Asiatic lions in Gujarat are increasingly occupying a variety of different landscapes as their population grows, a census exercise by the Gujarat Forest Department found.

Between 2020 and 2025, the population of Asiatic lions increased from 674 individuals to 891, the census, published as a paper in the Global Ecology and Conservation journal, says. However, of these, only 394 were found in the core areas comprising the Gir National Park, Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, and its adjoining areas. A majority of lions formed satellite populations in several other regions outside the core zone.

Asiatic lions are found in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region, which is a semi-arid landscape hosting six protected areas and a diverse range of habitats, including grasslands, dry deciduous forest, and coastal ecosystems. As the population grew, the spatial distribution range of lions also increased, from 30,000 square kilometres in 2020 to 35,000 sq km in 2025, marking a 16.67% increase. “What we’re seeing is lions reclaiming their original habitats,” said Mohan Ram, a senior forest officer with the Gujarat Forest Department, and lead author of the study.

The growth of satellite populations parallels the recovery of other large carnivores from other parts of the world, such as wolves in Europe and cougars in North America, the paper notes. However,...

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