Asiatic lion population in Gujarat goes up from 674 to 891 in 5 years: CM Patel shares census details
Recording an increase of 217 lions, around 32% compared to the 15th lion census, the tally this time includes 196 males, 330 females, 140 sub-adults and 225 cubs.
The 16th Lion Estimation Document released by CM Patel shared information about multiple trends witnessed during the exercise.
Even as the total population of lions has increased by 217 (32.2%), the number of adult females has increased from 260 to 330 (26.92%), reinforcing the population's reproductive capacity, it states.
The Asiatic lions are found in Gir National Park & Gir and Pania Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas as the source (core) population. From this source, lions have dispersed and established distinct satellite populations in spatially separated areas, according to the information.
'During previous population estimations, seven of these satellite populations — Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary, Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, the southwestern and southeastern coastal regions, Savarkundla-Liliya and its adjoining areas in Amreli, Bhavnagar Mainland and Bhavnagar Coast – were recorded,' the document shared by the CM said.
In the 16th estimation, three new satellite populations have been documented.
'Among these, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (near Porbandar) is a newly-established population. It is noteworthy to mention that the lions in Bards Wildlife Sanctuary were established after 1879 (the last known record). Therefore, the concept of a second home for the lions within the Gujarat state has been materialised, which will be helpful for the long-term conservation of the species,' the document further reads.
The estimation has recorded 17 lions in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary. Another newly documented satellite population of lions recorded during the 2025 census includes lions from areas around Jetpur and Babra-Jasdan.
The third newly recorded satellite population has been marked as 'Population in Corridors'. This is the population, the document reads, '…which lives in corridors and is a floating kind of population with significant potential for the future.'
So, in all, 384 lions have been recorded in the core/source area of Gir National Park & Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjoining areas and Pania Wildlife Sanctuary and its adjoining areas. At least 507 were found from outside of this core area.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forest and Head of the Forest Force (PCCF & HoFF) A P Singh said, 'The carrying capacity of Gir Sanctuary and National Park (or the core area) is around 300-350. Here, the population of lions has increased to 384. What is important is that the expansion of lions outside protected areas has gradually increased…The population of such lions has reached 507.'
In this context, Principal Secretary (Forest and Environment) Sanjeev Kumar said, 'The holding capacity of national park and sanctuaries will be increased by intervention and habitat improvement. There is still scope of increasing the holding capacity and the forest and environment department is working in that direction.'
Steady increase in trend
The distribution of lions is showing a steady increasing trend over the years, according to the document. In 1995, the distribution was over 10000 sq km. The range gradually increased over the years and in 2020 it was extended to 30000 sq km. In 2025, it has further extended to 35000 sq km.
'This progressive expansion demonstrates consistent range growth supported by conservation efforts and natural lion dispersal,' the estimation doc says.
As per the estimation, total seven districts of Gujarat have recorded lion population; Junagadh, Gir-Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Rajkot, and Devbhumi-Dwarka.
Amreli district holds the highest population of lions (339) in the Asiatic Lion Landscape followed by Gir-Somnath (222), Junagadh (191) and Bhavnagar (116). Porbadar, Rajkot and Devbhumi Dwarka districts have recorded 16, six and one lion (s) respectively, according to the document.
'No (lion) population has been recorded in Ahmedabad, Botad, Jamnagar and Surendranagar districts during the estimation,' said the document.
The estimation has also provided distribution of lion locations across different land-use categories; forested areas and non-forested areas.
It states, 'During the 16th lion population estimation, 891 lions were recorded at a total of 358 locations. Of these, 55.78% were found in forested areas, while the remaining 44.22% were located in non-forested areas. These non-forested areas include wasteland (27.61%), agriculture (9.88%), riverine areas (5.16%), agricultural plantations (9.88%) and areas adjacent to human habitation (0.34%).'
PCCF & HoFF Singh said that farmers are very happy because of the increasing population of lions as it helps them control the menace of blue bulls and wild boars.
'The lion movement is recorded at places where there is (population of) blue bull and wild boars in agriculture areas, which was a difficulty for farmers. If you ask the farmers, they are very happy. Wherever the lion is going, their agriculture is protected. For lions, the prey base is more important than water and shelter. Accordingly, the movement (of lion) is taking place,' Singh said.
The census was conducted between May 10 and 13 using the Direct Beat Verification method. To ensure systematic sampling and data collection, the Asiatic Lion Landscape was divided into eight regions, 32 zones, 112 sub-zones and 735 sampling units. Each sampling unit was teamed up with an enumerator and two assistant enumerators, ensuring thorough survey and data collection. Each team was equipped with essential field gear, including a wireless walkie-talkie, binoculars, torchlights, GPS instruments, digital cameras and other gadgets.
