AHMEDABAD: The death of a lion on the Rajula-Pipavav railway track in Amreli district in February had raised the debate on how lions were entering the track which has been fenced off. Experts who visited the area found that the lions were entering the fenced area of the railway track through gates made to allow access to farmers.
The railways and Pipavav port trust had put up 8-foot high fencing on the 17km stretch from Pipavav to Barfkhana junction. However, some 20 big cats including 12 lions have died on the 4km stretch between Pipavav and Bherai.
After a lion was killed in February, the forest department deputed officials who along with HS Singh, member of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife, to visit the area and suggest measures to mitigate lion deaths on the track. Officials in Gandhinagar said that the team concluded that the lions were not entering the railway track area by jumping the fence but through the 150 gates on the 4km stretch which are often left open.
Officials said these gates were to be closed by farmers and locked after use. However, they are being left open causing the lions to get trapped. H S Singh said, “The average lion weighs over 150kg and cannot jump an 8-foot fence. Other reasons need to be addressed.”
Officials said the railways produced documents showing that the train driver had brought down the speed from 50km per hour to zero, in about 17 seconds, but despite this the animal was hit.
Officials said an average of two herbivores such as neelgai or wild boar are reportedly killed every day. The carcass then remains on the track and draws lions to it and they often get trapped inside.
The is also raised by about one foot and if the lion is sitting on it, it becomes difficult for it to get off as the train approaches. Lion also barely move when the train is approaching.
The forest department has posted men on the stretch to ensure that lions are not inside the fenced track but there there is barely any surveillance by them.
