近日在印度吉爾國家公園內和周遭，發現許多稀罕亞洲獅死亡，印度政府已成立委員會調查這些亞洲獅死亡的原因，並提出相關措施來改善這種情況，該小組必須在30天內提交報告。
學名為Panthera leo persica的亞洲獅，目前全球僅剩350隻仍存活在西部古吉拉特省內的吉爾國家公園。吉爾公園和周圍的野生物保護區成立於1965年，目的在保護瀕危的亞洲獅，但在過去兩個月來，已有13隻因盜獵而死亡，引起外界對於亞洲獅未來存活的關注。
隸屬印度環境與森林管理部法定團體的國家老虎保育委員會，9日宣佈3個委員會成員的組織架構和權限。調查小組將自然死亡、疾病和盜獵3種可能性列入考量，並針對當地民眾對於吉爾棲地自然資源的依賴程度，以及聚落住民之間為了利益衝突和共存所採取的手段進行調查。
調查人員會檢視該區域的管理限制，以及吉爾公園周遭重要連結通道修復管理的可能性，以避免亞洲獅族群孤立化。
雖然亞洲獅在世界保育聯盟擬定的瀕危物種警戒名單中，已被歸為嚴重瀕臨絕種的生物，牠們的爪子和骨頭仍然被傳統中醫做為藥材使用。自1977年起，瀕臨絕種物種貿易公約已禁止各國就亞洲獅或其身體各部位進行交易。
So many rare Asiatic lions have been found dead recently in and around Gir National Park that the government of India has created a committee to determine why they are dying and recommend measures to improve the situation. The panel's report is due within 30 days.
Only about 350 Asiatic lions, Panthera leo persica, still survive, clinging to existence in Gir National Park in the western state of Gujarat. The park and surrounding wildlife sanctuary was created in 1965 to conserve the rare lions, but 13 poaching deaths over the last two months have raised concern for the future of the species.
India's National Tiger Conservation Authority, a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, today announced the composition and the terms of reference of the three member committee.
The panel will consider natural causes of death, disease and poaching. They will investigate the dependency of local people on Gir habitat for natural resources and the steps taken towards addressing park-people interface conflicts and fostering co-existence.
They will look at managerial constraints in the area and the possibility of restorative management in crucial corridor linkages around Gir to prevent insularization of the lion population.
Although Asiatic lions are classed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, their claws and bones are desired for use in traditional Chinese medicine. International trade in Asiatic lions or their parts has been banned since 1977 by the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
