Gandhinagar: Gujarat is set to host grand celebrations on World Lion Day, August 10, 2025, with a state-level event at Timbdi in the Barda region of Bhanvad taluka, Devbhumi Dwarka district. The event will be chaired by Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and attended by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, State Forest Minister Mulubhai Bera, and other senior ministers.
The celebrations aim to honor the Asiatic lion — Gujarat’s pride and a symbol of rich biodiversity — and highlight the state’s ongoing efforts toward its conservation and eco-tourism development.
Lion Celebrations Across 11 Districts
To mark World Lion Day, the Gujarat Forest Department will organize celebrations in 11 districts of Saurashtra where the Asiatic lion now roams freely. These districts include Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Morbi, Surendranagar, Devbhumi Dwarka, Jamnagar, Amreli, Porbandar, and Botad.
The event will be held at 10 AM on August 10, at Timbdi on the Kapurdi–Ghumli Road.
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Barda: The Emerging Second Home of Lions
The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, locally known as “Bardo”, has emerged as a secondary lion habitat after Gir. Spanning 192.31 sq. km, the sanctuary witnessed a historic moment in 2023 with the natural arrival of an adult male lion — the first since 1879. As of 2025, the Barda region is home to 17 lions, including 6 adults and 11 cubs.
Declared a sanctuary in 1979, Barda was once the royal hunting ground for Porbandar and Jamnagar kings. Now, it plays a crucial role in Project Lion, offering a safe and expanding habitat.
Boost to Eco-Tourism and Employment
The state government has allocated ₹10 crore for eco-tourism development in Barda, with a broader investment plan of ₹60 crore for safari development projects across Barda, Devaliya, and Ambardi. Already, 2,271 tourists visited the jungle safari in Barda by March 2025, creating local employment opportunities.
Since 2007–08, over 9.61 lakh tourists have explored Gir, Devaliya, and Ambardi, indicating strong interest in wildlife tourism.
Gir: The Global Stronghold of Asiatic Lions
The Gir Forest, known as the last natural home of Asiatic lions, has seen continuous growth in its lion population. The latest May 2025 lion census shows a 32% increase in lion numbers since 2020, from 674 to 891 lions. The lion movement is now recorded across 35,000 sq. km, covering the 11 Saurashtra districts.
Established in 1965, the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (1,151.59 sq. km) and the Gir National Park (258.71 sq. km) form the core lion habitat. The region also includes the Paniya and Mitiyala wildlife sanctuaries and supports a thriving ecosystem with:
- 631 species of plants
- 41 species of mammals
- 338 species of birds
- 47 species of reptiles
National and State Initiatives for Lion Conservation
In 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced “Project Lion” during the Independence Day speech, underlining the government’s long-term vision to secure the future of Asiatic lions. The Ministry of Environment has sanctioned a ₹2,927.71 crore budget for the 10-year conservation program.
Other major steps include:
National Referral Center for wildlife health under construction at New Pipalya, on 20.24 hectares of land.
High-tech monitoring center and veterinary hospital operational in Sasan for round-the-clock wildlife care.
These initiatives reflect the government’s holistic approach toward conservation, community involvement, and sustainable eco-tourism.
Global Recognition of Gujarat’s Lion Day Efforts
Gujarat’s celebration of World Lion Day, which began in 2013, has earned international recognition, including honors from:
- World Record India (2016)
- India Book of Records and Asia Book of Records (2017)
- World Book of Records (2019 and 2022)
