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Call of the Helpless KingHelp Save the Lions of Gir, India

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Wildlife Conservation Trust Profile

T H E T E A MT H E T E A MKishore KotechaKishore Kotecha Real Estate Developer at RajkotReal Estate Developer at RajkotDr. M G MaradiaDr. M G Maradia Suptd, Rajkot ZOOSuptd, Rajkot ZOORama Rama SachidanandSachidanand Environ Head, The Galaxy Edu. Environ Head, The Galaxy Edu.

SystemSystemRamnik Ramnik ChondigraChondigra Builder and ContractorBuilder and ContractorBalendra VaghelaBalendra Vaghela Naturalist and Computer Naturalist and Computer

ProfessionalProfessionalKamlesh ShahKamlesh Shah Advocate at RajkotAdvocate at RajkotTushar GokaniTushar Gokani Advocate at RajkotAdvocate at Rajkot

Kamlesh AdhiyaKamlesh Adhiya Computer ProfessionalComputer Professional

Wildlife Conservation Trust is a registered NGO. We Wildlife Conservation Trust is a registered NGO. We

Coordinate, Participate, Motivate and Assist in Asiatic Coordinate, Participate, Motivate and Assist in Asiatic

Lion and Gir Conservation Lion and Gir Conservation Programmes.Programmes.

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~ Importance of Gir and Asiatic Lion ~

The Gir Protected The Gir Protected Area, spread over Area, spread over 1412 km1412 km22, is , is located in Gujarat located in Gujarat (India). It is the (India). It is the only place in the only place in the world where the world where the Asiatic Lion Asiatic Lion survives. It is one survives. It is one of the rarest wild of the rarest wild cats in the world.cats in the world.

It is classified as "Critically Endangered" by World Conservation Union.It is classified as "Critically Endangered" by World Conservation Union.

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Do we want our children to see thesebeautiful cats only in a Museum or Zoo?

In the beginning of 19In the beginning of 19thth century when there were about 20 lions in wild, efforts century when there were about 20 lions in wild, efforts

of the Nawab (King) of Gir saved it from extinction. Today due to of the Nawab (King) of Gir saved it from extinction. Today due to

conservation efforts of the Gujarat Forest Department and tolerant local conservation efforts of the Gujarat Forest Department and tolerant local

people, the lion population has gone up to 359.people, the lion population has gone up to 359.

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~ Threats Today ~

Asiatic Lion faces many threats like congestion, roads & Asiatic Lion faces many threats like congestion, roads & religious places inside the GPA, human pressure, man-animal religious places inside the GPA, human pressure, man-animal

conflict, genetic limitations and poaching. But conflict, genetic limitations and poaching. But man-mademan-made OpenOpen WellsWells surrounding the Gir forest is the most severe surrounding the Gir forest is the most severe

threat that the lion and other wild animals face today. threat that the lion and other wild animals face today.

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What can you see in this picture?

Greenery & Landscape… Tree… Electric pole….Greenery & Landscape… Tree… Electric pole….And yes there are electric wires too….And yes there are electric wires too….

TreeTree

Electric Electric PolePole

ElectricElectricWiresWires

GreeneryGreenery&&

LandscapeLandscape

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But can you see UNPROTECTED or OPEN WELL in the picture?

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What are Open Wells?

Open wells are deep Open wells are deep pits; 60 to 100 feet pits; 60 to 100 feet deep, without deep, without parapets or parapets or boundary walls.boundary walls.

They are dug by They are dug by farmers as a source farmers as a source of water for irrigation of water for irrigation and livestock. and livestock.

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Why are the Farmers not protectingtheir Open Wells?

Most of the farmers Most of the farmers

in Gir are poor with in Gir are poor with

very small land very small land

holding. Hence most holding. Hence most

of them cannot of them cannot

afford to barricade afford to barricade

their wells.their wells.

Age of 70 earning $8 per week Roof to keep rain away

Fully fitted kitchen! Poor man’s white house!

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Why do the Animals fall into Open Wells ?Lions and other wild Lions and other wild animals regularly stray animals regularly stray outside due to over-outside due to over-crowding inside the crowding inside the sanctuary and in sanctuary and in search of food.search of food.

There are more than There are more than 90009000 open-wells in open-wells in 6km periphery 6km periphery surrounding the Gir surrounding the Gir ForestForest

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Most of these Most of these

wells are hidden in wells are hidden in

the surrounding the surrounding

vegetation and by vegetation and by

the time animal the time animal

realizes it’s realizes it’s

presence it is too presence it is too

late.late.

