• The Gujarat forest department on recently presented its proposal to make Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (BWLS), the second home to the lions before the national steering committee meeting held as part of “Project Lion @ 2047”.
• The Asiatic lions at present are restricted to Gir National Park and Sanctuary.

Asiatic Lion (Panthera Leo) ·         IUCN red list – Endangered ·         Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 – Schedule I ·         CITES- Appendix I

• The population of lions increased from 523 in 2015 to 674 in 2020.

ABOUT BWLS

• Barda is about 15 km from Porbandar town coast and about 100 km from Gir forest.
• The sanctuary is spread in about 192 sq km.
• It was declared as sanctuary in 1979.
• It has an abundance of floral diversity.
  • This is the only ecological unit in the State, where more than 650 flowering plants have been recorded.
• Flora includes Gorad, Babul, Dhav, Rayan, Ber, Jamun, Amli, Dhudhlo, Bamboo etc.
• Important fauna are blue bull, chinkara, blackbuck Leopard, Hyena, Wild boar, , Jackal, and wolf.
• To develop Barda as the second home for the Asiatic lion the State Government implemented the ‘Gir-Barda Project’ in 1979.
• There are breeding centres of spotted deers in the sanctuary which will help in augmenting the prey base of lions.