AUG 09: The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in partnership with the Forest and Environment Department of Gujarat, will celebrate World Lion Day 2025 on August 10 at the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Devbhumi Dwarka district.
The event will be attended by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Shri Bhupender Yadav, Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, Gujarat Forest Minister Shri Mulubhai Bera, Members of Parliament, MLAs, and other dignitaries.
World Lion Day is observed annually on August 10 to promote awareness about lion conservation globally. In India, the Asiatic Lion—found only in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region—is both an ecological and cultural symbol. Thanks to sustained efforts under Project Lion and Gujarat’s conservation initiatives, the lion population has grown 32% in five years, from 674 in 2020 to 891 in May 2025.
Celebrations will be held across 11 districts of Saurashtra, home to around 35,000 sq. km of the Greater Gir Lion Landscape. The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, covering 192.31 sq. km in Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, is emerging as a second habitat for Asiatic Lions. Since lions naturally migrated to the area in 2023, the population here has risen to 17—including 6 adults and 11 cubs.
The sanctuary also holds strong tourism potential due to its proximity to the Dwarka–Porbandar–Somnath tourist circuit. Plans are in place for a 248-hectare safari park, and wildlife conservation projects worth ₹180 crore will be launched during the event.
Lakhs of students from schools and colleges across the 11 districts will join the celebrations virtually. In 2024, over 18.6 lakh students participated, reflecting growing public engagement in lion conservation.
The occasion underscores India’s commitment to protecting its wildlife heritage and securing a sustainable future for the Asiatic Lion.