Shared pride: Gujarat saved the Asiatic lion but must give it new sanctuaries to insulate from epidemics

The death of 24 lions in Gujarat since early September and another 21 lions reportedly testing positive for canine distemper virus (CDV) rings warning bells for the state government. In 2013, Supreme Court had ordered relocation of some Gir lions to the Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh. This makes eminent sense given the risk of extinction facing endangered species that is clustered in a single geographical region. While Gujarat has cited the lack of adequate facilities at Kuno, many wildlife experts are not willing to buy this explanation.