Asiatic Lion Conservation Efforts in India: A Step Towards Furthering Environmental Conservation

Of all the wildlife conservation projects in India, there are some that are more popular than others - take tiger conservation. Since Project Tiger originated in 1973-74, it has been the most successful of all wildlife conservation projects in India. A reason for this could probably be the significance attributed to the tiger in relation to the entire ecosystem. As an indicator species, the presence of tigers indicates the health of the entire ecosystem - the implications of which are directly traceable to humans.

The tiger enjoys such status as an indicator species due to the fact that it sits at the very top of the food chain. Why then, does the lion, who also occupies the same position, not enjoy similar eminence? It is imperative that Asiatic lion conservation efforts be stepped up and more attention be given to the Asiatic lion in the sphere of environmental conservation.

Gir national Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is the only abode of the Asiatic Lion. The last surviving population of the Asiatic lions occupies a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in the southwestern parts of Saurashtra, Gujarat.

Asiatic lion conservation efforts so far include steps taken by the Protect Area management and the Government of Gujarat, which have led to an overall improvement in the habitat conditions and the population of lions has been increasing steadily since 1974. One such step was the relocation of about 50 maldhari nesses outside Gir, which led to improvement in lion population and its habitat, with positive implications for overall environmental conservation.

At present, the most pressing threat to the lion population of the Gir Protected Area comes from the increasing hostility toward them from the resident human population. Due to the increase in population, about 100 lions stay outside the Protected Area and face conflicts with humans.

An emerging threat is also the number of lions falling in the open wells in the fields around Gir NP. The main reason is that wells in arable fields are unguarded. These wells have been made at ground level without any protection like parapet walls around them.

Asiatic lion conservation efforts must be targeted towards Increasing the effective range of lions by connecting protected areas with lion-friendly corridors and establishing a second lion population elsewhere in India through translocation. As of now, wildlife conservation projects tend to neglect the Asiatic lion in favour of its more glamorous counterpart - the tiger. Action must be initiated now before numbers dwindle to an extent that a dedicated wildlife conservation project is needed for the Asiatic lion, like Project Tiger.