Asiatic Lion Population In Gujarat Increases To 891 From 674 Over Five Years
The population of the big cat in the state was estimated to be 674 during the last census in June 2020.
Gandhinagar:
The estimated count of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has gone up to 891 compared to 674 five years ago as per this month‘s census, Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel stated on Wednesday.
During the last census in June 2020, the state’s population of Asian lions stood at 674.
“The estimated population of Asiatic lions has gone up to 891,” Mr Patel informed reporters here.
The 16th Asiatic lion census, a four-day exercise, was carried out from May 10 to 13 in two parts covering 35,000 square kilometres over 11 districts.
Though an initial census was held on May 10 and 11, the actual headcount was carried out on May 12 and 13 using 3,000 volunteers, namely regional, zonal and sub-zonal officials, enumerators, assistant enumerators and inspectors, according to an official statement.
58 talukas were covered in the exercise.
The 11 districts where lions are spotted are Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar, Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Amreli, Porbandar and Botad.
Asiatic lions, a subspecies, occur exclusively in the Gir national park and its peripheral districts of Gujarat.
