On World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a lion safari at Gujarat’s Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, accompanied by ministers and forest officials. He shared his experiences and photos on social media, recalling his previous work as Gujarat’s Chief Minister. Modi highlighted the successful conservation efforts that have led to a rising population of Asiatic lions and acknowledged the contributions of local communities in habitat preservation. He reiterated India’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and announced plans for the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife. The “Project Lion” aims to secure lion habitats and promote local livelihoods while enhancing conservation efforts.
New Delhi:
On Monday morning, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a lion safari at the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh, Gujarat, to commemorate World Wildlife Day. During the jeep safari, he was joined by several ministers and senior officials from the forest department, and he was also spotted taking pictures of the lions.
He later shared photos from his trip on X.
“This morning, on World Wildlife Day, I went on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion. Visiting Gir also brings back numerous memories of our collaborative efforts when I served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat,” PM Modi, who held the position from 2001 to 2014, stated.
“Over the past several years, our collective endeavors have ensured a steady increase in the population of Asiatic Lions. Equally praiseworthy is the involvement of tribal communities and women from nearby areas in safeguarding the habitat of the Asiatic lion,” he added.
This morning, on #WorldWildlifeDay, I went on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion. Visiting Gir also brings back numerous memories of our collaborative work when I served as Gujarat CM. Over the past several years, our collective efforts… pic.twitter.com/S8XMmn2zN7
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025
Earlier in the day, he reaffirmed the commitment to “protect and preserve the incredible biodiversity of our planet” in light of World Wildlife Day.
“Every species plays a crucial role—let’s ensure their future for generations to come. We also take pride in India’s contributions towards wildlife preservation and protection,” he wrote on X, tagging a video that captured him on a jungle safari in recent years.
Today, on #WorldWildlifeDay, let’s reiterate our commitment to protect and preserve the incredible biodiversity of our planet. Every species plays a vital role—let’s safeguard their future for generations to come!
We also take pride in India’s contributions towards preserving… pic.twitter.com/qtZdJlXskA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025
At Sasan Gir, the headquarters of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, he will also preside over the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). Following the meeting, he is expected to engage with some women forest staff members at Sasan.
Project Lion In Gir
The Centre has launched “Project Lion” in the Gir landscape of Gujarat aimed at the conservation of Asiatic lions, which are found exclusively in Gujarat.
The goals of the project include: securing and restoring the habitats of lions to manage their growing population; enhancing livelihood opportunities and involvement of local communities; establishing a global hub for knowledge on big cat diseases and treatments; and promoting inclusive biodiversity conservation through the Project Lion initiative.
According to the Centre, the population of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has shown a positive trend, with the latest estimate in June 2020 being 674, an increase from 523 in 2015 and 411 in 2010.
Documents from the Gujarat chief wildlife warden’s office indicate that the area inhabited by lions expanded from 22,000 square kilometres in 2015 to 30,000 square kilometres in 2020.