Gir: Gujarat, the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions, will conduct a lion population census next month in the Saurashtra region. The census will cover approximately 35,000 square kilometers, including around 3,400 villages and forest areas spread across 58 talukas in 11 districts of the state. The last full-fledged and systematic census was conducted in 2015, covering around 30,000 square kilometers. This indicates that, over the past 10 years, the habitat of lions has expanded by 5,000 square kilometers. In 2020, due to the pandemic, only a rough estimate of the lion population was made through full-moon observation rather than a scientific method.

For the upcoming census, the state forest department has divided the 35,000 sq km area into 8 regions, 31 zones, 110 sub-zones, and 3,400 village beats. The survey will be conducted by 650 to 700 teams, comprising beat guards, foresters, forest rangers, senior officers, observers, and volunteers—amounting to around 3,000 individuals. High-resolution cameras will be deployed at the sub-zonal level to photograph lions from all angles, helping to avoid duplication in counting.

The lion count will follow the globally recognized and most scientific standard method known as the Block Count Method, or Direct Beat Verification Method. The preliminary count will take place from 2 PM on May 10 to 2 PM on May 11, and the final count will occur from 2 PM on May 12 to 2 PM on May 13.

In 1995, the lion population stood at 304. Over the next 20 years, it increased by 72% to reach 523 in 2015. In 2020, based on full-moon observation, the estimated number of lions was 674. DeshGujarat