Resettlement Can Cause Problems Because Livestock Is On Top Of Big Cats’ Menu Ahmedabad: The state government may be planning to move Maldharis out of Gir sanctuary, but a study has revealed that livestock contributed as a major food source for the lions. The study on “The Relevance of Maldhari Livestock to Lion Conservation” was conducted by Kaushi Banerjee as a part of the main study, “Social Organization and Dispersal of Asiatic Lions.” The study of Banerjee was taken up in the eastern part of the sanctuary. Banerjee monitored six Maldhari nesses to determine significance of Maldhari livestock to the conservation of lion. He concluded that if livestock was removed from the sanctuary area, lion density, pride size and structure are likely to be altered significantly. The study revealed density of the livestock is estimated to be 30 livestock per sq km during summer season which increases to 42 livestock per sq km during monsoon. The main study was undertaken by Yadvendradev V Jhala, head of the department of animal ecology and conservation biology of the Wildlife Institute of India, Ravi Chellam former director Wildlife Conservation Society-India and Bharat Pathak, director of Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation. It was found that on an average about eight livestock were hunted or scavenged per 100 livestock. The study further revealed that the hunting of livestock is highest in summer, followed by monsoon. The livestock hunting is lowest in winter. The data of livestock consumption compared with the lion density revealed that livestock contributes approximately 50 per cent to the lions’ diet. The average financial loss per hundred livestock was estimated to be Rs 20,800.