• The estimated population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has increased to 891 from 674 five years ago as per the census conducted this month, officials said.

• Not only the count went up by 217, but the animals were found outside the Gir National Park, their traditional habitat, and spread across 11 districts of Saurashtra including non-forested and coastal areas.

• As per the last census conducted in June 2020, the population of Asiatic lions, a subspecies only found in Gujarat's Gir area, was estimated at 674.

• As per the latest count, there are estimated 196 males, 330 females,140 sub-adults and 225 cubs, said the Gujarat forest department.

• As the population of lions is increasing, their spread in Saurashtra region has also expanded. The big cats were earlier confined to the Gir National Park in Junagadh and Amreli districts, but now they have spread to 11 districts.

• The 11 districts where lions were spotted are Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Amreli, Porbandar and Botad.

Asiatic lion

• Asiatic lion is categorised as ‘Endangered’ according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species upgraded from "Critically Endangered" category in 2008 due to the efforts taken for conservation and protection of Asiatic Lions resulting in increase in their population over the years.

• Asiatic lion population estimate is an integral part of wildlife management in the area known as Asiatic Lion Landscape, which includes Gir National Park and Sanctuary, falling in eight districts — Junagadh, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, Gir Somnath, Botad and Jamnagar. 

• Asiatic lion is an endangered species, scheduled at Schedule-I in Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 which is present in the local areas of Asiatic Lion Landscape. 

• The free ranging lions today exist as two disjunct populations: Panthera leo leo in Africa and Panthera leo persica in India. The former are presently found in savannah habitats across sub-Saharan Africa. 

• The government notified the large geographical extent of ‘Sasan Gir’ as a wildlife sanctuary on September 18, 1965 in order to conserve the Asiatic lion. It covers a total area of 1,412 sq km of which 258 km forms the core area of the National Park. 

•  The Gir forest is well known all over the world for the only wild gene pool and for the last home of the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica). 

Project Lion

• During his Independence Day speech in 2020, PM Modi announced the initiation of Project Lion for better conservation of the species in lines of ‘Project Tiger’. 

• Project Lion is being implemented in the Gir landscape in Gujarat. 

• It envisages landscape ecology based conservation of the Asiatic Lion in Gujarat by integrating conservation and eco-development. 

• The Project Lion will entail habitat development, engage modern technologies in lion management and address the issues of disease in lion and its associated species through advanced world class research and veterinary care. 

• The project will also address human-wildlife conflict and will be inclusive involving local communities living in the vicinity of lion landscape and will also provide livelihood opportunities through activities such as eco-tourism, promotion of local art and handicrafts, home stays etc.

Objectives of Project Lion:

i) To secure and restore lions’ habitats for managing its growing population.

ii) Scale up livelihood generation and participation of local communities.

iii) Become a global hub of knowledge on big cat disease diagnostics and treatment.

iv) Inclusive biodiversity conservation through the initiative.

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