The 16th Asiatic Lion Census 2025 reports a 32.2% increase in the lion population in Gujarat over 5 years — from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025 (Gujarat Forest Department).
Asiatic Lion
- Classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN,
- Listed in Appendix I of CITES, and
- Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Key Findings of 16th Asiatic Lion Census 2025
- Total Population:
- 891 lions recorded in 2025 (↑ from 674 in 2020).
- Increase of 217 lions over five years.
- Habitat Distribution:
- Protected areas: 384 lions.
- Non-forested areas: 507 lions (↑ from 340 in 2020).
- 44.22% of lions now live outside protected areas.
- Core Region:
- Gir National Park + Gir, Pania Wildlife Sanctuaries: 394 lions.
- Amreli district: Highest population – 257 lions.
- Mityala Wildlife Sanctuary: Population doubled to 32 lions.
- New Expansion Zones:
- Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (near Porbandar): 17 lions recorded – first population since 1879.
- New satellite populations: Jetpur and Babra-Jasdan areas.
- Gender Composition:
- 330 adult females (↑ 27% since 2020) — indicates good reproductive health and growth potential.
- Reasons for Growth:
- Effective implementation of Project Lion.
- Habitat restoration, conflict mitigation, and strengthened prey base.
- Census Methodology:
- Based on direct beat verification.
- Area divided into regions, zones, sub-zones with designated personnel.
- More scientific and faster (completed in 3 days) than tiger census (~2 years).
What is Project Lion?
- Launched: 2020.
- Objective: Long-term conservation of Asiatic lions by improving habitats and ensuring ecosystem health.
- Implementation Area: Gir landscape, Gujarat.
- Key Features:
- Use of technology: radio collars, camera traps, GPS tracking.
- Conflict mitigation, regular health checks, and monitoring.
- Lead agency: Gujarat Forest Department.
- Technological Tools:
- GPS-based tracking for lions and patrolling vehicles.
- Sensor grids (magnetic, motion, infrared) to detect wildlife activity.
- GIS-based real-time monitoring for data analysis and management.
IUCN Green Status 2025 – First Assessment for Lions
- IUCN Green Status of Species: New framework to measure species recovery, complementing the Red List.
- Green Status Categories: 8 (e.g., Fully Recovered, Largely Depleted, Extinct in the Wild, etc.).
- Asiatic Lion Status: Placed under “Largely Depleted”.
- Focus: Not just extinction risk (like the Red List) but restoration potential and conservation action needs.
