4 lion cubs die in Gujarat’s Gir forest region, 17 isolated amid viral infection scare

Four lion cubs have died and 17 big cats have been isolated due to suspected infection in different parts of Gir forest district in Gujarat, officials said.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel held a high-level meeting on the development on Wednesday, May 27, 2026.

Referring to the details shared by Vinod Rao, Chief Secretary of Forests and Environment, with the Prime Minister at the meeting held in Gandhinagar, the official statement stated that four lion cubs died in different parts of the Gir forest district and 17 (adult) lions were isolated and cared for.

Mr. Rao stated that all lions within a 10 km radius of Gir Gadhada and Babaria areas were intensively monitored and no other signs of disease were found.

“All lions in the Mahsuli area of ​​Amreli and Bhavnagar districts are also being monitored intensively by the Ministry of Forestry and daily reports are received.

The statement said, “As part of the security measures taken against such seasonal diseases seen at the beginning of summer, tick removal and other health measures are being taken for more than 350 lions in the Gir region.”

Chief Conservator of Forests Jaipal Singh said that specialist doctors from Junagadh Veterinary College also participated in this operation.

Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, that two lion cubs in Gir forest district died due to suspected Babesia virus infection, while three other big cats succumbed to natural causes and infighting in separate incidents.

However, Modhwadia ruled out any major epidemic or disease outbreak in the Gir forest, the last abode of Asiatic lions.

Babesia virus is spread through ticks and can cause malaise, cough, and runny nose in affected animals.

Earlier, in 2018, 11 lions in Gujarat had died within a month due to a combination of canine distemper virus and protozoal infection.

In the 2025 census, 891 Asiatic lions were recorded in Gujarat.