16th Asiatic Lion Census (2025)

1. In May 2025, Gujarat Forest Department Released 16th Asiatic Lion Census (2025)
2. It Marks a significant progress in India’s wildlife conservation efforts, particularly for the Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), the only wild population of lions outside Africa.
    

Key Findings of the Census
 

1.  Total Population
   1. 891 Asiatic lions recorded in Gujarat in 2025.
   2. 32.2% increase from 674 lions recorded in the 15th Census (2020).
   3. Indicates successful conservation policies, habitat management, and reduced mortality.
2.  Population Distribution
   1. Protected Forest Areas:
      1. 384 lions reside in protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries.
   2. Non-Forested Areas:
      1. 507 lions now live outside traditional protected areas (up from 340 in 2020).
      2. This represents 44.22% of the total lion population, showing increased range expansion and habitat adaptation.
   3. Core Protected Region:
      1. Gir National Park and adjoining sanctuaries (Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and Pania Wildlife Sanctuary) host 394 lions.
         1. Pania Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Chanchai-Pania, is a protected area in Gujarat, India.
         2. It's considered part of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and is particularly known for its role in conserving the Asiatic lion.
         3. The sanctuary, located in the Amreli district, is easily accessible from Amreli and Dhari.
         4. Declared a sanctuary in June 1989.
      2. Continue to be the stronghold of the lion population.
3.  Noteworthy Areas
   1. Amreli District:
      1. Highest count with 257 lions, highlighting its emergence as a key habitat.
   2. Mityala Wildlife Sanctuary:
      1. Population doubled to 32 lions, indicating positive habitat utilization.
   3. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (near Porbandar):
      1. 1st time lions recorded (17 individuals) since 1879 – a historical re-establishment.
   4. Satellite Populations:
      1. New lion populations identified around Jetpur and Babra-Jasdan, indicating natural range dispersion.
4. Demographic Highlights
   1. 330 Adult Females:
      1. A 27% increase since 2020.
      2. A healthy sex ratio and reproductive capacity suggests positive future population trends and genetic viability.

Background: Barda Dungar Sanctuary is the 2nd habitat of the Asiatic lion.

1. Asiatic lions are found only in Gir Forest & other protected areas in Gujarat  Saurashtra region.
2. The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary was once home to Asiatic lions.
3. But they vanished from the forest 143 years ago.
4. In January 2023 A male Asiatic lion naturally recolonized the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary.
5. So it is the return of Asiatic lions to the area after a long time.

About Barda Wildlife Sanctuary: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is situated in Gujarat. It shows 2 rivers the Bileshvary River & the Joghri River along with 2 dams Khambala & Fodara. Ethnic groups like the Maldharis, Bharvads, Rabaris, & Gadhvis live in this area. In 1979, the state government launched the Gir Barda Project  to make Barda a 2nd home for the Asiatic lion.

What is Project Lion: Backbone of Conservation

1.  Launched in 2020
2.  Objective:
   1. To create a secure and sustainable ecosystem for the long-term survival of Asiatic lions.
   2. Implemented in the Gir Landscape, which includes core, buffer, and dispersal zones.
3.  Key Components:
   1. Habitat Restoration: Improvement of grasslands, water sources, and removal of invasive species.
   2. Prey Base Strengthening: Conservation of herbivore populations for a balanced food chain.
   3. Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation: Installation of fences, awareness campaigns, and compensation schemes.
4. Use of Technology:
   1. Radio-collaring and camera traps for tracking.
   2. Global Positioning System (GPS) based lion and vehicle monitoring.
   3. Automated Sensor Grids:
      1. Comprising magnetic, motion, and infrared sensors to detect lion movements.
   4. Geographic Information System (GIS):
      1. Enables real-time surveillance, rapid reporting, and proactive response to threats.
5.  Implementation:
   1. Led by the Gujarat Forest Department.
   2. Regular lion censuses and population health monitoring.

