150 new water points set up for Asiatic lions in Gir forest

In a bid to provide succour from the sweltering heat to the growing population of Asiatic lions, the Gujarat forest department has set up 150 new artificial water points in Gir national park for the convenience of felines to quench their thirst.

Deputy Conservator, Gir National Park, Sandeep Kumar said 150 new water points have been constructed in the last two years, apart from the 400 already existing water points across the wildlife sanctuary.

According to the latest census, the number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary, the only abode of these big cats, has increased from 411 in 2010 to 523 this year. "These artificially created water points are being filled up at regular intervals. We are doing it manually, through tractor-driven water tankers, solar pump sets and wind mills," Kumar told PTI.