India News: It is the battle for the big cats in Madhya Pradesh, called the tiger state of India, and Gujarat, home to the Asiatic lion. Madhya Pradesh wants lions and Gujarat doesn't have any tiger. "Tigers for lions," prescribes Dr M K Ranjit Singh, a wildlife expert, who hails from Gujarat but worked in Madhya Pradesh as the forest secretary and later with the government of India. He feels this will fulfil the aspirations of both states.
However, Gujarat, fiercely proud of its heritage, has refused numerous requests for parting with a few lions to be relocated at Palpur-Kuno sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh, specially created as a second home to the Gir lion at an enormous cost. The central Indian state seems to have given up. "We are not going to beg for lions anymore," says PCCF (Wildlife) Dr P B Gandopadhyaya. "Our stand on the issue is very clear," retorts his counterpart in Gujarat Pradeep Khanna.