To enhance transparency and credibility, experts from various fields, members of the state board for wildlife, and individuals experienced in group dynamics and pride behaviour were invited as independent observers. People from different fields and NGOs were also included as volunteers. In all, the estimation exercise involved 3,254 people. Sarpanches of different concerned villages were also part of the exercise.
A statement from the state government on the results of the estimation said, 'This population estimation exercise and the results are very encouraging and reflects the state government's commitment to the conservation and scientific management of Asiatic lions.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scroll.in
3 days ago
- Scroll.in
Two rare wildcat species caught on camera-traps in Pakistan
Conservationists snapped images of two small wildcat species in Pakistan earlier this year: an Asiatic caracal (Caracal caracal schimitzi) and a sand cat (Felis margarita) – both which are incredibly rare in the country. Information on both cats in Pakistan is limited, with the sand cat presumed possibly extinct there, according to the IUCN, the global wildlife conservation authority. The camera-trap image of the caracal is 'very rare visual evidence of the once widespread but now rapidly declining species', says Zafeer Ahmed Shaikh, director of the Indus Fishing Cat Project. That image – the first camera-trap record of a caracal in Pakistan, according to Shaikh – came from Kirthar National Park, where the Indus Fishing Cat Project, a nonprofit, has had cameras set for around four years. The team decided to extend its camera trapping after earlier reports of a caracal crossing a road in broad daylight in the area in January this year. The nonprofit's local partners, Qalandar Burfat, Zohaib Ahmed and Ramzan Burfat, set up the trap near a watering hole inside the national park. 'There was only one singular video of this male cat from about 400 videos at this particular camera station across a two-week-long period,' Shaikh says. Unfortunately, another sighting included one juvenile cat killed in the national park by local people. These images offer firm evidence that caracals are still present in Pakistan, says Jim Sanderson, founder and director of the Small Wild Cat Conservation Foundation. 'But, as with most places, we have no idea if a self-sustaining population exists.' The sightings 'give us better insight into species distribution and habitat preferences in the country', Ricky Reino, an Asiatic caracal species monitor and studbook keeper for the European Zoo population, told Mongabay by email. 'We know that caracal numbers are considerably less in Asia, especially in India, than they are in Africa,' he adds. Though the caracal is listed by the IUCN as a species of least concern globally, within Pakistan it's considered critically endangered, with an estimated population of approximately 100 individuals. A 2023 paper noted there's 'no comprehensive information on the distribution or abundance of the caracal in Pakistan'. With the species deemed widespread and a low priority across much of its range, few 'conservation-based threat-reduction projects are taking place' anywhere, including in Pakistan, Sanderson adds. The species' status is currently under review by the IUCN. In another rare feat, Shaikh's organisation snapped a picture of a sand cat – a species listed as possibly extinct in Pakistan, according to the IUCN. 'The sighting of the sand cat in Pakistan is highly significant from both ecological and conservation perspectives since the species was practically unknown this far east of its range,' Shaikh says. Other sporadic sightings have been recorded in other parts of the country. 'These confirmed photographic records are extremely valuable, as the species is poorly documented in South Asia,' he says. 'And Pakistan lacks comprehensive data on its distribution or population status.' Little known, highly endangered Kirthar National Park, where both cat species were spotted, sits on the border of Karachi, a city that's home to some 20 million people. Despite the preserve's protected status, it is beset by sand mining activities, says Shaikh. Karachi, the capital city of Pakistan's Sindh province and the 12th-largest city in the world, is undergoing massive development with ongoing conversion of its green belt to residential and commercial areas. 'Such projects require sand and gravel to construct and build, and as such, they extract these natural resources from within the national park itself,' Shaikh says. 'It is happening at multiple sites. But two locations – Pachhran and Khar Centre – are notorious.' Khar Centre is where the caracal was photographed, with sand and gravel mining activity there likely impacting the small cats and a host of other species – disrupting habitat, threatening water sources, and creating noise and other pollution. For small cats in Pakistan, in general, retaliatory killings pose another major threat. That's the current focus of conservation work by Shaikh's organisation. The group says it hopes to capture more images of caracals and sand cats to deepen knowledge of the country's populations. But with stretched resources, the NGO's focus is on direct conservation action. 'Our goal is to expand on existing awareness programmes as well as to create a solid foundation for a compensation scheme in the region,' Shaikh says. Similarly, the sand cat sighting may help build a case for a national conservation strategy, targeting threats such as habitat degradation due to overgrazing and retaliatory killings. 'Every verified sighting is contributing to baseline data, and solidifying the mapping of its current range, and supports its inclusion in national conservation strategies,' Shaikh says. 'These sightings are important, as it shows the need for dedicated research and conservation initiatives focussing on caracals and other small cats,' Reino says. Conservation of small wildcats is severely underfunded worldwide, though research and conservation financing has increased in recent years. Only around 3% of global felid funding is currently directed at the more than 36 species of small cats, with the lion's share going to the charismatic big cats, according to Sanderson. '[S]mall wildcats are far from the priority species or wildlife groups of most wildlife conservation bodies in Pakistan,' Shaikh says. 'These species go by unnoticed very easily, and thus, this creates huge research gaps and conservation issues that must be addressed soon.' Shaikh says he hopes the new photo records for both small cats will 'stimulate scientific interest and raise awareness among local communities and authorities,' ultimately building a case for conserving Pakistan's elusive small cats, rare as they may be.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Bagless days, 40-mark tests: Task force proposes reforms
