Can We Save Lions?Swati Sharma Environmentalist

Save lion : The State emblem adaptation made by  four lions in INDIA

Can We Save Lions?

These iconic predators—who once ruled from the southern tip of Africa all the way to northwestern India—are at risk of extinction by 2020.

BY
Swati Sharma
Environmentalist

State Emblem

The state emblem is an adaptation from the SARNATH  Lion Capital of Ashoka. In the original, there are four lions, standing back to back, mounted on an abacus with a frieze carrying sculptures in high relief of an elephant, a galloping horse, a bull and a lion separated by intervening wheels over a bell-shaped lotus. Carved out of a single block of polished sandstone, the Capital is crowned by the Wheel of the Law (Dharma Chakra).
In the state emblem, adopted by the Government of India on 26 January 1950, only three lions are visible, the fourth being hidden from view. The wheel appears in relief in the centre of the abacus with a bull on right and a horse on left and the outlines of other wheels on extreme right and left. The bell-shaped lotus has been omitted. The words Satyameva Jayate from Mundaka Upanishad, meaning 'Truth Alone Triumphs', are inscribed below the abacus in Devanagari script.

A Cat by Any Other Name

Mountain lions are known by more names than any other animal in the world. They have 40 English names, 25 native North American names and 18 native South American names. In the United States they are commonly referred to interchangeably as cougar, catamount, puma, panther, painter and mountain lion.
Mountain lions are regal animals that are secretive and seldom seen. They move with gentle grace and admirable strength. People rightfully fear them, because humans fall into the cougar's acceptable prey category. However, there has been an overabundance of panicked media reports about the threat that mountain lions pose to people. There have been 12 fatal lion attacks in the past 100 years. Two attacks that occurred in 1994 created a public panic. They inspired the National Rifle Association, the Gun Owners of America and the Safari Club to push legislation to open a sport-hunting season on mountain lions. California citizens defeated the legislation (Proposition 197) because a previous one that passed in 1990 (Proposition 117) already protected people and livestock from marauding lions. Proposition 117 states that a lion that threatens to harm or harms any person or domestic animal may be exterminated.
As a result of our history and our place in the food chain, these animals have caught our attention, imagination, fear and admiration. Understanding their behavior may help to encourage caution when people go into the world of the cougar. Our understanding may be the key to their preservation. As other large cats, such the snow leopard and the Indian tiger, teeter on the brink of extinction we have an opportunity to maintain local lion populations while keeping ourselves safe from harm.
Cougars, like all animals, behave in certain ways. We've come to understand what triggers mountain lions to attack, which in turn helps us to better protect ourselves. Sometimes the information is inflammatory and inaccurate. It is important that people learn as much as they can about lions if they live in an area where the animals also reside. It is with this perspective that we can best protect ourselves and the lions from harm.
Who Are These Animals? And How Numerous Are They? Many of the reported sightings of lions are dubious. People commonly mistake all sorts of animals for lions and until recently few sightings were confirmed by experts. In the Bay Area people commonly mistake foxes, coyotes, bobcats and even dogs for mountain lions. Lions are much larger than any of the previously mentioned animals and they tend to stay in dense cover, carefully hidden from view. Their secretive nature and reliance on ambush has earned them the reputation for being ghostly, evil and sneaky. Their behavior is simply the product of success. Over centuries, cats have adapted an ambush strategy that has allowed them to flourish.
Mountain lions use the same stealthy hunting tactics familiar to any cat owner. And like house cats, mountain lions purr. This makes them the largest purring cats in the world -- unlike tigers and lions, roar. The cougar's small voice box is too small to produce a roar. Their most common sound is a loud wailing, most often heard during mating.
Mountain lions are very solitary. They travel in groups only when a female has young (they stay with her for up to two years) or when the female is in heat. She may roam with a male for a few days to a few weeks while the cats are courting.
Because of their solitary nature, lions are difficult to study. The cougar population in California is very different, depending on who you ask. The Department of Fish and Game puts the population at between 5,000 - 6,000 cats. The Sierra Club believes there are fewer than 1,000 lions living in California. The answer is that we don't know the exact number. Many organizations are trying to determine the population, but research is expensive and difficult.
First of all, lion sightings are very rare. If you see one, know how to be safe, then enjoy the sight, because you'll be in the minority who ever get the opportunity to see one of these spectacular animals.
What do they look like? Cougars do live in California. They are an intimidating, albeit impressive sight whose behavior is fascinating. They are determined and successful hunters and are extremely adaptable. Cougars thrive in all habitats of California, from the desert to the mountains and formerly had the widest distribution of any animal in the western hemisphere. And now, as human populations increase, mountain lions live more closely to people than ever before.
