PARLIAMENT QUESTION: POPULATION OF ASIATIC LIONS IN GIR FORESTS

1. At a Glance

• Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) is endemic to India, surviving as a single wild subpopulation in and around the Gir landscape of Gujarat [S1][S3].
• Population rose from 674 (2020) to 891 (2025) as per the 16th Lion Population Estimation, communicated to Parliament on 05 February 2026 by MoEFCC [S1].
• Examinable for Prelims (species, IUCN status, protected areas, schemes) and Mains GS-III (biodiversity conservation, human-wildlife conflict).

2. Why in the News

• Lok Sabha/Rajya Sabha question (05 Feb 2026) answered by MoEFCC confirming the 32% rise in Asiatic Lion numbers and expansion into river corridors, notified forest areas and revenue wastelands [S1].
• Coincides with release of the 2025 Lion Estimation results and natural recolonisation of Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (17 lions by 2025) [S1].

3. Background & Evolution

• Hunted to near-extinction by late 19th century; Nawab of Junagadh protected the remnant population in Gir from 1900s.
• Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary notified (NP 1975; sanctuary 1965).
• Asiatic Lion Conservation Project launched by MoEFCC in 2018, with a ₹97.85 crore Centre share over 3 years [S2].
• Project Lion announced by PM on 15 August 2020 (Independence Day speech); 10-year plan with outlay of ₹2,927.71 crore approved by MoEFCC [S1].
• Lion Estimation conducted quinquennially: 523 (2015) → 674 (2020) → 891 (2025) [S1].

4. Core Static Facts

• Species: Panthera leo persica / P. leo leo (Asiatic subpopulation) [S3].
• IUCN Red List: Endangered (Asiatic subpopulation) [S3].
• CITES: Appendix I; WPA 1972: Schedule I.
• Implementing Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC); State partner: Gujarat Forest Department [S1].
• Habitat range (Gujarat): Gir NP, Gir WLS, Pania WLS, Mitiyala WLS, Girnar WLS, Barda WLS, plus coastal forests of Saurashtra [S1].
• Population: 891 (2025); Barda WLS recolonised naturally in 2023, 17 lions (6 adults + 11 cubs) by 2025 [S1].
• Project Lion outlay: ₹2,927.71 crore (10 years) [S1].
• Asiatic Lion Conservation Project (2018): ₹97.85 crore Centre share [S2].

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Environmental / Ecological - Single-population vulnerability — epidemic (CDV outbreak 2018), forest fire or natural disaster could wipe out the species [S3]. - Range expansion into revenue wastelands and river corridors reflects saturation of Gir PA and rising edge populations [S1]. - IUCN notes the subpopulation has reached expansion limits within current protected core [S3].

Legal / Constitutional - Schedule I of Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972; lions are state property of Gujarat. - SC order (15 April 2013) in Centre for Environmental Law, WWF-I v. UoI directed translocation of some lions to Kuno (MP) within 6 months — not yet implemented; Gujarat has resisted. - Forest land regulated under Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980; Article 48A and 51A(g) DPSP/FD invoked.

Administrative - Satellite telemetry programme for spatial ecology, corridor use and seasonal movement [S1]. - Vanya Prani Mitras & trackers deployed for community sensitisation and conflict mitigation [S1]. - Strengthened veterinary infrastructure post-2018 CDV mortality event [S1].

Social / Human-Wildlife Conflict - Maldhari pastoralists co-inhabit Gir; lion dispersal into agricultural/revenue lands raises livestock predation & retaliatory killing risk [S1]. - Compensation, rapid-response teams and community trackers as mitigation [S1].

6. Recent Developments (last 12-18 months)

• May 2025: 16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation pegs total at 891 (vs 674 in 2020) — a 32% rise [S1].
• 2023: Natural migration of lions to Barda WLS, now established as a second home with 17 individuals [S1].
• Aug 2025: World Lion Day observed in Gujarat highlighting Project Lion outcomes [S2].
• 05 Feb 2026: MoEFCC reply in Parliament detailing satellite telemetry study and management interventions [S1].

7. Prelims Hooks

• Asiatic Lion population in India: 891 (2025), up from 674 (2020) [S1].
• Project Lion launched: 15 Aug 2020; outlay ₹2,927.71 crore [S1].
• Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: launched 2018, ₹97.85 crore [S2].
• IUCN status of Asiatic subpopulation: Endangered [S3].
• WPA 1972 Schedule: Schedule I.
• Barda WLS = newly emerged second home for Asiatic lions (2023 onwards), in Porbandar/Devbhumi Dwarka districts [S1].
• Lion estimation is conducted every 5 years by Gujarat Forest Department; latest = 16th estimation, 2025 [S1].
• Gir NP declared 1975; Gir WLS 1965.
• SC translocation order (2013) directed shifting some lions to Kuno NP, Madhya Pradesh (which subsequently hosts Cheetahs under Project Cheetah, 2022).
• Nodal Ministry: MoEFCC [S1].
• Satellite telemetry used to map corridor use and movement [S1].
• Vanya Prani Mitras — community trackers for conflict mitigation [S1].
• 2018 mass mortality cause: Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak in Gir.
• Asiatic Lion: scientific name Panthera leo persica [S3].

8. Mains Relevance

• GS-III: Conservation of biodiversity; species-specific projects; human-wildlife conflict.
• GS-II: Centre-State coordination (Gujarat's refusal to translocate to Kuno); SC directions and federal compliance.
• Plausible question stems: 1. "A single-population species is a conservation failure waiting to happen." Critically examine in light of the Asiatic Lion's recovery. 2. Discuss the objectives and progress of Project Lion (2020). How does it differ from Project Tiger and Project Cheetah? 3. Evaluate the role of community-based interventions (Vanya Prani Mitras) and technology (satellite telemetry) in managing human-wildlife conflict in the Gir landscape.

9. Related Topics to Study Next

• Project Tiger (1973) and NTCA — flagship comparator.
• Project Cheetah (2022) at Kuno NP — same SC order chain.
• Project Elephant (1992) — sister species programme.
• Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 — Schedules I-VI overhaul (2022 amendment).
• CITES Appendices and India's role.
• Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) around Gir — SC's 1-km buffer rulings.
• One Health approach — relevance after CDV outbreak in Gir.
• Translocation ecology — Kuno NP debate.

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

• Confusing Asiatic Lion Conservation Project (2018, ₹97.85 cr) with Project Lion (2020, ₹2,927.71 cr) — two distinct interventions [S1][S2].
• Assuming Asiatic Lion is Critically Endangered — IUCN lists it as Endangered [S3].
• Listing Kuno NP as a current Asiatic Lion habitat — it was earmarked but lions were never translocated; it now hosts Cheetahs.
• Mixing up Gir NP (1975) vs Gir WLS (1965) notification years.
• Attributing lion conservation to NTCA — NTCA is for tigers; lions are managed by Gujarat Forest Dept under MoEFCC, no statutory authority equivalent.

11. Sources

• [S1] PARLIAMENT QUESTION: POPULATION OF ASIATIC LIONS IN GIR FORESTS, PIB / MoEFCC, 05 Feb 2026 — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2223755 — (tier 1)
• [S2] Government Launches Asiatic Lion Conservation Project / Project Lion releases, PIB — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1556880 ; https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2154818 — (tier 1)
• [S3] Panthera leo (Asiatic subpopulation) — IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/15952/5327221 — (tier 2)