat | Science-Environment
Officials are monitoring more than 350 lions and say no other disease symptoms have been detected among the isolated big cats.
- On Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a high-level meeting regarding four lion cub deaths in the Gir forest region from suspected Babesia virus infection, leading to the isolation of 17 adult lions.
- Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia confirmed the suspected tick-borne Babesia virus caused the deaths, while clarifying three other recent lion fatalities resulted from natural causes and territorial infighting rather than disease.
- Doctors from Junagadh Veterinary College have joined forest staff to monitor all lions within a 10-kilometer radius of affected areas, while teams conducted large-scale de-ticking operations on more than 350 lions.
- Equipped with a "tranquiliser gun" and other necessary gear, the Forest Department continues monitoring isolated animals, reporting no further symptoms of disease have been detected among them.
- While the 2025 census recorded 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat, these recent deaths evoke 2018, when 11 lions died within one month due to combined viral and protozoal infections.
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Gujarat Moves to Isolate Lions Amid Potential Babesia Threat | Science-Environment
Gujarat authorities have isolated lions in a 10-km radius in response to lion cub deaths linked to possible Babesia infection. Measures include tick-removal operations and advanced diagnostics to prevent virus spread. No infections have been reported in lions at the Sasan hospital.
·India
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Lions residing in 10-km radius of Babesia virus affected areas isolated: Gujarat minister
Gandhinagar, May 28 (PTI) Amid deaths of lion cubs from suspected ‘Babesia’ infection, big cats residing within 10-km radius of affected areas in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts in Gujarat are being isolated to prevent any potential spread, state forest minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Thursday. Samples of lion cubs that were found dead from […]
·New Delhi, India
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left3Leaning Right3Center1Last UpdatedBias Distribution43% Left, 43% Right
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Left, 43% of the sources lean Right
43% Right
L 43%
14%
R 43%
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