Asiatic lion population in Gujarat rises to 891 from 674 in five years

Gujarat has completed its 16th lion population census, with Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announcing the results on Wednesday in Gandhinagar. The latest count reveals the presence of 891 lions, a remarkable figure that underscores the state’s success in wildlife conservation, particularly through efforts like Project Lion. This marks a substantial rise from the 674 lions recorded during the last census five years ago. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the ongoing efforts under ‘Project Lion’, highlighting their role in ensuring both the protection and conservation of Asiatic lions in Gujarat.The Prime Minister expressed his happiness, noting that the initiatives under Project Lion are not only creating a favourable environment for the lions but are also effectively safeguarding their future. Spanning a vast 35,000 sq km area across 58 talukas in 11 districts, the four-day census held from May 10 to 13 saw the participation of 3,254 personnel.
The meticulous operation was conducted in two phases — an initial “direct beat verification” phase on May 10 and 11, followed by the final enumeration on May 12 and 13. The comprehensive survey covered districts including Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Botad. Teams worked around the clock in forests, coastal belts, grasslands, and revenue areas to document lion movements and habitat patterns. Unlike their African cousins, Asiatic lions were once found from the Middle East to India — but by the early 20th century, they had almost vanished due to hunting and habitat loss. They survive only in and around the Gir forest.

ગુજરાતનું આગવું ગૌરવ એટલે સમગ્ર વિશ્વમાં ફક્ત ગીરના જંગલ વિસ્તારમાં જોવા મળતા 'એશિયાટિક લાયન' અને રાજ્યના 11 જિલ્લાના 58 તાલુકાઓના 35,000 ચો.કિ.મી. વિસ્તારમાં તાજેતરમાં હાથ ધરવામાં આવેલ ગુજરાતની શાન સમાન આ સિંહોના વસ્તી અંદાજ 2025માં જોવા મળ્યાં ઉત્કૃષ્ટ પરિણામ.

માનનીય વડાપ્રધાન… pic.twitter.com/ZmoWI3dNcI

— CMO Gujarat (@CMOGuj) May 21, 2025

Chief Minister Patel, while presenting the data, highlighted the growing population of the Asiatic lion as a testament to Gujarat’s sustained conservation strategy. “This milestone reflects the tireless dedication of our forest department and the success of government-backed programs like Project Lion,” he said. The lion population, once limited largely to the Gir National Park, is now increasingly spreading to newer areas — a sign of improved habitat connectivity and stability.

(State Correspondent)