Census Methodology – Scientific and Efficient

1.  Direct Beat Verification Method:
   1. The landscape was divided into regions, zones, and sub-zones.
   2. Each unit was assigned to trained enumerators, supervisors, and volunteers.
   3. Lions were counted using direct sightings, evidence-based tracking, and GPS data.
2.  Efficiency:
   1. Completed in just three days.
   2. Compared to the tiger census, which takes up to two years, this method is more efficient and statistically robust.

What is IUCN Green Status of Lions (2025)

1. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) recently released its first Green Status Assessment for the lion (Panthera leo).
2. The lion has been categorized as “Largely Depleted”.
3. It is showing ecological degradation across much of its historic range.

About the IUCN Green Status of Species

Aspect	Description
Purpose	Measures species recovery and the impact of conservation efforts. Complements the Red List by focusing on restoration and ecological function.
Background	Proposed by IUCN at the 2012 World Conservation Congress as part of broader “Green Lists” (for species, ecosystems, protected areas).
Launched	Conceptualized in 2021; officially integrated into the IUCN Red List in 2020.
Difference from Red List	Red List = Focus on extinction risk. Green Status = Focus on species recovery and conservation success.
Recovery Definition	A species is fully recovered if it: • Occupies all of its historical range • Is viable across that range • Performs its ecological role
Green Score	Percentage (0–100%) showing how close a species is to full recovery.
Green Status Categories (9)	1. Fully Recovered 2. Non-Depleted 3. Slightly Depleted 4. Moderately Depleted 5. Largely Depleted 6. Critically Depleted 7. Extinct in the Wild 8. Indeterminate
Current Status (2025)	Over 100 species have Green Status assessments on the IUCN Red List.
Importance	Highlights conservation progress, identifies recovery needs, and informs future actions—even for species not at immediate extinction risk.

 

Key Findings of the Green Status Assessment

1. Despite being classified as “Vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, the lion is considered “Largely Depleted” under the Green Status.
2. Major cause: Human activities have prevented lions from fulfilling their ecological roles, especially in regions where they were historically widespread.
3. The lion is now extinct from North Africa & Southwest Asia.
4. Conservation actions have prevented extinctions in key areas like:
   1. West & Southern Central Africa
   2. South Africa
   3. India (Gujarat)
5. Despite conservation efforts, lions are still vulnerable due to increasing human settlements across their habitats.
6. Concerns:
   1. Rapid human settlement expansion is threatening remaining lion populations.
   2. Need for intensified conservation measures to sustain and restore the species.

Lion Subspecies & Classification

1. Previously, lions were divided into 2 subspecies:
   1. African Lion (Panthera leo leo)
   2. Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)

The current classification by the IUCN SSC Cat Specialist Group:

1.  Panthera leo leo
   1. Found in West and Central Africa, and Asia (India).
   2. Includes the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica).
2. Panthera leo melanochaita
   1. Found in East and Southern Africa.
   2. Recognized since 2017 as a distinct subspecies (Southern Lion).

Asiatic Lion – Key Points for India

Feature	Details
Scientific Name	Panthera leo persica
Distribution	Gir National Park, Gujarat (only wild population)
Protection Status	- Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 - Appendix I of CITES - It was an Endangered on the IUCN Red List. But  the IUCN has revised the Asiatic lion status to vulnerable in 2024
Habitat	Dry deciduous forest, scrubland
Unique Traits	Longitudinal skin fold on belly (not seen in African lions)
Historical Significance	Once spread across West Asia and North India

 

African Lion – Key Points

1. Found across savannas, shrublands, and semi-arid deserts of Africa.
2. Described by Linnaeus in 1758 (Systema Naturae).
3. Genetic divergence:
   1. North and West African lions split from East and Southern African lions ~180,000 years ago due to climatic forest barriers.

 

UPSC Prelims (PYQ)  (2019)

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only 
(c) 1 and 3 only 
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (a)

 

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