Alarm as world's rarest lions targeted by poachers

A spate of killings at a wildlife reserve in India has raised new concerns over one of the world's rarest big cats. Less well known than its African cousin, the Asiatic lion once roamed a vast area from the subcontinent to south-eastern Europe. Today only 300 remain in the wild and they are only found in one place: the Gir reserve in Gujarat.

While India's tigers have been killed by poachers for their skins at an alarming rate, the lions of Gir have mainly been left alone. Until now. This week the bodies of three lions were found. They had been killed by poachers, and their bones and claws had been ripped out to be sold.

Days later came the news that the bodies of two lion cubs had been found drowned in a well - and from tyre marks at the scene, they appeared to have been deliberately chased into the well.

Conservationists fear that is a sign that the conflict between man and beast at Gir is getting out of control.

While all eyes have been on the disappearance of India's tigers, the lions of Gir have been a conservation success story. In 1907, there were just 13 left in the wild. Then the Nawab of Junagadh, one of India's princely rulers, became one of history's most unlikely and successful conservationists. He ordered that the lions, which had been hunted on his lands, be given protection. Today Gir lies in what was once his kingdom, and the population of lions is recovering well.

Too well for local villagers. Conservationists warn that the population of lions has now grown too large for the reserve, and they have begun straying into nearby villages, where they have caused havoc. There are fears this may be what lies behind the drowning of the cubs.

There have been calls for some lions to be moved to a second reserve, to give them more space. A site has been found, at Kuno wildlife sanctuary in the neighbouring state of Madhya Pradesh, and the idea is backed by central government in Delhi, and the Wildlife Institute of India.

But the state government of Gujarat has opposed the move, saying the lions are a symbol of pride for Gujarat. Leading opposition to the relocation is the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi, who cannot travel to Britain because of calls for him to be prosecuted under international law for the Gujarat massacres of 2002.

Supporters of the move have also argued it would prevent weakness caused by genetic inbreeding - a problem with lions at wildlife reserves in Africa.

The last time poachers struck in Gir was in 2005. Now that they are back, it can only add weight to the case for some of the lions to be shifted.