Gir National Park in Gujarat records rise in the number of lions; PM Modi tweets about it

Gujarat's Gir National Park has recorded a phenomenal rise in the number of lion population over the last five years. And the good news was shared by the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his official twitter account. After the Gujarat forest department shared the details, the PM shared the news and praised the state.

In his tweet, the PM said “Two very good news: Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, is up by almost 29%. Geographically, distribution area is up by 36%. Kudos to the people of Gujarat and all those whose efforts have led to this excellent feat”.
The news was first shared by the Gujarat forest department, which said that the population of the Asiatic lion in Gir National Park has gone up by 29 per cent in the past five years. So, the numbers of the lions has increased from 523 (in the year 2015) to 674 (in 2020).

Two very good news:

Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, is up by almost 29%.

Geographically, distribution area is up by 36%.

Kudos to the people of Gujarat and all those whose efforts have led to this excellent feat.https://t.co/vUKngxOCa7 pic.twitter.com/TEIT2424vF

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 10, 2020

Gujarat’s Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Shyamlal Tikadar was happy with the boost in the number. He said that once these Asiatic lions faced the threat of extinction. But today, the recovery rate is extraordinary. For this, he thanked the former Nawab of Junagadh and Gujarat government protection programmes.

He said, “Today, Asiatic lions are present in protected areas and agro-pastoral landscape of Saurashtra covering nine districts in a sprawling expanse of over 30,000 sq km, which is termed as the Asiatic Lion landscape”.

He further informed that the 15th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation was supposed to happen on June 5-6 (2020); however, it couldn’t happen because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In an exercise named Poonam Avlokan (because it was done on full moon night), the forest department had asked 1400 forest guards of 13 divisions to notice lions and report their presence in the jungle. These new numbers and estimated population is based on their reports.