Junagadh, Apr 28 (PTI) A carcass of a lion was recovered from Tulsishyam range of Gir forest in Gujarat's Junagadh district, a forest official said on Tuesday.

While the exact cause of the animal's death could not be ascertained, preliminary examination of the carcass did not indicate any foul play, the official said.

As many as 21 lions have died in Gir east division in the last three months, chief conservator of forests (wildlife) Junagadh, Dushyant Vasavada said.

There was no reason to attribute any of these deaths to canine distemper virus (CDV) that had claimed lives of several lions in 2018, he added.

Babesia, CDV and other bacterial infections were responsible for the deaths of 34 lions in September 2018.

"I would like to clarify that there is no case of CDV here. In three months, we have recorded 21 deaths. We have also rescued sick lions, but it is a routine work for us, Vasavada told media here.

In the last one year, 286 wild animals were rescued and later released in the forest, he added.

Last week, the forest department had captured around 14 lions and shifted them to Jasadhar care centre, after some cubs in a pride fell ill.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)