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Gir Forest Lions
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- The population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s Gir forest grew from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.
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Lion Relocation Talks
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- Discussions about relocating the lions began in 1995, with Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary identified as a potential alternative site. This was due to the limited genetic diversity of the Gir population, which makes them susceptible to diseases. In 2013, the Supreme Court directed the state to move lions to Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary.
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Genetic Diversity Concerns
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- Research by the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology revealed that Asiatic lions have lower genetic diversity compared to other lion populations.
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New Sites for Lion Relocation
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Apart from Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary, six new sites have been identified for possible lion relocation under Project Lion.
- Madhav National Park, Madhya Pradesh
- Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan
- Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve, Rajasthan
- Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh
- Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary, Rajasthan
- Jessore-Balaram Ambaji WLS and adjoining landscape, Gujarat
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Asiatic Lion Conservation Project
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- The Central Government launched the “Asiatic Lion Conservation Project” for three years (2018-21) to protect and conserve the Asiatic Lion and its ecosystem.
- Funding and Conservation: The project is funded through the Centrally Sponsored Scheme-Development of Wildlife Habitat (CSS-DWH), with a 60:40 ratio of Central and State contributions. The Asiatic Lion is critically endangered, and the project follows a “Species Conservation over a large landscape” approach, with specific plans for the Greater Gir Region.
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