When you see the Asiatic lion in India,what yousense is enormous vitality.They're very impressivebeasts and you would never guess that they hadthis vulnerability when you look at them.
The Asiatic lions don't have the Gir Sanctuary tothemselves,I should add.They actually share it withabout two thousand farmers.A significantproportion of the lions' diet is made up of thelivestock of these farmers - goats,chickens and soon - as much as a third,in fact.And they've evenbeen known to attack humans,especially in times ofdrought.
One final piece of interesting information - in ancient India one of the greatest tests ofleadership for a man was to fight a lion.Now it seems,in modern India it will be a great test tosee if the lion can be saved.I'm sure this is something that all of you will share concern for too.