Gandhinagar, August 10(HS): The roar of the Asiatic Lion echoed far beyond Gujarat’s forests on World Lion Day 2025, as India announced a record 891 lions now roam the wild — a 32% leap since 2020 and more than 70% growth in the past decade.
At a grand celebration held within the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav hailed the population boom as “one of the world’s greatest conservation success stories”, crediting the steadfast vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“From just 284 lions in 1990 to 891 in 2025, the Asiatic Lion is now a global emblem of coexistence driven by relentless conservation. Their only home — Gir and its surrounding landscapes — stands as a testament to India’s ecological leadership,” Yadav declared to thunderous applause.
The event, joined by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, celebrated another milestone — the lion’s historic return to Barda after 143 years, where 17 lions, including 11 cubs, now roam freely.
Marking the occasion, CM Patel announced a ₹180 crore mega conservation and eco-tourism push, featuring:
- Barda Safari Park over 248 hectares,
- advanced veterinary care facilities,
- and expanded habitat protection measures.
This initiative complements the Union Government’s 10-year, ₹2,927 crore Project Lion, unveiled by PM Modi during his 2020 Independence Day address, aimed at ensuring the long-term survival of the Panthera leo persica.
The celebrations reached far beyond Barda, with lakhs of students from 11 districts in the Greater Gir Lion Landscape joining virtually — a sweeping mobilisation to inspire the next generation of conservationists.
Gujarat’s Greater Gir region — spanning 35,000 sq. km across Saurashtra — remains the only place on Earth where Asiatic Lions live in the wild. Experts say Gujarat’s model of habitat expansion, community participation, and conflict mitigation now ranks among the most successful large predator conservation blueprints globally.
As Minister Yadav summed up: “The roar of the lion is no longer just in our forests — it is the roar of India’s commitment to conservation, echoing across the world.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
