According to the Gujarat Forest Department, the count of these majestic lions went up by about 29 per cent to 674 at Gir Forest. The department has also notified that the area inhabited by these lions has increased by nearly 36 per cent. As per the reports, the total population of 674 lions included 161 males, 260 females, 137 cubs and 116 sub-adults. The best part is that jungle safari has reopened for visitors at the Gir Forest in Gujarat after remaining shut for 4 long months. The infrastructure has been upgraded and tourists must follow the Covid-19 guidelines in Gir Forest.
PM Narendra Modi Lauds Gujarat Citizens For The Increase In The Count Of Asiatic Lions
Gujarat is the home state of our Prime Minister, Narendra Modi. On receiving the happy news of the surge in the lions’ numbers, PM Modi posted on his Twitter account, ” Two very good news: Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, is up by almost 29 percent. Geographically, distribution area is up by 36 percent. Kudos to the people of Gujarat and all those whose efforts have led to this excellent feat.”
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
In another Tweet, he said, “Over the last several years, the lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising. This is powered by community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict. Hope this positive trend continues!”
Over the last several years, the Lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising. This is powered by community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict. Hope this positive trend continues!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 10, 2020
The netizens, too, are highly enthralled about the news. The tweets have received thousands of likes, comments and shares. The Asiatic lion falls under the ‘Panthera leo leo’ subspecies of lions, that are found in West Africa, northern Central Africa and India. Asiatic lions are slightly smaller in size than the lions of Africa, but their roars are louder. They have folded skins along their bellies. One can find them only in the wilderness of Gir in the western part of Gujarat.
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Population Of Other Animals Also Increased
Apart from lions, counts of some other animals have also increased in the country in the last few months. About a couple of months ago, rare snow leopard’s count crossed 100 in Himachal Pradesh’s Spiti Valley, thanks to the efforts of the state forest department of Himachal Pradesh to preserve its endangered feline cats. Also, the tiger population in West Bengal’s Sundarbans recently increased from 88 to 96.
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The forest authorities have constantly strived to preserve India’s rich flora and fauna. Their efforts are really commendable. Meanwhile, you can also watch how some interesting animals were taking over the streets amid coronavirus lockdown.