Lions require large tracts of open space for hunting. Adult lions establish permanent home territories. Males have larger territories, extending up to 100 square miles while female home ranges are generally 20 - 60 square miles. Females will more often overlap their home territories with other females and one or two males, while male territories usually overlap only with females.
Female lions are considerably smaller than males. They can grow to be 7 feet long, weighing 65 - 90 pounds. Males can be 8 feet long, weighing 130 - 150 lbs. Both have tails 2-3 feet long. They are slate to tawny colored with black-tipped ears and tails. Kittens, or cubs, are covered with blackish spots with dark rings on their tails.
Kittens stay with their mothers for up to two years. When they are mature, they will leave their mothers and search for their own territory. They often pass through other lions' territories on their journey. Lions, like dogs, will mark their territory. Male mountain lions leave scratches made up of piles of leaves, pine needles and dirt, covered with urine or feces. These virtual fence posts act as boundaries and attract females in heat. Males protect their territories fiercely from intruders: Wandering young lions, searching for home territories, are often killed by older cats. As the youngsters, usually 2- to 3-year-old males, try to find their own niche in the world, they are most often the ones that get into trouble with domestic animals.
Lion-Hunting Strategies A lion's vision and hearing are acute and they rely on these senses to catch their prey, which consists mostly of the deer so common to Northern California. Lions will also take other large mammals, such as bighorn sheep, elk, porcupine, badger, bear, bobcats, other cougars and coyote. They will also take smaller wild mammals such as rabbits and hares, marmot, skunks, ground squirrels, woodrats, voles, mice, raccoons, foxes and opossums. And contrary to their strict carnivorous diet, lions will also eat insects, grass and berries when food is in short supply. They will also go after domestic animals such as sheep, cattle, horse, burro, goats, pigs, dogs, cats and chickens. Perhaps the most disconcerting prey item, however, is humans. Although, again, it is important to remember that there have been only 12 fatal attacks on humans since 1890.
The lions rely on surprise to capture prey and their powerful strength to bring it down. The frequency with which lions attack prey is around one deer per week to every 3-4 weeks. Lions will sneak up on their prey, using their well-camouflaged coats and silent hunting strategy.
Then, in a burst of speed, the lion will jump through the air, land on the deer's back with claws extended, to hold on, while its jaws search for the cervical vertebrae. There, it will embed its mighty canine teeth, biting through the vertebral disk and breaking the spinal cord, thus causing instant death. If the deer fights and prevents the lion from grasping the back of its neck, the lion will search out the hapless animal's wind pipe and clamp down, closing off the air passage, until the deer suffocates.
The lion would then carry the deer to a safe place to eat it. If it were a male lion, it would eat its fill, then leave the remaining carcass for the scavengers. If it were a female, she would eat her fill, then cover it carefully with debris and return alone or with her kittens to eat their fill. Kitten kills are noticeable because the mother will often leave them while she gets another kill. The kittens will clean the carcass thoroughly, leaving a mess of debris, fur and feces.
Cougars have a fast-and-gorge feeding strategy, where they will go up to two weeks without eating, then make a kill and will eat up to 10 pounds of meat in one sitting. They eat the meat with the most nutrients first, ingesting the heart, liver and lungs before eating the rear quarters and the muscle on the inside of the legs. Cougars seem to prefer fresh meat, leaving it when it begins to spoil. They have been known to eat carrion (already dead animals) when near starvation, although it seems to be a last-ditch effort in their feeding strategies.
Cougars risk injury when hunting. Deer will often crash through trees and branches when a cougar is on them, hoping to knock the lion off. Lions have fallen and then gored by deer, elk, and moose and subsequently died from the injuries. Because of the nature of their lifestyles, cougars in the wild usually die before they are 15. As they age, their sharp teeth wear down, making it difficult for them to hunt. Older cats often die of starvation.
What to do if... Understandably, people fear being prey to any wild animal. There are some important strategies to remember if you ever hike in lion territory. First, if you see a lion, enjoy the sight while you can. They are rarely seen and they will more often than not run away when spotted.
Always hike with others in lion territory. They seek out solitary prey, which is easier to catch. If you notice any threatening behavior, such as stalking, crouching or tail-twitching, remember to act like a human: Never take your eyes off the lion and never run. Lions react to the flight response of prey and will pounce if you turn from them. Pick up a stick or any weapon you can find. Make lots of noise, jump up and down. Convince that lion that you are not prey.
If you see a lion, report it to your local park ranger as soon as possible. They will probably contact you to determine the behavior of the animal. Remember to leave your telephone number and a detailed description of the location and the animal's behavior so a report can be filed. Confirmed sightings are vital to the responsible management of lions in this state. Our dearth of information about their populations can be remedied by a simple phone call.