Lions on the rise

The increase in the number of Asiatic lions in the forests of Saurashtra in Gujarat is a welcome piece of news. Five years ago, the population of lions in the state was 523 as per a Lion Census. It has increased to 674 as per the population observation exercise conducted during the night of full moon this June, which means an increase of around 29 percent. This positive development calls for celebration.

In India, increasing human population has sometimes resulted in human-animal conflict and threat to the wildlife. Animals, forests, rivers, springs and mountains are part of our environment. The Almighty has provided balance to this earth. If any single part is damaged, we become disabled. Therefore, it's our duty to protect our resources, our animals and plants.

Development is must, but it must not lead to destruction of nature. In order to develop civilisation further, we sometimes aim for luxury, for which we are cutting down forests and even mountains with our machines. Having developed civilisation, we must now develop and preserve forests and other gifts of God and beauties of nature such as birds, plants and trees. Forests and plants give us fresh air full of oxygen. Forests serve us from birth till death. So, it's our duty to preserve the natural beauty of our planet.

Narender Kumar Sharma

The writer is a school-teacher based in Joginder Nagar, Himachal Pradesh. Views are personal.

Picture by: Gujarat Forest Department