Heat, not disease, caused deaths of 8 lion cubs in Gir forest

Published 6 June 2026 · health

The deaths of eight Asiatic lion cubs in Gujarat’s Gir forest were caused by heat-related stress and weakened immunity rather than any infectious disease outbreak

The deaths of eight Asiatic lion cubs in Gujarat’s Gir forest were caused by heat-related stress and weakened immunity rather than any infectious disease outbreak, State Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia said on Saturday (June 6, 2026). The clarification comes days after forest authorities launched an intensive monitoring and disease-control exercise following suspicions that the cubs may have succumbed to Babesia, a tick-borne parasitic infection known to affect wild animals. Modhwadia said investigations had ruled out Babesia infection and other viral diseases as the cause of the deaths. The issue had drawn attention after eight lion cubs died in Gir Somnath and Amreli districts, prompting authorities to isolate lions within a 10-kilometre radius of the affected locations and send biological samples for testing at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre in Gandhinagar.

“The eight cubs died due to heat and the weakness that 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 over a short period in parts of Gir forests, triggering concerns because of the region’s history with disease outbreaks among lions. In 2018, a combination of canine distemper virus (CDV) and protozoan infection had killed 11 lions within a month, prompting heightened vigilance whenever unusual mortality is reported. Following the recent deaths, authorities imposed precautionary measures across the affected region. Lions residing within a 10-kilometre radius of the locations where suspected infection had been reported were placed under observation, while veterinary teams intensified surveillance of the population.

A total of 17 lions showing signs of illness were quarantined and treated. “Of the 17 lions which were quite ill and unable to 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 undertook extensive preventive measures to eliminate the possibility of disease transmission. Around 600 lions in the surrounding areas underwent deworming and tick-control treatment as part of a large-scale health intervention. Modhwadia said there had been no recent lion deaths linked to infectious diseases. He noted that one lioness had died due to complications related to pregnancy, while examinations of other recent lion deaths had not revealed any alarming pathogens.