Cyclone Tauktae Aftermath: 18 Lions Missing And 100s Of Chicks Dead In Greater Gir

Cyclone Tauktae's destructive shadow has also touched wildlife. At least 18 lions are missing from the districts of Amreli, Gir Somnath and Bhavnagar, as per TOI. These areas took the maximum hit.

Senior forest officials said 18 lions were reported missing from Rajula and Jafrabad taluka of Amreli, Una and Kodinar talukas in Gir Somnath and Mahuva taluka of Bhavagar. 40 lions made these areas home, as per reports.

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"We have our fingers crossed over the well-being of the lions in these coastal districts. Even as there is apprehension that the lions may have got swept away due to ferocious rains, we hope the Big Cats took refuge in high altitude areas," said a senior official in Saurashtra.

The state forest department shall do a survey of all 674 lions across Gir and neighbouring revenue areas to see how much the impact was due to the cyclone.

TOI

Bird lovers saw the bad news as 100s of bird chicks were found dead under trees.

"Herons, egrets and cormorants' nest in colonies of hundreds in trees and hence the loss of bird lives could be large,¡± said Uday Vora, a retired forest officer.