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All types of Wild All types of Wild

animals like Lions, animals like Lions,

Leopards, Leopards,

Crocodiles, Crocodiles,

Pythons, Deer etc. Pythons, Deer etc.

accidentally fall accidentally fall

into Open Wells into Open Wells

and die due to and die due to

drowning.drowning.

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Many of these wells Many of these wells

have become have become

slippery in time slippery in time

because of soil because of soil

erosion on the edge. erosion on the edge.

Such dry and Such dry and

abandoned wells are abandoned wells are

more dangerous.more dangerous.

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There are about 400 There are about 400 leopards in Gir. leopards in Gir. They stray outside They stray outside the sanctuary more the sanctuary more than lions. Hence, than lions. Hence, leopard incidences leopard incidences are likely to be are likely to be higher than that of higher than that of the lion. the lion.

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Risky Rescue Operations

The Gir Protected The Gir Protected

Area is a big area with Area is a big area with

poor internal roads. poor internal roads.

Thus, it is not always Thus, it is not always

possible to reach the possible to reach the

incidence spot and incidence spot and

successfullysuccessfully rescue the rescue the

animal.animal.

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Rescued animals are Rescued animals are seriously injured and seriously injured and sometimes permanently sometimes permanently disabled. They are not fit disabled. They are not fit to be released back into to be released back into the wild.the wild.

For e.g. one such For e.g. one such rescued lion lost its rescued lion lost its vision and spent rest of vision and spent rest of its life at Sakkarbaug its life at Sakkarbaug Zoo in blindness.Zoo in blindness.

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Unbelievable But True !

From 2001 until May 2008, 53 Open Well incidences From 2001 until May 2008, 53 Open Well incidences

were recorded in which were recorded in which 2828 lions died! lions died!

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Incidences(till 31-5-08) 53

Deaths28

Rescued27

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What is more dangerous?Open Well or Poaching!

0

5

10

15

20

25

Electrocution7

Poaching8

Open Wells28

In last few years In last few years

Lion deaths due toLion deaths due to

Electrocution = 7 Electrocution = 7

Poaching = 8Poaching = 8

Open Wells = 28Open Wells = 28

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Damage to Humans

Apart from wild animals even domestic cattle and some-Apart from wild animals even domestic cattle and some-times small children of poor labours fall into Open Wells.times small children of poor labours fall into Open Wells.

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What needs to be done?

Sadly Open Well is the most Sadly Open Well is the most serious problem with the most serious problem with the most simple solution.simple solution.

Time has come to act fast and Time has come to act fast and barricade all the Open Wells barricade all the Open Wells as soon as possible.as soon as possible.

Threats like poaching and Threats like poaching and genetic limitations are relatively genetic limitations are relatively tough to check. But ‘most fatal’ tough to check. But ‘most fatal’ open wells. is something that open wells. is something that can be controlled.can be controlled.

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What have we done so far?

We are the first NGO to sign MoU with the Forest We are the first NGO to sign MoU with the Forest Department to barricade Open Wells. In association Department to barricade Open Wells. In association with other NGOs and Corporates, we have completed with other NGOs and Corporates, we have completed barricading 781 Wells till Mar 31, 2008.barricading 781 Wells till Mar 31, 2008.

Currently we are working with TATA Chemicals Ltd, Currently we are working with TATA Chemicals Ltd, ‘Lions of Gir Foundation – USA’ by US‘Lions of Gir Foundation – USA’ by US citizen Mr. citizen Mr. Steve Mandel and Vanishing Herds Foundation for Steve Mandel and Vanishing Herds Foundation for barricading more wells.barricading more wells.

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Innovative RCC Slab Design

The usual method of The usual method of barricading a well is using barricading a well is using lime stone which is very lime stone which is very costly and time consuming.costly and time consuming.

After hard work and After hard work and

numerous field trials, we numerous field trials, we

designed a unique pre-cast designed a unique pre-cast

RCC Slab Design. This RCC Slab Design. This

design is economical, design is economical,

strong, fast to install, betterstrong, fast to install, better

earthquake resistant and environ friendly. It is approved by State Forest earthquake resistant and environ friendly. It is approved by State Forest Department.Department.

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Field Work?

Forest Dept has divided the 6km peripheral area around Gir forest Forest Dept has divided the 6km peripheral area around Gir forest into five zones depending on lion movement and risk of accidents. into five zones depending on lion movement and risk of accidents. A village is chosen as per the priority list. A villagers’ meet is A village is chosen as per the priority list. A villagers’ meet is arranged to get their support and then real field work begins.arranged to get their support and then real field work begins.

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AN APPEAL FOR DONATION

We request your help We request your help by participating in by participating in our endeavour to our endeavour to save last surviving save last surviving lions.lions.

