Clinical trial of CDV vaccine for lions underway

Gandhinagar: After 85 lions succumbed to the canine distemper virus (CDV) in 2018, the state government had commissioned development of a vaccine to protect the big cats.

In a question posed by Sayajiganj MLA Jitendra Sukhadia at the ongoing assembly session on Monday, state Forest & Environment Minister Kiritsinh Rana replied that the clinical trial of the vaccine was currently underway. “The project was awarded to the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, which has prepared a vaccine formula.

Currently, the clinical trial of the vaccine is being conducted,” stated Rana. The state government also informed the legislative assembly that a total of 283 lions, lionesses and cubs have died in the last two years. It is to be noted that Gir is the only abode of the Asiatic lions in the world.

Responding to a set of questions from Congress legislators, Rana said that 159 deaths took place in 2020 and 124 in 2021. These comprised 68 lions, 73 lionesses and 142 cubs. “Of the 283 deaths, 29 were due to unnatural causes, like falling in open wells or getting hit by vehicles or trains.

There were no deaths due to poaching,” the minister said, adding that conservation and protection steps were being taken, including starting a ‘lion ambulance’ and appointing vets in forest areas.