The UPShot: The Up-Roar Over Asiatic Lion Kesari’s Death at Etawah Safari Park

What is causing the deaths of lions and other animals at Etawah Safari Park, a dream project of Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav? The recent death of a three-year-old Asiatic lion, the 24th animal death at the park, has brought back this question.

The SP has blamed the Uttar Pradesh government for the frequent deaths of the lions and other animals, calling it a fallout of “the UP government’s step-motherly treatment”. The UP government, meanwhile, has transferred the Deputy Director of the Lion Safari after Kesari’s death and plans to appoint a full-time director. Vinay Kumar has taken charge as the Deputy Director, Lion Safari.

KESARI DIED ON DEC 2

Kesari, the lion that died on December 2, was born to lioness Jennifer and lion Manan on April 15, 2020. Jennifer died on November 10, while Manan died of skin cancer on June 13, 2022. Kesari had been ill since April 25 and was suffering from paralysis, the park officials said.

“The lion was under the direct supervision of a team of experts. Initially, the veterinarians attending to Kesari discovered a wound on his tail after which he had to undergo a surgery. Soon after, Kesari was paralysed,” said Atul Kant Shukla, director in-charge Etawah Safari Park.

CAUSE OF DEATH IS STILL UNKNOWN

Shukla said that wildlife experts from various renowned institutions were roped in to save Kesari. “Kesari’s health was deteriorating continuously and finally on December 2, the lion collapsed,” Shukla said. Although Kesari’s carcass has been sent for autopsy at Bareilly’s Indian Veterinary Research Institute, the cause of death is yet to be concluded.

14 DEATHS IN FOUR MONTHS

This was the 14th death to be reported at the safari park between April and December. It includes the death of six lion cubs between July 18 and August 14. A bear, Kuno, died on August 12. A leopard died on August 19. Another leopard died on August 31.

Initially, four lions and five cubs died due to canine distemper. Currently, the safari park has 17 lions. However, the deaths have raised concerns, with wildlife experts calling it “unfit for wild animals”.

‘FOREIGN EXPERTS SHOULD BE ROPED IN’

Gyan Prakash Singh, a retired forest conservator said, wildlife experts from abroad should be roped in to check the root cause of the frequent deaths of lions and other wild animals. It should be ensured that the visitors are sanitised to minimise the chances of infection from outside.

THE POLITICAL TURN

The issue took a political turn as the SP accused the state government of neglect.

SP activists staged a protest in Kanpur on December 4, handing over a memorandum, addressed to UP Governor and district magistrate, demanding investigation into the death of the lions. Besides, they also demanded action against the staff for negligence. “It’s unfortunate that the UP government has failed to prevent the deaths of lions and other animals at the Lion Safari Park in Etawah. We demand strict action against the errant staff. Also, a full-time director should be appointed for the safari, which is in utter neglect despite being a project of international repute,” said Gopal Yadav, district president, SP, Kanpur.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav wrote on ‘X’: “It’s the administration’s negligence and insensitivity of the management that is responsible for the frequent death of lions at the lion safari. We demand the BJP Government take strict action against the erring officials who are responsible for the loss.”