Dr Keshav Kumar recounts how he led the investigation into the poaching of ten Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary. With no previous experience of wildlife crime, no eyewitnesses and very little guidance, he moved into the forest with a specialist team for two and a half months and began building the case from the ground up.
What followed was an extraordinary use of intelligence, profiling and forensic science. A chance online connection with wildlife expert Belinda Wright helped identify the suspected poaching group, while evidence recovered from clothing and fingernails ultimately revealed Asiatic lion blood. Investigators then used DNA fingerprinting to link individual lions to individual poachers, creating a groundbreaking case that showed how conventional forensic methods could transform wildlife crime investigations.
Key takeaways
- Ten Asiatic lions were poached in three separate incidents inside Gujarat’s Gir sanctuary.
- Dr Keshav Kumar had never investigated wildlife crime before taking responsibility for the case.
- He camped inside the sanctuary with a team of around 25 to 30 investigators and forensic specialists for two and a half months.
- With no local expertise available, the team used online research to find wildlife specialist Belinda Wright and request guidance.
- Information provided by Wright helped investigators identify a suspected group of experienced wildlife poachers.
- A freshly cut lion claw discovered during checks became a major breakthrough in the investigation.
- Forensic testing found Asiatic lion blood on suspects’ clothing and beneath their fingernails.
- DNA fingerprinting allowed investigators to prove which lion had been killed by which poacher.
Chapters
00:41 – Ten lions poached in Gujarat
02:00 – Taking on an unfamiliar investigation
03:45 – Camping inside the jungle for two months
05:00 – Finding an expert through Google
07:11 – Profiling the suspected poachers
09:39 – The lion claw that changed everything
12:02 – Lion blood found on clothes and fingernails
14:06 – DNA fingerprinting links lions to poachers
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