LION CENSUS 2015

INDIA’S GROWING PRIDE: LION NUMBERS CROSS 500 MARK

Monday, 11 May 2015 | Nayan Dave | SASAN GIR

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The number of Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Gir sanctuary has crossed the 500 mark for the first time in five years since the last lion census was carried out in 2010. The five-day lion census conducted during the first week of May revealed that there are 523 Asiatic lions, including 109 adult males, 201 adult females, and 213 cubs, in and around the Gir Forest National Park. In the 2010 census, the lion count stood at 411 — 97 adult males, 162 adult females, 75 sub-adults, and 77 cubs.

Announcing the final figure of the lion census 2015 in Sasan Gir at a function on Sunday, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel attributed the rise in lion population to collective efforts of the State forest department, NGOs, experts and even people residing around the Gir area.

Known as the Indian lion or Persian lion (Panthera leo persica), the population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat's Saurashtra region has not only gone up by 27 per cent during the five years but its habitat also expanded from 10,000 sq km to 22,000.

The sole home of the Asiatic lions, the Gir Forest National Park — established in 1965 — is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia. It was in the early 1900s when the forest area of Gir and its lions were declared as "protected" by the Nawab of the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh. The initiative assisted in the conservation of the lions whose population had plummeted to 15 following poaching for trophy hunting at that time.  Its population from as low as 180 individuals in 1974 increased to 523 in May 2015.

The lion census 2015 was conducted in as many as eight districts in Saurasahtra region, including Junagadh, Amreli, Somnath Gir, Bhavnagar, Porbandar, Botad, Rajkot and Devbhoomi Dwarka on the basis of animals' straying patterns. However, the lions were only found in four districts - Junagadh 268, Amreli 174, Somnath Gir 44 and Bhavnagar 37.

The 14th lion census post India's Independence this year turned out to be the biggest one compared to previous census in 2010 when 960 revenue villages were covered. This time around the census covered 1502 revenue villages. Interestingly majority part of the census exercise was carried outside the Gir forest in villages, including 760 from Junagadh and Gir Somnath districts, 260 of Amreli district, 200 of Bhavnagar and Botad district and rest from Porbandar, Jamnagar and Rajkot districts.

Besides 252 sq km area of Gir National Park, 1153 sq km of Gir Sanctuary, 39 sq km of Mitiyala Sanctuary, 19 km of Pania Sanctuary, the 2015 lion census covered 480 sq km of protected forest surrounding Mount Girnar on the outskirts of Junagadh town and 20,058 sq km of revenue areas.

Unlike previous census of Asiatic lions, direct sighting method was adopted in the 2015 lion census. Earlier lion censuses were conducted on the basis of indirect method in which pugmarks of the lions were considered for the counting. This time latest technology was used to get the exact figure of the King of Jungle.  High-tech system like Global Positioning System (GPS), geo-reference system, photography and videography were utilised during the entire exercise.  

Around 2500 people, including enumerators, wildlife experts, government officials, trackers and few NGOs, joined the exercise. Enumerators recorded unique identification marks like scar on face, its colour, shape of ears, tuft of hair on tail etc in order to reduce chances of over-lapping, said a senior official adding, "The detail notes on individual lion were also  prepared to  achieve accuracy."

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