Lion population grows to 891 in Gujarat
In a happy news for the Asiatic lion enthusiasts, the population of lions in
Gujarat
have grown from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025.
The recently concluded 16th line census included 196 males, 330 females, and a significant number of cubs and sub-adults, which came as a major the success for the ongoing conservation initiatives.
The details of the lion census was shared by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel here on Wednesday.
For the records, conducted between May 10–13, the latest lion census covered 35,000 sq. km across 11 districts and 58 talukas, utilizing the Block Count (Direct Beat Verification) method. A total of 3,854 individuals, including forest staff, local sarpanches, villagers, and community leaders, actively participated in this large-scale wildlife monitoring effort.
The process entailed extensive technological support, that rendered more accuracy and precision. According to the state government, apart from usual digital cameras, camera traps, and radio collars, e-GujForest mobile app allowed real-time entry of lion sightings, complete with GPS coordinates and photos, making data collection faster and more precise. To better understand lion habitats and how the animals are spreading across regions, officials used GIS mapping tools. In addition, AI-powered software helped identify individual lions from the images, adding another layer of accuracy to the process.
It may be mentioned here that Prime Minister
Narendra Modi
has been taking keen interest in lion conservation since he was the Chief Minister of the state. In march this year while announcing the 16th lion census, Modi had announced that lion conservation in Barda will be supported through prey augmentation and other habitat improvement efforts since the Asiatic Lions have now made
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
their home through natural dispersal.
Steady Growth of Lion Population over Two Decades
2001: 327 lions
2005: 359
2010: 411
2015: 523
2020: 674
2025: 891
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