Eight Asiatic lion cubs die amid suspected Babesia outbreak in Gujarat

Gujarat has reported a suspected outbreak of Babesia infection among Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region, with eight lion cub deaths recorded so far in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts, state Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Friday (May 29).

The deaths were reported in the areas outside the Gir sanctuary, particularly in Gir Gadhada in Gir Somnath district and Babra Kot in Amreli district. Authorities suspect the cubs were infected with Babesia, a tick-borne parasitic disease that can cause weakness, fever, coughing and nasal discharge in animals.

Safety measures

To prevent the possible spread of the infection, the forest department has isolated lions within a 10-kilometre radius of the affected areas. Veterinary teams have also launched large-scale tick-removal operations inside and around the Gir sanctuary.

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Officials said samples from the dead cubs and affected animals have been sent to the state-run Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre for laboratory testing. The final test reports are expected within the next three to four days and will confirm whether the deaths were caused by Babesia infection.

According to the minister, no fresh deaths linked to the suspected outbreak have been reported in the last two days. “Forest officials, along with veterinary doctors from Junagadh, visited the site and isolated lions living within a 10-km radius,” Modhwadia said, adding that the situation is currently under control.

Death of lion cubs

The latest deaths come days after the Gujarat government confirmed that multiple lion cubs had died under suspicious circumstances. Earlier this week, authorities reported the deaths of two cubs due to suspected Babesia infection, while three other lions reportedly died due to natural causes and infighting.

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On Wednesday, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel chaired a high-level review meeting in Gandhinagar, where officials informed him that at least 17 lions had been isolated as a precautionary measure amid fears of further spread.

Babesia infection

Babesia is considered particularly dangerous for wild animals because it spreads through ticks that attach to the body and transmit parasites into the bloodstream. Wildlife experts say outbreaks can become serious if not contained quickly, especially in concentrated lion populations.

The Gir forest landscape is the world’s only natural habitat for Asiatic lions. According to the last lion census conducted in Gujarat, the state is home to 891 Asiatic lions.

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The current scare has also revived memories of the 2018 outbreak in Gujarat, when 11 lions died within a month due to a combination of canine distemper virus and protozoal infections, prompting major wildlife health interventions in the Gir region.

(With agency inputs)