Gandhinagar: The Gujarat government is developing the Banni grasslands in Kutch as a potential cheetah habitat, with ₹14.70 crore spent so far on ecosystem development, Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia told the Assembly on Monday.

He said the state has started preparatory work to create suitable conditions in Banni for future cheetah conservation. Cheetahs were reintroduced in India in September 2022 at Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh under a national project.

During the discussion on budgetary demands of the department, the minister said the 2025 lion census recorded a 32% rise in population, taking the total to 891, including 196 males, 330 females, 140 sub-adults and 225 cubs. He said several measures have been taken to prevent unnatural deaths of lions.

On tiger conservation, Modhwadia said Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in Dang, once a tiger habitat, last recorded a tiger in 1997, but signs of tiger presence were reported at Pipargota on February 23, 2025.

To strengthen the prey base, 17 sambar deer have been brought to the Udhalmauda breeding centre, he added. DeshGujarat