Amreli (Gujarat)– A comprehensive census of the endangered Asiatic lion is currently underway across 11 districts in Gujarat, covering approximately 35,000 square kilometers of forest and surrounding areas, officials announced on Tuesday.
The four-day operation, which began on May 10, concludes today and is being conducted in two phases as part of the 16th official count of the species.
In the Gir East forest division in Dhari alone, 511 personnel—including forest officers, enumerators, observers, and volunteers—have been deployed. Statewide, the effort has mobilized more than 2,900 participants operating across eight regions, 32 zones, and 112 sub-zones in 58 talukas spanning districts such as Amreli, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Porbandar, and Botad.
The census uses a 24-hour direct sighting method, covering both forested areas and adjoining villages. Data collection includes time and location of sightings, physical signs, photographs, and direction of movement, all logged with GPS coordinates.
To ensure precision, data is analyzed using geographic information system (GIS) mapping and statistical software. Final population figures will be released following detailed verification and integration of the collected information.
First initiated in 1936, the lion census is a cornerstone of Gujarat’s conservation efforts and is typically conducted every five years by the state’s Forest Department. The current operation is notable for its use of advanced technology and the direct beat verification method, which has demonstrated near-complete accuracy across varied landscapes—from dense forests to coastal and agricultural lands—for over three decades.
According to historical records, the lion population in Gujarat has shown a consistent upward trend: 304 in 1995, 327 in 2001, 359 in 2005, 411 in 2010, 523 in 2015, and 674 in the last count conducted in 2020.
Gujarat remains the only place in the world where Asiatic lions (Panthera leo persica) exist in the wild. Once widespread from the Middle East to India, the species now survives exclusively in and around the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in the Saurashtra region.
In recent years, the lions have expanded beyond the sanctuary’s core zones, establishing presence in parts of Amreli, Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, and reaching as far as the coastal districts of Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka. (Source: IANS)
