The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), once on the brink of extinction, has experienced a significant revival in India.
In 1880, there were reportedly only around 12 individuals left, confined to the Gir Forest in Gujarat. Due to intensive conservation efforts, habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and community involvement, their numbers have steadily increased over the years.
As of the 2020 census conducted by the Gujarat Forest Department, there are now 674 Asiatic lions in the region, a 29% increase from the previous count in 2015.
The Gir National Park and surrounding protected areas remain their only natural habitat in the world.
This success is considered one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation recoveries globally. However, experts still warn that the lions' limited range in a single geographic region leaves them vulnerable to disease outbreaks and natural disasters. Plans to translocate some of the population to other regions, such as Madhya Pradesh's Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, have been proposed but face legal and logistical hurdles.
The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), once on the brink of extinction, has experienced a significant revival in India.
In 1880, there were reportedly only around 12 individuals left, confined to the Gir Forest in Gujarat. Due to intensive conservation efforts, habitat protection, anti-poaching measures, and community involvement, their numbers have steadily increased over the years.
As of the 2020 census conducted by the Gujarat Forest Department, there are now 674 Asiatic lions in the region, a 29% increase from the previous count in 2015.
The Gir National Park and surrounding protected areas remain their only natural habitat in the world.
This success is considered one of the most remarkable wildlife conservation recoveries globally. However, experts still warn that the lions' limited range in a single geographic region leaves them vulnerable to disease outbreaks and natural disasters. Plans to translocate some of the population to other regions, such as Madhya Pradesh's Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, have been proposed but face legal and logistical hurdles.
