Asiatic Lion Conservation

The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), native to India, has made a significant recovery due to sustained conservation efforts under Project Lion. The 2025 Asiatic Lion Census recorded a 32.2% increase, bringing the population to 891, reinforcing its role as a flagship species for conservation.

🔍 Male vs. Female Comparison

Feature	Male Asiatic Lion	Female Asiatic Lion
Size	Larger, stockier	Smaller, 110–150 kg
Mane	Shorter, less developed	No mane
Belly Fold	Visible (Absent in African lions)	Absent
Social Structure	Solitary or in coalitions	Small prides (2–3 females)
Hunting Role	Rarely hunts	Primary hunter
Cub Survival	N/A	Higher survival rate

📌 UPSC Prelims Key Points

✔ IUCN Red List Status: Endangered, with possible future reclassification due to population growth. 

 ✔ CITES Listing: Appendix I, offering the highest level of global protection. 

✔ Habitat Expansion: Lions are found in Gir, Girnar, Pania, Mitiyala, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, and even coastal areas near Diu.

 ✔ Population Growth: 891 lions, including 196 males, 330 females, 140 sub-adults, and 225 cubs.

 ✔ Key Conservation Efforts:

• Project Lion: ₹2,927 crore initiative focusing on habitat restoration, prey enhancement, and conflict mitigation.

• Expansion into Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, which had no lions since 1879.

• Use of AI in tracking & conservation strategies.

📝 UPSC Mains Perspective

1️⃣ Ecological Significance & Habitat Expansion

📍 Lions Beyond Gir – 507 lions now live outside traditional sanctuaries, raising new ecological concerns. 

📍 Human-Wildlife Conflict Risks – Expansion into non-forested areas and coastal regions increases risk. 

📍 Restoring Ecosystems – Focus on prey-based enhancement and habitat connectivity.

2️⃣ Comparison: Asiatic vs. African Lions

Feature	Asiatic Lion	African Lion
Size	Smaller, stockier	Larger, muscular
Mane	Shorter, less developed	Fuller, dense
Social Structure	Small prides (2–3 females)	Large prides (up to 30 lions)
Habitat	India (Gir & surrounding regions)	Sub-Saharan Africa
Conservation Status	Endangered (IUCN)	Vulnerable (IUCN)

📍 Key UPSC Angle – Role of India’s conservation model vs. African transboundary reserves.

3️⃣ Challenges & Policy Recommendations

📍 Habitat Saturation & Genetic Bottlenecks – Risk of low genetic diversity due to restricted population spread. 

📍 Relocation Strategies – Expanding protected areas beyond Gujarat to ensure long-term survival.

 📍 Legislative Frameworks – Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 & role of CITES in transnational conservation efforts.

📌 Tribal Coexistence & Cultural Adaptation

✔ Maldharis & Lions → Traditionally, Maldharis do not retaliate against lions, considering them sacred. 

✔ Livestock Losses → Lions occasionally prey on cattle, but Maldharis receive compensation from the Gujarat Forest Department. 

✔ Traditional Avoidance Strategies → Maldharis use guard dogs, thorn fences, and night shelters to protect livestock. 

✔ Economic Dependence → Some Maldharis benefit from eco-tourism, guiding visitors through Gir’s lion habitats.

🦁 Rising Human-Wildlife Conflict Risks

📍 Lion Population Growth → 891 lions recorded in 2025, with 507 outside protected areas. 

📍 Expansion into Revenue Lands → Lions now roam agricultural fields, villages, and coastal areas. 

📍 Illegal Lion Tourism → Private landowners bait lions for tourism, increasing human-lion interactions. 

📍 Attacks on Humans → 25 lion attacks per year reported since 2012, mostly in unregulated tourism zones. 

📍 Livestock Depredation → Over 14,000 livestock losses recorded, leading to 11,000 compensation claims.

📝 UPSC Mains Perspective

1️⃣ Conservation vs. Livelihood Challenges

📍 Balancing Tribal Rights & Wildlife Protection → Ensuring Maldhari livelihoods while maintaining lion conservation. 

📍 Compensation Mechanisms → Strengthening livestock loss reimbursement to prevent retaliatory killings. 

📍 Eco-Tourism Regulation → Preventing illegal lion tourism that disrupts natural lion behavior.

2️⃣ Policy Recommendations

📍 Community-Based Conservation → Engaging Maldharis in lion monitoring & habitat management. 

📍 Habitat Expansion Strategies → Strengthening Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as an alternative lion habitat. 

📍 Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation → Implementing early warning systems & secure livestock enclosures.

✅ Important Topics for UPSC Notes

📍 Environmental Governance – Wildlife conservation laws, Project Lion, biodiversity action plans. 📍 Geography & Ecosystem – Gir National Park, riparian habitats, dry deciduous forests. 

📍 International Conservation Models – India vs. Africa, role of transboundary wildlife corridors. 📍 Ethical & Policy Concerns – Human-wildlife coexistence, legal protections for species survival.