Asiatic Lion Panthera leo persica Population Estimation in Asiatic Lion Landscape: Its Status, Dispersion and Management Challenges

Abstract

Asiatic Lion Panthera leo persica is a flagship species of the semi-arid dry deciduous forest tracts of Saurashtra in Gujarat. The species was Critically Endangered and the numbers had drastically reduced in its historic range due to loss of habitat and hunting. A ban on hunting was enforced in the last remnant pocket of their territory, the Gir forests, by the erstwhile Nawab of Junagadh. Post-Independence, due to the persistent efforts of the State Forest Department with the continuous support of local people, the population has been rescued from the brink of extinction. With this impressive recovery, the species has been upgraded to the Endangered Category of IUCN. This is a globally acclaimed conservation success story of a large carnivore. Asiatic lions are among the few large carnivores which have been scientifically managed and counted since a very long time ago. The Gujarat Forest Department assesses the status and distribution of the species regularly at intervals of five years. This paper describes the population estimation exercise conducted in 2015 in the Gir Lion Landscape and discusses the current population status, structure, dispersion, and management challenges.