Why Gujarat's Asiatic lion census is a big deal really

India Today

23-04-2025

Gujarat's 16th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation, covering an expanse of 35,000 sq km across 58 talukas in 11 districts from May 10 to 13, comes at a critical juncture as the state's lion population continues to grow, bringing both triumphs in conservation and escalating challenges in human-wildlife coexistence. This edition of the five-yearly lion census first conducted in 1936 will integrate closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance for the first time with traditional direct sighting methods. The Direct Beat Verification (DBV) method, also known as the block count method and used since 2000, will be used, too.Based on the historical data of lion movements, the census area is divided into the basic counting units—beats inside the forests, and clusters of three to 10 villages outside. Approximately 3,000 trained volunteers, along with regional, zonal and sub-zonal officers, will be involved in the exercise. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), too, is expected to participate, leveraging its expertise in wildlife censuses. Details such as the direction of the lion's movement, gender, age, identification marks, GPS location and group composition will also be recorded.advertisementThough technology will be used to verify the findings, the primary data will be collected by the time-tested DBV method. Gujarat's forest department has claimed in a statement that the methodology ensures 100 per cent accuracy due to ease of statistical analysis and implementation. This method has been used in forests, grasslands, coastal areas and revenue lands for over three decades.The area to be studied is divided into regional, zonal and sub-zonal units. The volunteers include officers, enumerators, assistant enumerators and observers, who will be provided with designated forms and maps to record details such as observation time, movement direction, gender, age, identification marks, GPS location and group composition, the statement explained.
Simultaneously, high-resolution cameras and camera traps will be used for individual lion identification. Some lions are fitted with radio collars to track their location and group movements. The e-GujForest app will facilitate real-time data entry, including GPS locations and photos. GIS software will be used to map survey areas, track lion movements, distribution patterns and habitat usage, the statement added.advertisementThe lion population has increased at a steady rate of 25-30 per cent every five years over the past three decades. In 2020, the population recorded a 28.87 per cent jump to 674 from 523 in 2015. Informal estimates based on anecdotal observations have indicated the population already hovers around 800 now. While the government's conservation efforts have resulted in a steady increase of the lion population, the fact that these species are wholly contained in the Saurashtra peninsula has presented several challenges that do not have a conclusive resolution. Lion habitat has been steadily reducing under pressure from the rising demand on land use for human habitation, farmland transportation and industrial infrastructure. The carrying capacity of the five wildlife sanctuaries in the region was exhausted 15 years ago. Interpreting data from the last census, the lion population outside forested areas grew by 97 per cent between 2015 and 2020, while there was a three per cent decline within forested regions.As the large carnivores spill out of the forests, stories of prides roaming the concrete streets in towns and villages, crossing high-speed highways and falling prey to speeding trains have been commonplace. The newly claimed territories lack the necessary prey base, resulting in further conflict with human habitations. Government data reveals that incidents of lions killing domestic animals in Gujarat's Gir forest have steadily increased, reaching a peak of 4,385 in 2023-24. This is despite an increase in prey animals in the Gir forest over the past six years.advertisementAmid the rising challenges, the census is keenly expected to throw light through concrete data on where and how the Asiatic lions are expanding their territory. This will help shape development plans for the region and wildlife conservation strategies for years to come. Subscribe to India Today Magazine