NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the occasion of the World Wildlife Day, went on a lion safari at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat's Junagadh district on Monday.
PM Modi, who is on the Gujarat tour, visited the forest with some ministers and senior forest department officials accompanying him.
Modi had a night halt at Sinh Sadan, a forest guest house managed by the state forest department, in Sasan after his arrival from Somnath where he offered prayers at the Lord Shiv temple, the first among 12 jyotirlingas, on Sunday evening.
At Sasan Gir, the headquarters of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, the prime minister will also chair the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
After the meeting, Modi will also interact with some women forest staffers at Sasan.
The NBWL has 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, members from different states, representatives from NGOs working in this field, chief wildlife wardens and secretaries from various states.
"This morning, on World Wildlife Day, I went on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion. Coming to Gir also brings back many memories of the work we collectively did when I was serving as Gujarat CM. In the last many years, collective efforts have ensured that the population of Asiatic Lions is rising steadily. Equally commendable is the role of tribal communities and women from surrounding areas in preserving the habitat of the Asiatic Lion," PM Modi wrote on X.
The Prime Minister also shared the photos he clicked during the safari. "Lions and lionesses in Gir! Tried my hand at some photography this morning," PM Modi wrote on X.
Government's Project Lion
Project Lion is an initiative launched by the central government on August 15, 2020, aimed at conserving and expanding the population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat.
With a 10-year plan and a budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore, the project focuses on various strategies, including habitat and population management, wildlife health, human-wildlife conflict mitigation, community participation, tourism development, scientific research, training, eco-development, and biodiversity conservation.
As of 2020, the Asiatic lion population in Gujarat was estimated at 674 individuals, spread across 53 talukas in 9 districts, covering nearly 30,000 square kilometers. A significant aspect of Project Lion is the development of the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a 'second home' for lions. Due to natural spread and successful breeding, Barda now hosts 17 lions, including 6 adults and 11 cubs.
Additionally, a National Referral Center for Wildlife Health has been approved, with 20.24 hectares of land allocated in New Pipaliya, Junagadh District. A high-tech monitoring center and a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital have also been established in Sasan to monitor wildlife in the Gir region.
Project Lion represents a transformative effort in India's conservation journey, aiming to ensure the long-term survival and well-being of Asiatic lions through comprehensive strategies and community involvement.
PM Modi’s wildlife tour
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