Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

By : Neha Dhyani

Updated : Feb 8, 2023, 11:08

Asiatic lion is an endangered species listed on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Previously found in parts of West Asia and the Middle East, this lion species is now only found in the Gir Forest of India. The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project is an Indian Government initiative to protect Asiatic lions by means of reintroducing them.

This project is also known as the lion project in India and was introduced in 2004. Since then, the population of the Asiatic lion has increased considerably in the last few decades. Learn more about this lion reintroduction project here.

What is the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project?

The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project is an Indian government project to protect Asiatic lions by relocating them to various parts of India through reintroduction. The government took this initiative to minimise the threat to the existing population of the endangered Asiatic lions by reintroducing them to other forests.

Presently, Asiatic lions are only found in Gujarat's Gir National Park. Since they are confined to only one place in India, they are prone to floods, epidemics, droughts, etc. If such negative events become a reality, the Asiatic lion species may become totally extinct.

Project Name

Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

Also known as

Gir Lion Project, Asiatic Lion Conservation Project

Introduced in

2004

Location

India

Aim

To reintroduce the Asiatic lion into safe habitats and to protect them from extinction.

Lion Project in India - Details

Years ago, Asiatic lions were found in vast swathes of Western and Southern Asia. However, this lion species is now confined to Gujarat's Gir National Park due to rampant poaching and ecological changes. The idea of the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project came after the Indian Wildlife Board recommended designating Uttar Pradesh's Chakia forest as the Asiatic lions' second home.

Accordingly, one lion and two lionesses were captured from Gir National Park and placed in Junagadh's Sakkarbaug Zoo before being relocated to Chandra Prabha Sanctuary close to Varanasi in 1957. Although the lions were alive for some time, they eventually died. Their unfortunate demise is attributed to the following causes:

  1. Inadequate ranging area
  2. Improper monitoring
  3. Limited grazing activity
  4. Human-lion encounters
  5. Inactivity during their stay at Junagadh Zoo

Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project - History

The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project was a brainchild of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). In 1990, they proposed the creation and establishment of another wild population of the Asiatic lion to conserve and protect the primary population of these lions at Gir. With this proposal in mind, the government conducted various assessments to find good habitats for Asiatic lion. The main concerns were prey availability and ranging area.

After carefully reviewing WII data, the Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) prepared a report in 1993 on viable sites for the reintroduction of Asiatic lions. The following locations were identified for the reintroduction of this lion species:

  • Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Sita Mata Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Darrah - Jawahar Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Barda Wildlife Sanctuary

Project Lion - Timeline

  • The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project framework was designed on 10th March 2004. The government created a Monitoring Committee to ensure the seamless implementation of the lion project in India.
  • After much deliberation, the authorities picked Kuno-Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary as an ideal habitat for reintroducing the Asiatic lion. The other sites were brushed aside for having inadequate prey, unstable terrain, and human presence.
  • The Monitoring Committee decided to implement the project in three phases - Phase 1 (1195-2000), Phase 2 (2000-2005), and Phase 3 (2005-2015). The Madhya Pradesh government identified a 345 square kilometre area in the Kuno-Palpur area and declared it a Wildlife Sanctuary in 1981.

Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project - Supreme Court Verdict Update

The lion project in India was put on hold in 2004 because of the Gujarat government's vehement opposition to part with the lions. Although the Supreme Court intervened and passed a judgment favouring Madhya Pradesh, the Gujarat government did not agree to execute the Court orders.

Here is the timeline of events that happened after the Supreme Court verdict on the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project:

  • 2014: The Supreme Court dismissed the Gujarat government’s petition against relocating the Asiatic lion from Gir Forest to Madhya Pradesh.
  • 2017: The lions were still not introduced in Madhya Pradesh from Gujarat.
  • 2018: The Asiatic lions were still not moved to Madhya Pradesh from Gujarat.
  • 2021: The lion project is still on hold, and the Kuno- Palpur sanctuary will be announced as the first Cheetah sanctuary in India.

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FAQ on Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project

Q.1) What is the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project?

The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project is an Indian government initiative introduced to protect the Asiatic lion species by relocating them to various parts of India through reintroduction. According to this project, lions from the Gir Forest of Gujarat are supposed to be reintroduced to Madhya Pradesh.

Q.2) When was the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project introduced in India?

The framework for the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project was designed on 10th March 2004. The project was initiated, but then the Gujarat government opposed the project and petitioned against it in the Supreme Court. Although the Supreme Court dismissed the petition, the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project is still on hold.

Q.3) Who introduced the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project?

The Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project was a brainchild of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). This project was introduced as a measure to act against the declining population of the Asiatic lion. Under this project, the Asiatic lion is supposed to be reintroduced in various other parts of India.

Q.4) Why do we need the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project?

The Indian government launched the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project to minimise the threat to the existing population of the endangered Asiatic lions by reintroducing them to other forests. However, the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project is currently on hold as the Gujarat government is not willing to transport the Asiatic lion to other parts of the country.

Q.5) How many Asiatic lions are left in the world?

The estimated number of Asiatic lions left in the world is around 600. This lion species was once available in the Middle East and parts of West Asia, but now, it is only available in the Gir Forest of India. Therefore, the government of India is trying to reintroduce this lion species in various parts of the country under the Asiatic Lion Reintroduction Project.