Project Lion

• Gujarat government has proposed a second home for Asiatic lions in Gujarat at Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS).
• It is about 100 km away from their present home at Gir National Park (GNP) which is overflowing with big cats.
  • Central government has given in-principle approval to the project.
• A report on “Lion@2047: A vision for Amrutkal” , prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India for Gujarat government, has identified Barda as a potential site where a population of 40 adult and sub-adult lions can be accommodated in the larger landscape of Barda-Alech hills and coastal forests.
  • Barda is home to Maldhari community.
• BWS would protect lion population from extinction in case of diseases like Canine Distemper Virus; unexpected decline in prey; natural calamities or retaliatory killings.
• Project Lion envisages landscape ecology-based conservation of Asiatic Lion in Gujarat by integrating conservation and eco-development.
  • It was launched by PM in 2020 on lines of Project Tiger and Project Elephant.

Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica)

• Asiatic Lions are found only in India, in five protected areas in Gujarat – GNP, Gir Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary, and Girnar Sanctuary.
• Conservation status:
  • Schedule I and IV of Wildlife Protect Act, 1972;
  • Appendix I of CITES; and
  • Endangered on IUCN Red List.
• Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions (Vulnerable on IUCN Red list).