Gujarat now home to 891 Asiatic lions with 32% surge in population, reveals 2025 census
Updated: May 21st, 2025
In the only land of Asiatic Lions – Gujarat, the population has increased to 891 lions in 2025.
The estimated population of these majestic big cats has increased to 891 from 674 five years ago, according to the 16th Lion Population Estimation survey of Gujarat forest department conducted in May 2025.
The Asiatic lion population has seen a significant rise, increasing from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025 — a growth of 217 individuals or 32.20%. Adult females, crucial for reproduction, grew by 26.92%, from 260 to 330.
Notably, the current estimate includes new satellite populations in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, Jetpur, Babra-Jasdan, and nearby areas, bringing the total number in nine satellite populations to 497. For the first time, 22 lions were recorded in corridor areas. Over the past decade, the lion population has grown by 70.36%, while their distribution area expanded by 59.09%.
Lion population comparison
| Area | 2020 | 2025 | Difference | Percentage Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gir National Park & Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas | 334 | 384 | 50 | 15% |
| Pania Wildlife Sanctuary | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0% |
| Mitiayala Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas | 16 | 32 | 16 | 100% |
| Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining areas | 56 | 54 | -2 | -4% |
| South Western Coast (Sutrapada-Kodinar-Una-Veraval) | 20 | 25 | 5 | 25% |
| South Eastern Coast (Rajula-Jafrabad-Nageshree) | 67 | 94 | 27 | 40% |
| Savarkundla-Liliya and its adjoining areas of Amreli | 98 | 125 | 27 | 28% |
| Bhavnagar Mainland | 56 | 103 | 47 | 84% |
| Bhavnagar Coast | 17 | 15 | -2 | -12% |
| Barda Wildlife Sanctuary* | 6 | 17 | NA | NA |
| a) Jetpur and adjoining areas* |
b) Babra-Jasdan and adjoining areas* - 6 NA NA Population in Corridors - 22 NA NA 674 891 217 32.20%
Amreli biggest home to lions
Amreli district holds the highest population of lions in the Asiatic Lion Landscape, including 82 adult males, 117 adult females, 22 sub-adult males, 35 sub-adult females, 04 unidentified sub-adults, and 79 cubs (02 males, 10 females, 67 unidentified).
District-wise lion population
| District | Adult | Sub-adult | Cubs | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M† | F† | M† | F† | UI+ | UI+ | ||
| Junagadh | 42 | 78 | 11 | 11 | 0 | 49 | 191 |
| Gir-Somnath | 41 | 84 | 14 | 19 | 2 | 62 | 222 |
| Amreli | 82 | 117 | 22 | 35 | 4 | 79 | 339 |
| Bhavnagar | 30 | 44 | 9 | 10 | 0 | 23 | 116 |
| Porbandar | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 16 |
| Rajkot | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Devbhumi-Dwarka | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 196 | 330 | 59 | 75 | 6 | 189 | 891 | |
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