 "What is the Rs 2,900-crore Project Lion that PM Modi reviewed during visit to Gir?")
On World Wildlife Day, India’s Gir forest has 674 reasons to roar with pride—one for each of its Asiatic lions, the last of their kind in the wild.
On March 3, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the ambitious Rs 2,927 crore Project Lion, a large-scale initiative designed to protect and expand the Asiatic lion population.
To mark the occasion, PM Modi embarked on an adventure safari through Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, located in Junagadh, Gujarat—his home state. He was accompanied by state ministers and senior forest officials, taking in the sights of the vast deciduous forest.
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!
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025
We also take pride in India’s contributions towards preserving… pic.twitter.com/qtZdJlXskA
But what exactly is Project Lion, and how will it help conserve the big cats in their last abode? Here’s a closer look.
High-tech hospital, drones & more
A key part of Project Lion is the establishment of a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital in Sasan, Gir, which will function as the National Wildlife Disease Diagnostic Centre, reports The Hindustan Times.
This facility will play a key role in monitoring and preventing diseases like Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) and Babesia, which have threatened lions in 2018 and 2020. With advanced medical infrastructure, it will ensure timely diagnosis and treatment, strengthening conservation efforts.
Beyond healthcare, the project will also boost lion protection and surveillance in the jungle. Sources involved in its development, revealed to The Times of India, plans for drone monitoring, CCTV surveillance at forest entrances and exits. They will also have 33 rapid response units, and 100 new tracker positions for lion rescue.
The seeds of Project Lion were first sown by PM Modi during his Independence Day speech on August 15, 2020, when he spoke about the need to protect and expand India’s Asiatic lion population for whom Gujarat is the only abode.
Carrying that vision forward, the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, in a letter dated November 2, 2022, approved a 10-year conservation plan with a budget of Rs 2,927.71 crore.
Also read: On World Wildlife Day, PM Modi undertakes Safari tour of Gir forest | See pics
A second home for the big cats
With the Asiatic lion population growing in Gir , Project Lion aims to develop Barda Dungar Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 100 km west of Gir, as a “second home” for the species.
For years, the Gujarat Forest Department has been working to establish new habitats for Asiatic lions, whose numbers remain heavily concentrated in and around Gir.
As per the 2020 census, the state is home to 674 lions, marking a 29 per cent increase from the 2015 count. Among them, there are 206 males, 309 females, and 130 cubs, with Gir alone housing nearly 400 lions, according to The Guardian.
Conservationists have long pushed for the expansion of lion habitats beyond Gir, warning that keeping them in close proximity makes them more vulnerable to disease outbreaks and resource competition.
In January 2023, the efforts to establish new habitats got a significant boost when a lion was spotted in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary —the first such sighting since India’s Independence. This reinforced the belief that Barda could sustain a thriving lion population.
According to the Wildlife Institute of India, the Barda-Alech hills and coastal forests have the potential to support around 40 adult and sub-adult lions. Project Lion will prioritise improving the habitat in this area to make it more suitable for the big cats. So far, the area inhabits 17 lions, including six adults and 11 cubs.
Lions and lionesses in Gir! Tried my hand at some photography this morning. pic.twitter.com/TKBMKCGA7m
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2025
“A major portion of the budget for Project Lion will be towards habitat management,” an official aware of the matter told The Hindustan Times. This includes increasing the prey base and encouraging the voluntary resettlement of human settlements within protected areas to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
To support coexistence, the government has provided 11,000 machans (raised platforms) for farmers so they can protect their crops without direct confrontation with lions. Additionally, the project aims to restore around 1,000 square kilometres of exclusive lion habitat by relocating Maldhari settlements outside Gir’s Protected Areas, with financial incentives and assistance from the state government.
More lion homes in India?
Project Lion doesn’t stop at Gir and Barda—it also includes plans to identify additional sites both within Gujarat and beyond to enhance genetic diversity and ensure the long-term survival of Asiatic lions.
According to an official cited by the Times of India, the project proposes the creation of eight new satellite habitats in Saurashtra, including Umath Virdi in Bhavnagar, Gir, Girnar, Mitiyala, Jesor-Hipawadi, Babra Virdi, Hingolgadh, and the coastal stretch from Rajula to Jafrabad up to Mahuva. These areas have been identified as frequent lion locations and will be further developed as potential habitats.
To support this, Project Lion includes efforts to enhance protected areas by planting fruit-bearing trees to attract prey species like nilgai.
As part of the initiative, PM Modi also chaired a meeting with the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Gir to discuss Project Lion. He will also discuss other major conservation efforts, including Project Tiger, Project Cheetah, Project Elephant, and Project Dolphin.
A senior government official told the Hindustan Times that all 47 members of the NBWL will participate in the meeting.
The NBWL is India’s apex body for wildlife conservation and policymaking under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. It is responsible for guiding wildlife protection policies, approving projects affecting ecological areas, and evaluating environmental clearances. The board consists of 47 members, including the Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (Vice-Chairperson), 19 ex-officio members, and 27 nominated experts in wildlife conservation, ecology, and environmental sciences.
With input from agencies
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