Ahmedabad: Less weightage to written exams, bagless days, 40-mark written test, and less administrative work for teachers. These are some of the recommendations made by the task force constituted by the education department to bring a 360-degree transformation to the education system. Compiled after a series of consultations and meetings, and submitted to chief minister Bhupendra Patel, the comprehensive report outlines major changes in school assessment patterns, aiming to align it with the National Education Policy (NEP) and introduce a more inclusive, activity-based, and stress-free evaluation method, officials close to the development said. A key recommendation is to replace the current biannual summative assessment model with a new dual-phase structure — formative assessment in the first term and summative evaluation in the second term. To reduce the overwhelming focus on written exams, the report recommends shifting from a 100% written assessment system to a 40% written and 60% activity-based evaluation model. Activities like co-curricular engagement, sports, vocational training, and art will now play a crucial role in evaluating a student's progress. You Can Also Check: Ahmedabad AQI | Weather in Ahmedabad | Bank Holidays in Ahmedabad | Public Holidays in Ahmedabad The task force suggests a trimester-based 40-mark written test, alongside activity-based assessments. For Class 5, the end-of-term exam weightage will increase from 40 to 60 marks, and for Classes 6 to 8, it will be raised to 80 marks. Additionally, the task force has emphasised multi-source assessment. Besides teachers, students will be evaluated by themselves (self-assessment), peers, and even parents. This inclusive model is designed to reduce academic pressure and promote emotional, physical, and intellectual growth, officials said. The report also proposes the abolition of traditional unit tests, recommending instead the implementation of continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE). Like CBSE's holistic progress cards, Gujarat schools will adopt a holistic progress report, generated every three months to reflect a student's overall development. To support teachers and enhance teaching quality, the task force suggests reducing their non-teaching workload, especially in data entry tasks, which currently consume a significant amount of their time. Reducing this burden will enable teachers to focus more on academic delivery and student engagement, the report says.
Time of India
16-07-2025
- Time of India
Gujarat: 5 'dangerous' bridges on Narmada canals shut, no heavy vehicles allowed on 4 others
FILE: Rescuers and locals look for survivors after several vehicles fell into a river following the collapse of a portion of a bridge in Mujpur near Vadodara in the Indian state of Gujarat, Wednesday, July 9, 2025. Following inspections of the Narmada canal network in Gujarat, authorities have closed five bridges due to safety concerns, with two in Morbi and three in Surendranagar district. Heavy vehicles are restricted on four additional bridges, and repairs are ordered for 36 more. This action follows a bridge collapse in July and aims to prevent further incidents. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Ahmedabad: Authorities have shut five bridges on the Narmada canals in Gujarat after they were found to be dangerous for vehicular movement during an ongoing inspection drive, officials said on this, heavy vehicles have been barred from plying on four other bridges in the canal network, while instructions have been given to the district administration concerned to close 36 other bridges for repair work with immediate effect, the government said in a these bridges are part of the Narmada canal repair and maintenance work of various roads and bridges which are damaged due to heavy rains is being carried out on a war footing under the direction of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, it state government has also conducted a technical inspection of various bridges located on the vast Narmada canal network in the state as a precautionary measure, it to the Sardar Sarovar Narmada Nigam Limited (SSNNL), there are about 2,110 bridges connecting the national and state highways and village roads passing through this canal assess the current condition of these bridges, prevent possible damages and extend the life of these structures, a comprehensive visual inspection campaign was conducted recently by SSNNL on all these bridges, the release the five bridges which are completely closed, two are in Morbi district while three are in Surendranagar district, it located on the Narmada canal network are constantly affected by load carrying vehicles and environmental factors. At such times, regular inspection is extremely important to identify potential hazards and find a solution, it July 9, several vehicles plunged into the Mahisagar river after a segment of a 40-year-old bridge near Gambhira village, connecting Anand and Vadodara districts, collapsed on July 9. At least 20 persons were killed in the state government has started the repair work of national and state highways as well as internal roads of villages, towns and cities which were damaged due to heavy rains recently. On Tuesday, CM Patel conducted an in-depth review of the ongoing road and bridge repair works across the state and asked officials to check quality during the exercise and prioritize the redressal of citizens' complaints.
