Four lion cubs die in Gujarat's Gir Forest, officials act

A mysterious infectious disease has killed at least four lion cubs in Gujarat's Gir Forest, the only place on Earth where Asiatic lions survive in the wild, prompting a large-scale emergency response from state authorities. Officials have isolated 17 lions as a precaution and are intensively monitoring the population.

The deaths were reported from different locations within the Gir landscape. According to state Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia, two of the cub fatalities are suspected to be linked to Babesia, a tick-borne parasite that can cause weakness, coughing, and nasal discharge in animals. The minister stated that other recent lion deaths were due to natural causes and territorial infighting, and he ruled out the possibility of a major epidemic. However, a broader investigation into the cause is ongoing.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Dr. Jaipal Singh said preliminary suspicion has also fallen on the Canine Distemper Virus (CDV), a contagious disease known to affect big cats. Samples have been sent for laboratory testing to confirm the pathogen. As a precaution, eight of the quarantined lions have already tested positive for an infectious virus.