Number Of Asiatic Lions In Gir Sanctuary Go Up To 523

11 May, Ahmedabad

The number of Asiatic lions in Gir sanctuary in Gujarat and its surrounding areas has gone up to 523. According to latest census report, the number of Asiatic lions has registered 27 percent increase since 2010.
Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel has announced this at Sasan in Gir Sanctuary area last evening. She said that the 2010 census had registered 411 Asiatic lions which have increased to 523 in 2015.
As per recent census, there are 109 male lions, 201 female lions and 213 sub-adults as well as cubs. The lions’ habitat area has considerably increased to 22,000 square kilometers, which has almost doubled in last five years.

According to the census details, 268 lions were sighted in Junagadh district and 44 lions were counted in the Gir-Somnath district. While 174 lions were sighted in Amreli district and 37 lions were found in Bhavnagar districts.
The latest census exercise was carried out during 1st to 5th May in which a Global Positioning System was used in direct sighting or direct contact methods. Lions census is being carried out at every five years by state forest department and number of this endangered species are registering increase in recent years.
The census was conducted by more than 2 thousand persons including 600 units of enumerators, wildlife experts, government officials, trackers and non-governmental organizations.