Roaring Success: India’s Asiatic Lion Conservation Triumph

Authors: Dheeraj Mittal and Pramod Yadav

Lions have significantly impacted the human psyche throughout history, as evidenced by their presence in ancient texts such as the Vedas and Homer’s Iliad. This fascination with lions has persisted into the modern era, reflecting their enduring symbolism and cultural importance. The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is considered India's pride and an apex predator of the semi-arid tracts in Gir forests and its surrounding landscape of Gujarat state. This species was once widely distributed in Asia, covering Mesopotamia, Persia, and the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent, where it was fairly abundant up to the end of the 19th century. Their range reduction started in the 1800s; the timeline was Delhi in 1834, Bihar in 1840, Eastern Vindyas and Bundelkhand in 1865, Central India and Rajasthan in 1870, and Western Aravalis in 1880. By the 1890s, hunting and deforestation caused by agricultural expansion and livestock grazing in Saurashtra confined the lions to a single population in the Gir forests, an area of approximately 2,000 km2 consisting of dry deciduous and thorn forests.

Cultural ethos and symbolism

In Hindu mythology, Lord Vishnu incarnated as Narasi?ha, a half-man, half-lion deity, to protect his devotee Prahlāda and destroy the tyrant demon king Hira?yaka?ipu. This avatar symbolises divine intervention, justice, and the triumph of good over evil. The goddess Durga, a fierce embodiment of Shakti (divine feminine power), is often depicted riding a lion. In Buddhist traditions, the lion represents the Buddha's teachings, often called the "Lion's Roar" (Si?hanāda). It signifies the fearless proclamation of truth and the spread of wisdom. Lions are frequently found in Jain iconography, symbolising the spiritual power and majesty of the Tirthankaras (spiritual teachers).

In independent India, the emblem of Bharatmata, or Mother India, emerges majestically, depicted as a powerful figure riding a lion with a flowing mane. This striking imagery captures the strength and grace of a nation poised on the path of progress, symbolizing courage, resilience, and the nurturing spirit of its people. Also, the lion was named the national animal, though this changed in 1973 when the tiger took over that title. The Ashoka pillar, which dates back to the 3rd century BCE, features four lions standing together in a unique design inspired by ancient Persian art. This pillar showcases the ruler Ashoka's vision of a universal moral code called dhamma. Today, India's national emblem can be found on its currency and official documents. The Indian Government has recently adopted a “Make in India” logo featuring an Asiatic lion composed of mechanised parts to encourage local entrepreneurship.

Distribution and status

In 1955, the Indian government implemented a comprehensive prohibition on lion ‘Shikar’ and later designated the Gir forests as a Wildlife Sanctuary to conserve the species. Now, Asiatic lions exist in Gir National Park and Sanctuary. Girnar Sanctuary, Mitiyala Sanctuary, Pania Sanctuary, coastal areas, Savarkundla, Liliya, and adjoining areas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts are satellite populations in the Gujarat state of India. The Asiatic lions have moved to forested patches through conducive corridors. ?The steady growth of the lion population in the last decades has led to the downlisting of the species from "Critically Endangered" in the 1990s to the "Endangered" category in 2008 by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List. With a good population growth trend and increased distribution area, Asiatic Lions' conservation is one of the global conservation success stories. The lion population has increased dramatically, now exceeding 700 individuals. This growth can be attributed to timely protective measures implemented by the Gujarat government and conservation efforts since the establishment of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in 1965.

Habitat and prey availability

In 1973, the Gir Lion Project relocated almost 600 Maldhari tribal families to restore habitat for lions. Additionally, the project involved removing hundreds of thousands of cattle grazing in Gir on a seasonal basis. Reducing pressure from domestic animals enabled the vegetation to rejuvenate, significantly increasing the population of wild herbivores such as blackbuck, spotted deer, sambhar, and nilgai. Due to this substantial transformation, the big cat, originally dependent on cattle for food, adapted their diet to encompass a variety of wild prey.

Habitat improvement measures as part of the management plan have positively impacted the wildlife in the Gir forest. Activities such as grassland restoration, peripheral forest development, habitat augmentation in ecotone areas, securing shelter belts and refuge patches, and corridor management have all contributed to improving the wildlife habitat. These efforts have had a significant positive impact on the ecosystem and have helped to promote the growth and sustainability of the Gir forest's prey species.

The government has also put significant effort into habitat restoration and management for the lions. For instance, in the 1990s, the Gujarat government decided to work with 39 villages around the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary to get support for creating more space for the lion population to thrive. Indian Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi (then chief minister of Gujarat) led many campaigns and initiatives to recover lions’ population in the wild. Rejuvenating and maintaining water bodies and soil moisture within the Gir landscape also ensured a reliable water supply for prey species and lions, especially during the dry season.

Living with lions

Currently, Maldharis and lions live together in a mutually beneficial arrangement. Lions obtain a significant portion of their food from Maldhari livestock, while Maldharis gain considerable benefits from unrestricted access to forest resources. The Maldharis who live within the Gir protected area make about 76 per cent higher profit than those living outside it due to free access to grazing, the sale of manure with topsoil, and compensation for predated livestock. Farmers generally accept having lions near their farms because these lions help control the populations of herbivores, including nilgai and wild boar. These herbivores often damage crops, so having lions around benefits farmers by keeping those damaging animals in check.

