The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi on June 10, 2020 expressed his happiness over the increasing population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest.
In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, “Two very good news: Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, is up by almost 29% .” He also said that geographically, distribution area is up by 36%.
The Gir forest in Gujarat is the last abode of the Asiatic lion in the world.
According o the Gujarat forest department, the number of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region has increased by almost 29 per cent (28.87%) to 674. Out of 674, there are 161 adult male, 260 adult female, and 45 sub-adult male, 49 sub-adult female, 22 unidentified and 137 cabs ions in the wilderness of these nine districts.
Today, Asiatic lions are present in Protected Areas and agro-pastoral landscape of Saurashtra covering nine districts in a sprawling expanse of over 30000 sq. km which is termed as the Asiatic Lion Landscape.
The distribution of the lions has increased from an area of 22000 sq. km in 2015 to 30000 sq. km in 2020 thus increasing the distribution area by 36%.
There are an estimated 674 Asiatic lions currently living in the Gir Forest. The population estimation of Asiatic lions is conducted at an interval of every five years. This year (15th estimation) a population estimation exercise was carried out on the night of June 5 and 6 when there was full moon.
The last population estimation exercise was conducted in May 2015, which pegged the lion numbers at 523. In 2015, there were 106 male, 201 female and 213 sub-adult lions in the wilderness of these four districts.
The Gir National Park is situated approximately 65 Kms South East of Junagarh District. The Government notified the large geographical extent of Sasan Gir as wildlife sanctuary on 18th September, 1965 in order to conserve the Asiatic Lion.
Note: Data has been sourced from Gujarat Forest Department.
