India’s exclusive population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has risen by 32% since 2020, reflecting successful but spatially stretched conservation efforts.

Asiatic Lion Census 2025

• Population Surge: The lion population in Gujarat rose from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, a 32% increase. Adult females increased by 27% to 330, signaling strong reproductive potential.
• Distribution Beyond Core Zones: For the first time, more lions were found outside protected zones (Gir National Park and Paniya Sanctuary) than within them, highlighting significant range expansion.
• Satellite Populations Growing: New lion populations have emerged across nine satellite regions, including Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jetpur, Babra-Jasdan, and corridor areas with 22 individuals, totalling 497 lions.

• Expansion of Territorial Range:  The lions’ range expanded from 30,000 sq. km in 2020 to 35,000 sq. km by 2025,a 16.67% increase driven by natural dispersal and prey availability.
• Rising Numbers in Non-Core Sanctuaries:  Mityala Wildlife Sanctuary doubled its lion population to 32 since 2020, reflecting effective corridor-based conservation efforts.

Concerns Over Carrying Capacity and Human-Wildlife Conflict

• Approaching Ecological Limits: Gujarat’s prey base can support up to 2,000 lions, but ecological saturation risks are growing. Evidence includes rising cattle carcass counts and shrinking wild prey-buffer zones.
• Increased Human-Wildlife Conflict:A study in Conservation Biology reported a 10% annual increase in villages experiencing livestock predation, with a 15% rise in livestock killed per village.
• Local Tolerance Under Strain Though 61% of surveyed villagers remain tolerant of lions, the study emphasizes the urgency of participatory and economically beneficial land-sharing strategies to ensure coexistence.
• Need for Relocation:Conservationists advocate creating new lion habitats beyond Gujarat
  • Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh, originally intended for lions, remains a viable option.