Published on: May 26, 2025

LION CENSUS 2025

LION CENSUS 2025

  • Total Population: 891 Asiatic lions in Gujarat.
  • Growth Rate: 32% increase since 2020 (from 674 to 891 lions).
  • Time Frame: Increase recorded over 5 years.

Distribution of Lions

  • Source Population (394 lions):
    • Gir Forest: 384 lions
    • Pania Wildlife Sanctuary: 10 lions
  • Satellite Populations (497 lions):
    • 49% growth since 2020
    • Spread across new and existing zones

Key Satellite Areas (Beyond Gir)

  • Newly Established Zones:
    • Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (near Porbandar)
    • Jetpur and adjoining areas
    • Babra-Jasdan areas
    • Wildlife corridors linking fragmented zones
  • Existing Satellite Areas:
    • Mitiyala
    • Girnar
    • Southwestern coast
    • Southeastern coast
    • Savarkundla-Liliya region
    • Bhavnagar (mainland and coast)

District-wise Lion Population (Top 3)

  • Amreli District: 339 lions
  • Gir-Somnath: 222 lions
  • Junagadh: 191 lions
  • Note: No lions spotted in 4 out of the 11 districts surveyed.

Demographic Trends

  • Adult Females:
    • Increased from 260 (2020) to 330 (2025)
    • Indicates a healthy breeding population

Expansion of Habitat

  • 1990s: 284 lions in 6,600 sq km
  • 2025: 891 lions in 35,000 sq km
  • Geographical Spread: From core Gir forests to 11 districts across Saurashtra

Government Support & Conservation Efforts

  • Project Lion:
    • Endorsed by PM Narendra Modi
    • Focus on habitat improvement and protection
    • Considered successful in creating a “conducive environment”

Historical Context

  • 1913: Asiatic lion population dropped to 20 due to hunting and human encroachment
  • Gir Forest: The last refuge for Asiatic lions in the early 20th century
  • Recovery: A century of focused conservation led to population revival

Conservation Concerns

  • Geographic Concentration Risk:
    • All lions remain within Gujarat, making them vulnerable to epidemics or disasters
  • Supreme Court Order: Directed translocation of some lions to a second habitat
  • Kuno-Palpur (Madhya Pradesh):
    • Initially selected for lion relocation
    • Currently housing African cheetahs instead
    • No lions relocated so far