Heat, not disease, killed 8 lion cubs in Gir forest

Image for illustration purposes only. | Photo credit: Vijay Soneji

The death of eight Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir forest was due to heat stress and weakened immunity rather than an outbreak of any infectious disease, state forest minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Saturday (6 June 2026).

The clarification comes days after forest authorities launched intensive monitoring and disease control exercises following suspicions that the cubs may have succumbed to Babesia, a tick-borne parasitic infection known to affect wild animals.

Mr Modhwadia said investigations had ruled out Babesia infection and other viral diseases as the cause of death.

The matter drew attention after eight lion cubs died in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts, prompting authorities to isolate lions within 10 kilometers of the affected areas and send biological samples for testing at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Center in Gandhinagar.

“Eight cubs died because of the heat and the weakness that the heat causes. Those with low immunity died. The Babesia parasite did not cause it,” the minister said.

According to the forest department, the deaths occurred within a short period of time in parts of the Gir forests, raising concerns because of the region’s history of disease outbreaks among lions. In 2018, a combination of canine distemper virus (CDV) and a protozoan infection killed 11 lions in one month, prompting heightened vigilance whenever unusual mortality is reported.

Following the recent deaths, authorities have put precautionary measures in place across the affected region. Lions residing within 10 kilometers of places where suspected infection was reported were placed under observation while veterinary teams stepped up surveillance of the population.

A total of 17 lions showing signs of illness were quarantined and treated. “Of the 17 lions that were quite sick and could not walk, 12 have already been released into the wild,” Mr Modhwadia said. “The remaining five lions are now healthy and will soon be released into their natural habitat.”

Forest officials have taken extensive precautionary measures to rule out the possibility of contagion. Around 600 lions in the surrounding areas were dewormed and treated for ticks as part of a large-scale health intervention.

Mr Modhwadia said there had been no recent deaths of lions related to infectious diseases. He noted that one lioness died due to pregnancy-related complications, while examinations of other recent lion deaths did not reveal any alarming pathogens.

Babesia is a tick-borne parasite and can cause fever, weakness and anemia in infected animals.

The Gir forest landscape remains the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in the world. Once found in large parts of Asia, the species now survives exclusively in Gujarat, with its population spread throughout Gir National Park and adjacent forest, yield and coastal areas.

Published – 06 Jun 2026 21:16 IST