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Grrr... India's Asiatic lion population jumps 32% in five years

Grrr... India's Asiatic lion population jumps 32% in five years

NEW DELHI: INDIA's Asiatic lion population has grown from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, a 32.2% increase, per the 16th Lion Population Estimation report released on Sunday. This conservation success is tempered by concerns, as most lions now live near human settlements, altering their natural hunting instincts and increasing reliance on livestock or human-provided food.
Asiatic lions are exclusively found in Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat.
Data analysed by experts reveal only 20% of lions reside in the 258 sq. km core area of Gir National Park (GNP), Gujarat, where they can prey on wild animals. The park, with its buffer zone, spans over 1,400 sq. km. A senior Gujarat forest officer stated that the remaining lions, living near humans, 'primarily prey on livestock or consume dead livestock that humans dispose of.'
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Meenangadi panchayat bags C. Achutha Menon Memorial Award for best agricultural practices
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Grrr... India's Asiatic lion population jumps 32% in five years
Grrr... India's Asiatic lion population jumps 32% in five years

New Indian Express

time7 days ago

  • New Indian Express

Grrr... India's Asiatic lion population jumps 32% in five years

NEW DELHI: INDIA's Asiatic lion population has grown from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, a 32.2% increase, per the 16th Lion Population Estimation report released on Sunday. This conservation success is tempered by concerns, as most lions now live near human settlements, altering their natural hunting instincts and increasing reliance on livestock or human-provided food. Asiatic lions are exclusively found in Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat. Data analysed by experts reveal only 20% of lions reside in the 258 sq. km core area of Gir National Park (GNP), Gujarat, where they can prey on wild animals. The park, with its buffer zone, spans over 1,400 sq. km. A senior Gujarat forest officer stated that the remaining lions, living near humans, 'primarily prey on livestock or consume dead livestock that humans dispose of.'

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