Relocating Pride: Forest Officials Move Lions Away From Revenue Areas in Gujarat

Following rising human-lion conflict incidents in Gir, the Forest Department has started a lion relocation operation to shift lions from revenue areas back to forest zones. It is reported that the population of lions in revenue areas has increased. 

In the last one month, four people have reportedly lost their lives in lion attacks in villages around Gir’s border areas. 

The incidents have triggered anger among locals, with questions being raised over the increasing presence of lions near human settlements.

The incident prompted the Forest Minister and the Head of Forest to personally visit the home of a victim’s family who lost a child in a lion attack. 

Following the attacks, the Forest Department has started capturing lions from revenue areas and shifting them towards forest regions.

According to the information, plans are underway to capture more lions from areas like Chaturi village of Khambha and other nearby revenue locations, including Jashadhar.

The move has sparked a debate over whether relocating lions is a long-term solution or only a temporary measure to control public anger. Concerns have also been raised over the impact of such steps on Asiatic lions and the larger ecosystem.

According to recent lion census-related observations, the number of lions around revenue areas and human settlements has increased compared to forest regions: