What is the Rs 2,900-crore Project Lion that PM Modi examined?–

On World Wildlife Day, India’s Gir woodland has 674 factors to holler with satisfaction– one for each and every of its Asiatic lions, the last of their kind in the wild.

On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi examined the enthusiastic Rs 2,927 crore Project Lion, a massive effort created to secure and increase the Asiatic lion populace.

To note the event, PM Modi started an experience safari with Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, situated in Junagadh, Gujarat– his home state. He was come with by state preachers and elderly woodland authorities, absorbing the views of the huge deciduous woodland.

Today, on #WorldWildlifeDay, allow’s restate our dedication to secure and protect the extraordinary biodiversity of our world. Every varieties plays an important duty– allow’s guard their future for generations ahead!

We likewise take satisfaction in India’s payments in the direction of protecting … pic.twitter.com/qtZdJlXskA

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025

But just what is Project Lion, and just how will it assist save the large felines in their last home? Here’s a better look.

High- technology healthcare facility, drones & & even more

A crucial component of Project Lion is the facility of a modern vet healthcare facility in Sasan, Gir, which will certainly operate as the National Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Centre, records The Hindustan Times.

This center will certainly play an essential duty in tracking and stopping conditions like Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Babesia, which have actually endangered
lions in 2018 and 2020. With innovative clinical facilities, it will certainly make sure prompt medical diagnosis and therapy, enhancing preservation initiatives.

Beyond medical care, the task will certainly likewise enhance lion defense and security in the forest. Sources associated with its growth, exposed to The Times of India, prepares for drone tracking, CCTV security at woodland entryways and departures. They will certainly likewise have 33 quick reaction systems, and 100 brand-new tracker placements for lion rescue.

The seeds of Project Lion were very first planted by PM Modi throughout his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2020, when he mentioned the demand to secure and increase India’s Asiatic lion populace for whom Gujarat is the only home.

Carrying that vision ahead, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, in a letter dated November 2, 2022, accepted a 10-year preservation strategy with a budget plan of Rs 2,927.71 crore.

Also read:
On World Wildlife Day, PM Modi undertakes Safari trip of Gir woodland|See photos

A 2nd home for the large felines

With the
Asiatic lion populace expanding in Gir, Project Lion intends to create Barda Dungar Wildlife Sanctuary, situated around 100 kilometres west of Gir, as a “second home” for the varieties.

For years, the Gujarat Forest Department has actually been functioning to develop brand-new environments for Asiatic lions, whose numbers stay greatly focused around Gir.

As per the 2020 demographics, the state is home to 674 lions, noting a 29 percent boost from the 2015 matter. Among them, there are 206 men, 309 women, and 130 cubs, with Gir alone real estate virtually 400 lions, according to The Guardian.

Conservationists have actually lengthy promoted the development of lion environments past Gir, alerting that maintaining them near makes them extra susceptible to illness break outs and source competitors.

In January 2023, the initiatives to develop brand-new environments obtained a considerable increase when a lion was detected in
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary– the very first such discovery because India’sIndependence This enhanced the idea that Barda might maintain a successful lion populace.

According to the Wildlife Institute of India, the Barda-Alech hillsides and seaside woodlands have the prospective to sustain around 40 grown-up and sub-adult lions. Project Lion will certainly prioritise enhancing the environment around to make it better for the large felines. So much, the location occupies 17 lions, consisting of 6 grownups and 11 cubs.

Lions and lionesses in Gir! Tried my hand at some digital photography today. pic.twitter.com/TKBMKCGA7m

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025

“A major portion of the budget for Project Lion will be towards habitat management,” a main knowledgeable about the issue informedThe Hindustan Times This consists of boosting the victim base and motivating the volunteer resettlement of human negotiations within secured locations to decrease human-wildlife problem.

To assistance conjunction, the federal government has actually supplied 11,000 machans (increased systems) for farmers so they can secure their plants without straight fight with lions. Additionally, the task intends to bring back around 1,000 square kilometres of special lion environment by moving Maldhari negotiations outside Gir’s Protected Areas, with monetary motivations and help from the state federal government.

More lion homes in India?

Project Lion does not quit at Gir and Barda– it likewise consists of strategies to determine extra websites both within Gujarat and past to boost hereditary variety and make sure the long-lasting survival of Asiatic lions.

According to a main mentioned by the Times of India, the task suggests the production of 8 brand-new satellite environments in Saurashtra, consisting of Umath Virdi in Bhavnagar, Gir, Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Babra Virdi, Hingolgadh, and the seaside stretch from Rajula to Jafrabad approximatelyMahuva These locations have actually been recognized as constant lion places and will certainly be additional established as prospective environments.

To sustain this, Project Lion consists of initiatives to boost secured locations by growing fruit-bearing trees to draw in victim varieties like nilgai.

As component of the effort, PM Modi likewise chaired a conference with the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir to reviewProject Lion He will certainly likewise review various other significant preservation initiatives, consisting of Project Tiger, Project Cheetah, Project Elephant, and Project Dolphin.

An elderly federal government authorities informed the Hindustan Times that all 47 participants of the NBWL will certainly join the conference.

The NBWL is India’s peak body for wild animals preservation and policymaking under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It is accountable for directing wild animals defense plans, authorizing jobs impacting environmental locations, and assessing ecological clearances. The board contains 47 participants, consisting of the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Vice-Chairperson), 19 ex-officio participants, and 27 chosen professionals in wild animals preservation, ecology, and ecological scientific researches.

With input from companies