On the occasion of World Wildlife Day on March 3, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Gir Somnath in Gujarat. 

This year’s theme, ‘Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet,’ Gujarat, home to the last population of Asiatic lions, has undertaken several landmark initiatives to protect these majestic creatures and enhance biodiversity.

Currently, Asiatic lions roam across 30,000 square kilometres spanning 53 talukas in nine districts of Gujarat. To strengthen conservation, the state government has set up a National Referral Centre for Wildlife over 20.24 hectares in Junagadh and a high-tech monitoring centre along with a state-of-the-art wildlife hospital in Sasan.

Over the years, several measures have been implemented to protect Gir’s wildlife. In 2024, 237 beat guards (162 men and 75 women) were recruited to intensify surveillance in protected areas.

The Gir Samvad Setu initiative was launched to address local community concerns, with 300 interactive programmes conducted so far. Additionally, nine herbivore breeding centres have been established to maintain a healthy prey base for lions. 

In collaboration with Indian Railways, a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been introduced to prevent lion deaths caused by train accidents in the Greater Gir region. 

Conservation awareness has also been a major focus, with initiatives like the 2022 World Lion Day celebration, which saw a record 13.53 lakh participants.

(This story was taken from a syndicated feed and was only edited for style by Gujarat Samachar Digital team)