Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday said the steady rise in the Asiatic lion population reflects India’s deep connection with nature and wildlife.
Speaking at a state-level function at Timbdi in Bhanvad taluka of Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district, under the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, on the occasion of World Lion Day, Yadav credited the achievement to the country’s commitment to conservation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
According to the latest census conducted in May this year, the estimated population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has grown to 891, up from 674 five years ago.
Yadav said the growth in lion numbers since 1889, when the last Asiatic lions were sighted, demonstrates the country’s enduring relationship with nature.
He called on India to set a global example of ecocentrism and human coexistence with wildlife. Citing the Maldhari community of Gir, Yadav said their lifestyle exemplifies harmonious living with nature and has helped the lion population thrive. “If one wants to see the example of wildlife conservation, then they should see Gujarat’s Gir, the work of the state government, and the lifestyle of our Maldhari and other local communities,” he said.
Yadav said Gir’s ecocentrism can serve as a model for the world. Referring to the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), he noted that big cats survive where biodiversity and harmony with nature exist.
“Through the alliance, India wants to tell the world that humans are not superior, and lions do not exist because of us, but humans exist because of lions and nature,” he said.
He stressed the importance of building relationships between locals and wildlife beyond geographical boundaries. Out of the seven recognised big cats, five are found in India, he said, noting that Asiatic lions are found only in India, exclusively in Gir, and Gujarat takes full pride in their conservation.
Under PM Modi’s tenure, the number of tiger reserves has increased from 47 to 58, with India now home to 70 per cent of the world’s tiger population.
Yadav added that rising human-leopard conflict has led to the creation of leopard rescue centres to help reduce encounters. India is also working to conserve the snow leopard, with its population currently at 714 in the country.
He recalled that the cheetah was last seen in India in 1952 at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh. While the Asiatic cheetah population remains extremely small, African cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa have been successfully rehabilitated in India, he said.
Two other big cats—the jaguar and puma—are found in Latin America. Yadav said the prime minister has called for scientific research, knowledge sharing, and the use of artificial intelligence and technology to conserve these species, which are found in 97 countries, particularly in Africa and Asia.
Yadav noted that PM Modi launched Project Lion on August 15, 2020, alongside other initiatives including Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Dolphin, and Project Great Indian Bustard. After years of effort, lions have been drawn to Barda, boosting eco-tourism and biodiversity in the region, he said.
On the occasion, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel launched 11 eco-development projects worth Rs 189 crore, including a new safari park, an interpretation centre at Barda, and a breeding centre.
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