S3|E6 - Conserving the Asiatic Lion with Dr. Meena Venkataraman

The Think Wildlife Podcast

The Asiatic Lion is probably India’s finest conservation miracles. With less than 100 individuals remaining in the wild in the 1960s, the population has skyrocketed with an estimated 600-800 lions roaming the forests of Saurashtra. In 2018, over 50 lions were lost due to an outbreak of the canine distemper disease. Moreover, the range of the Gir lion has spread well beyond the forests of Gir National Park, with prides often found wandering urban landscapes in Saurashtra. This poses a risk of human-lion conflict, which till now has been relatively limited.

In Episode 6 of The Think Wildlife Podcast, I am joined by India’s leading lion biologist, Dr. Venkataraman, the founder of Carnivore Conservation and Research. She has over 20 years of experience as a wildlife biologists and studied the behavioural ecology of the Asiatic Lion. We talk about her intriguing work on lion ecology and conservation. We also talk about the state of lion translocation efforts in India and the potential impact of the cheetah reintroduction. Tune in to learn about this magnificent cat and their remarkable story in India!

Meet the Host

Anish Banerjee: https://x.com/anishwildlife

Think Wildlife Foundation: https://thinkwildlifefoundation.com/

Meet the Guests

Dr. Meena Venkatraman: https://corecarnivore.wordpress.com/about/

Recommended Wildlife Conservation Books

Wildlife Conservation in India by HS Pabla: https://amzn.to/3Ypx9Zh

Indian Mammals: A Field Guide by Vivek Menon: https://amzn.to/4fhMiCL

At the Feet of Living Things by Aparajita Datta: https://amzn.to/3BZmtsN

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