With a small donation With a small donation YOU can prevent the YOU can prevent the needless death and needless death and injury of these injury of these beautiful and highly beautiful and highly endangered animals.endangered animals.

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COST FOR BARRICADING ONE WELL

IndianRs

US $ UK £

Avg. Cost per Well 10000 250 125

Less Aid by Forest Dept 4000 100 50

Donation needed per Well 6000 $150 £75

Can we afford to lose 5–6 LIONS every year just forCan we afford to lose 5–6 LIONS every year just forRs 6000 i.e. $150 US or £75 UK per Well?Rs 6000 i.e. $150 US or £75 UK per Well?

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INDIVIDUAL DONORS

The whole process from receiving funds to installing the The whole process from receiving funds to installing the barricades is transparent. Each donor will precisely know barricades is transparent. Each donor will precisely know where his contribution is used.where his contribution is used.

On completion of the work, we will send to each donor:On completion of the work, we will send to each donor:

- An e-mail with detail & photograph of the Open Wells done- An e-mail with detail & photograph of the Open Wells done- GPS points so to view the work done by using Google Earth.GPS points so to view the work done by using Google Earth.- Each donor will also be given a Certificate of Participation.Each donor will also be given a Certificate of Participation.

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CORPORATE DONORS

Corporates have two options to choose fromCorporates have two options to choose from

DONATE TO US DONATE TO US or or WORK DIRECTLY WORK DIRECTLY

If you choose to work directly, we will provide you with Total If you choose to work directly, we will provide you with Total Solution of the project, FREE OF CHARGE. Our only Solution of the project, FREE OF CHARGE. Our only objective is to get the work done.objective is to get the work done.

For ten or more wells, name of the donor can be permanently For ten or more wells, name of the donor can be permanently embossed on the RCC slabs.embossed on the RCC slabs.

Please call us for Personal Meeting or Field Visit.Please call us for Personal Meeting or Field Visit.

Donations to WCT are exempted U/S 80G(5) of IT Act.Donations to WCT are exempted U/S 80G(5) of IT Act.

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We Heartily Thank the Participants / Donors

1.1. TATA Chemicals LtdTATA Chemicals Ltd2.2. WWF-India N. DelhiWWF-India N. Delhi3.3. Vanishing Herds Vanishing Herds

Foundation – MumbaiFoundation – Mumbai4.4. Mr. Steve Mandel – USAMr. Steve Mandel – USA5.5. Rameshbhai Bakrania -UKRameshbhai Bakrania -UK6.6. Rajubhai Thakrar – UKRajubhai Thakrar – UK7.7. Vinodbhai Vadher – UKVinodbhai Vadher – UK8.8. Nistha Public Charitable Nistha Public Charitable

Trust – BarodaTrust – Baroda9.9. Parekh Marine– JamnagarParekh Marine– Jamnagar

11.11. Rajkot Builders AssociationRajkot Builders Association12.12. R R Constructions RajkotR R Constructions Rajkot13.13. Rajubhai Daftary RajkotRajubhai Daftary Rajkot14.14. Parthiv Patel – A’badParthiv Patel – A’bad15.15. Mrs. Monaben ShethMrs. Monaben Sheth Governor,Lions Club Intl. 323jGovernor,Lions Club Intl. 323j

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For information, personal meeting and field visit please contact

Kishore Kotecha, Exec. Dir. (98240 62062)Rama Sachidanand, Hon. Exec. (99988 08581)

Wildlife Conservation Trust128 Star Plaza, Phulchhab Chowk, Rajkot – Gujarat – India Ph: +91 281 2444074 +91 98240 62062

Em: info@asiaticlion.org, Web: www.asiaticlion.org News Blog: http://asiatic-lion.blogspot.com

Our Trust is. Non-Profit Organisation (Reg. No. E /8147 /Rajkot)Donation to our Trust is exempted U/S 80G(5) of IT Act 1961.Chqs to be drawn in the name of Wildlife Conservation Trust.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Donors are welcome to get project reference

Mr. Pradeep Khanna, PCCF-WL and Chief Wildlife Warden, Gandhinagar – Gujarat, pradeepkhanna10@yahoo.comMr. Divyabhanusinh Chavda, President of WWF India and Member of Cat Specialist Group, IUCN Author of ‘The Story of Asia’s Lion (2005) and The Cheetah in India (1995), sawaj_cheetah@rediffmail.com Mr. Bharat Pathak, Conservator of Forest (WL), Junagadh – 362002 – Gujarat, cf-wl-jun@gujarat.gov.inMr. Ravi Singh, Secretary General & CEO, WWF – India, ravisingh@wwfindia.net

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T h a n k Y o uOpen Well Presentation Version 3.1 Date:1-6-2008