PM Modi lauds upbeat population figures of Asiatic Lions; cheers Gujarat people

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded jump in number of Asiatic Lions and ir distribution area in his home state Gujarat and expressed hope that "positive trend continues".

According to a Gujarat forest department report, population of Asiatic Lions has shown a steady increase of 28.87% (one of highest growth rates so far) from previous growth of 27% during 2015 (523 lions) taking count to 674.  distribution of lions has increased from an area of 22000 sq. km in 2015 to 30000 sq. km in 2020, thus increasing distribution area by 36%, report stated.

Reacting to this, PM Modi wrote on Twitter: "Over last several years, Lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising. This is powered by community participation, emphasis on techlogy, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat manment and steps to minimise human-lion conflict. Hope this positive trend continues! (sic)"

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Lion survey

population estimation of Asiatic Lions is conducted at an interval of five years. last population estimation exercise was conducted in May 2015 which pegged lion numbers at 523, a 27% increase from estimation of 2010.  population of 674 w comprised 161 males, 260 females, 116 sub-adult lions and 137 cubs, it said.

In order to develop an understanding of current population status and distribution of Asiatic Lions in Asiatic Lion Landscape, Gujarat Forest Department conducted an exercise familiarly called Poonam Avlokan on June 5-6 using Direct Beat Verification also kwn as Block Count method.

teams relied on GPS data, identification marks and radio collar numbers to find out an estimation of population of big cat at Gir forest, kwn as last abode of Asiatic lions.

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Conservation efforts paying off

In its report, department said re has been a consistent increase in population and distribution area of Asiatic Lions mainly owing to effective conservation and manment by authorities.

"Multiple strategies and interventions have been implemented in Asiatic Lion Landscape that have majorly contributed to current conservation success of Asiatic lions viz. people’s participation, use of modern techlogy, wildlife health care including as import of CDV vaccine, habitat manment, increase in prey base, human-lion conflict mitigation, etc.," says report.

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Population and distribution trend:

^{(Source: Gujarat forest department)}

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