On World Wildlife Day, India’s Gir Forest has 674 reasons to celebrate—one for each of its majestic Asiatic lions, the last surviving population in the wild.
On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assessed the progress of the ambitious ₹2,927 crore Project Lion, a large-scale initiative aimed at conserving and expanding the Asiatic lion population.
To commemorate the occasion, PM Modi embarked on a safari through Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh, Gujarat—his home state. Accompanied by state ministers and senior forest officials, he explored the vast deciduous landscape, witnessing the sanctuary’s rich biodiversity firsthand.
What is Project Lion, and how will it contribute to the conservation of these majestic big cats in their final refuge? Let's take a closer look.
Cutting-Edge Healthcare: Drones and Beyond
A key component of Project Lion is the development of a cutting-edge veterinary hospital in Sasan, Gir, which will serve as the National Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Centre, according to The Hindustan Times.
This facility will be instrumental in tracking and preventing diseases such as Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Babesia, which posed a threat to the lion population in 2018 and 2020. Equipped with advanced medical technology, it will ensure prompt diagnosis and treatment, enhancing conservation efforts.
In addition to healthcare, the project will strengthen lion protection and monitoring in the forest. Sources involved in its planning, as reported by The Times of India, outlined plans for drone surveillance, CCTV coverage at forest entrances and exits, 33 rapid response units, and 100 new tracker positions dedicated to lion rescue operations.
The foundation for Project Lion was laid by PM Modi during his Independence Day address on August 15, 2020, when he emphasized the importance of safeguarding and expanding India’s Asiatic lion population, which is found only in Gujarat.
Building on this vision, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change approved a 10-year conservation plan with a budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore in a letter dated November 2, 2022.
Big Cats' Second Home
With the Asiatic lion population increasing in Gir, Project Lion aims to transform the Barda Dungar Wildlife Sanctuary, located approximately 100 km west of Gir, into a “second home” for the species.
For years, the Gujarat Forest Department has been focused on creating new habitats for Asiatic lions, as their numbers remain largely concentrated in and around Gir.
According to the 2020 census, Gujarat is home to 674 lions, a 29% increase from the 2015 count. Among them are 206 males, 309 females, and 130 cubs, with nearly 400 lions residing in Gir alone, as reported by The Guardian.
Conservationists have long advocated for expanding lion habitats beyond Gir, citing concerns that concentrating them in one area makes them more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and resource competition.
In January 2023, efforts to create new habitats received a major boost when a lion was spotted in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary—the first sighting there since India’s Independence. This sighting reinforced the belief that Barda could support a thriving lion population.
The Wildlife Institute of India suggests that the Barda-Alech hills and coastal forests could potentially support around 40 adult and sub-adult lions. Project Lion will focus on improving the habitat in this area to make it more suitable for the big cats. Currently, 17 lions, including six adults and 11 cubs, call the area home.
“A major portion of the budget for Project Lion will be towards habitat management,” an official familiar with the matter informed The Hindustan Times. This involves expanding the prey population and promoting the voluntary relocation of human settlements within protected areas to minimize human-wildlife conflicts.
To promote coexistence, the government has installed 11,000 machans (raised platforms) for farmers, enabling them to safeguard their crops without direct encounters with lions. Additionally, the initiative seeks to restore approximately 1,000 square kilometers of exclusive lion habitat by relocating Maldhari settlements outside Gir’s Protected Areas, offering financial incentives and support from the state government.
Expansion of Lion Habitats in India?
Project Lion extends beyond Gir and Barda, aiming to identify additional sites both within Gujarat and beyond to enhance genetic diversity and ensure the long-term survival of Asiatic lions.
According to a Times of India report, the project includes the establishment of eight new satellite habitats in Saurashtra, covering Umath Virdi in Bhavnagar, Gir, Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Babra Virdi, Hingolgadh, and the coastal stretch from Rajula to Jafrabad up to Mahuva. These locations, frequently visited by lions, will be further developed as viable habitats.
To support this initiative, Project Lion also focuses on improving protected areas by planting fruit-bearing trees to attract prey species like nilgai.
As part of the effort, Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired a meeting with the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir to discuss Project Lion, along with other key conservation programs such as Project Tiger, Project Cheetah, Project Elephant, and Project Dolphin.
A senior government official told the Hindustan Times that all 47 members of the NBWL will participate in the meeting.
The NBWL, India’s apex body for wildlife conservation and policymaking under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, plays a crucial role in shaping conservation policies, approving projects that impact ecological areas, and evaluating environmental clearances. The board comprises 47 members, including the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Vice-Chairperson), 19 ex-officio members, and 27 nominated experts specializing in wildlife conservation, ecology, and environmental sciences.
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