As part of beneficiary-oriented schemes, parapet walls are constructed around open wells to prevent wildlife from accidentally falling in. Farmers are incentivised and financially supported to construct these field walls, safeguarding over 50,000 open wells. Additionally, another scheme involves the provision of machans, elevated platforms that serve as a human-wildlife conflict mitigation strategy in the landscape. Since 2016, over 10 thousand machans have been provided to reduce conflicts between humans and wildlife. Further, these initiatives demonstrate the importance of involving local communities in conservation efforts and their effectiveness in promoting coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Local villagers are employed as Vanya Prani Mitras (friend of wildlife), acting as bridges between the Forest Department and the local community. They assist in wildlife conservation and management, as well as rescue operations. Additionally, the Government of Gujarat has implemented measures to promote eco-tourism, which has attracted a significant tourist inflow in the last decade. Eco-tourism provides an excellent opportunity to raise awareness about the conservation of Asiatic lions and other wildlife while generating livelihoods for local communities. ?Moreover, entrepreneurship workshops and training have been organised to help local people develop their skills and businesses, reducing their dependence on the forest. These measures have helped promote conservation, build community engagement, and create sustainable livelihoods for local people.

In 2019, a program called 'Gir Samvad Setu' was initiated to promote interactions with villagers and resolve minor issues at the local level, resulting in a goodwill gesture from the local people towards conservation efforts. Nature Education Camps are conducted yearly to sensitise and educate the younger generation about wildlife conservation, the environment, and nature. The World Lion Day, celebrated on August 10th, was initiated in India in 2016 and has seen active participation from people in the landscape. This day helps in social mobilisation and strengthens the coexistence fabric. In 2022, about 1.35 million people participated in this occasion, resulting in recognition and world records for mass awareness generation for the conservation of Asiatic lions.

Lions are now entering new areas dominated by human settlements, where communities, unlike those in the peripheral regions of the Gir forest, have not coexisted with lions in the past. In such a context, it becomes imperative to implement intensive communication and educational activities for participatory management of the growing lion population. People, in general,?have?welcomed?the presence of lion lions in their areas in Saurashtra. The support people extended in Surendranagar and Rajkot when two lions recently camped in these districts for five months is a case in point. Similarly, people accept the presence of lions in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary (the proposed alternate home for lions) and adjoining Porbandar and Jamnagar District areas.

Management interventions

In India, the local forest departments protect wildlife, and wildlife managers play an important role in safeguarding Asiatic lions.? Their main job is to manage protected areas (PAs), which include national parks and wildlife sanctuaries. This involves handling the administration of these areas, enforcing laws to protect wildlife, addressing conflicts between animals and humans, looking after animal habitats, and managing tourism related to wildlife. Other aspects include community participation through incentives, such as sharing park revenues through “eco-development projects,” sensitisation of local communities through awareness and education camps, and treatment and rescue of wildlife.

The wildlife department has become skilled at providing veterinary care for animals in need at eight locations in the Gir area. Wildlife authorities manage water availability in the landscape through provisioning, regular maintenance, and filling artificial water holes. Weed and invasive species are removed, and fire lines are well managed across the PAs. With the increase in the extent and magnitude of lion tourism, the hospitality industry has flourished along the periphery of the Gir PA. Within a six-km radius of the PA's tourism circuit, nearly 100 resorts, hotels, and guesthouses cater to tourists' needs and contribute to the local economy.

Roaring success

Lions are an umbrella species; their conservation is about protecting the entire ecosystem and preserving rivers, forests, and prey species. This means lions play a crucial role in maintaining a healthy balance of numbers among other animals and influencing the condition of grasslands and forests. By protecting a lion’s landscape, the whole area thrives, benefiting wildlife and people relying on local natural resources. Conserving the lion has made water available for thousands of people to use for irrigation. For instance, the surrounding farmlands of Gir predominantly grew wheat in the 1960s and 1970s until irrigation made sugarcane cultivation possible in the 1980s. These have now given way to extensive orchards of mangoes for the export market.

There is a positive sentiment towards the forests as the local communities recognise the benefits of ecosystem services such as soil fertility and water availability, which favour high crop yields. Their attitude towards lions is even more remarkable. Saying that the local communities are tolerant would be an understatement; they love lions. Many anecdotes highlight empathy toward lions, demonstrating its depth. For instance, mourning the death of a lion in a road traffic accident, the shopkeepers of Sasan village shut their shops for that day. Also, incentive-based conservation and monetary compensation for livestock depredation have recently gained favour, with the Asiatic lion as the?focal species. Indeed, India has set a high bar for effectively implementing the conservation agenda by making tangible progress in increasing Asiatic lion numbers and expanding their protected habitats.

India also has a strong political will to recover the lion population in the wild. For instance, Indian Prime Minister Mr Modi, during his 74th Independence Day speech in 2020 at Red Fort, announced Project Lion to ensure the long-term conservation of Asiatic lions, highlighting the government's commitment to their protection. The country has also prepared Amritkal's Vision 2047 to manage its growing lion population and scale up livelihood generation for the local communities in and around PAs. The success story of Asiatic lion conservation provides a unique conservation success story to the world by making tangible progress in recovering the species' population and expanding their habitats.

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