On World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled a slew of initiatives aimed at bolstering conservation efforts for threatened big cat species, taking steps to increase their life through realtime health monitoring, mitigating human-animal conflicts, and boosting community participation in conservation projects.
Chairing the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife in Sasan, the only abode of Asiatic lions, Modi announced that the lion census would be conducted in May. This would be the 16th quinquennial count, with the 2020 census revealing 674 lions in Gujarat.
Modi also laid the foundation stone for the National Referral Centre-Wildlife, a crucial facility to be developed on 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipaliya village near Junagadh. The centre will play a key role in wildlife health management, acting as the nerve centre for disease surveillance, health monitoring, and coordinated governance of wildlife health across species.
The centre which has 47 members from different states and representatives of NGOs, is a statutory body that advises the govt on wildlife conservation. The theme for the 2025 World Wildlife Day is ‘investing in people and planet.’
Earlier, the PM spent around 150 minutes on a jungle safari in Sasan Gir and captured the majestic lions in his lens. Modi said the population of Asiatic lions has seen a steady rise due to collective efforts and commended the contribution of tribals and women living in surrounding areas in preserving the habitat.
He also announced that cheetahs will be released in the sprawling Banni grassland of Kutch, which is being developed as a second home to reintroduce the spotted predator in India after Project Cheetah’s success at Kuno Palpur. The project will be extended to Gandhisagar Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh.
Modi also announced the setting up of a Centre of Excellence for Human-Wildlife Conflict Management, SACON, at Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu.
The meeting was attended by union minister of environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav and other members. The meeting also reviewed Project Lion, Project Tiger, Project Elephant, Project Snow Leopard, and discussed conservation efforts for dolphins and Asiatic lions along with enhancing the role of the International Big Cats Alliance.
The NBWL board and environment ministry were asked to constitute various task forces to work on dwindling numbers of Indian sloth bear, gharial, and the Great Indian Bustard conservation and development.
PM hails community role
PM Modi lauded the unwavering commitment of local communities, particularly the Maldharis (traditional cattle rearers) for their pivotal role in the roaring success of Asiatic lion conservation in Gir and adjoining areas.
Addressing the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife in Sasan, Modi urged officials to replicate Gujarat's community-driven conservation model across the country. He highlighted how the deep-rooted coexistence between humans and lions has played a key role in the steady rise of the Asiatic lion population.
Modi began the World Wildlife Day by embarking on an early morning safari in the tourism zone of Sasan Gir Sanctuary, where he sighted 14 lions at four different locations on the Dedakadi route. His sightings included a lioness with two cubs, two male lions, a pride of six lions, and another lioness with two cubs. Modi captured the majestic animals on his camera and shared photographs
Foundation laid for wildlife health centre
PM Modi laid the foundation stone of the National Referral Centre-Wildlife (NRC-W) at New Pipaliya, Junagadh, on Monday. The centre, a first of its kind, is aimed at wildlife disease surveillance, prevention, response and preparedness. Apart from carrying out research to curb diseases, it will also suggest measures to improve the ecosystem. Approved by the Centre, the centre will come up on 20.24 hectares, with work on the boundary wall already on. A high-tech monitoring centre and a state-of-the-art veterinary hospital have been set up in Sasan to monitor wildlife in the Gir region as part of the initiative.
Offers prayers at Somnath, visits Vantara in Jamnagar
PM Modi on Sunday visited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre set up by Reliance Industries at Jamnagar, and offered prayers at the Somnath temple before spending the night at Sasan in the heart of the Gir sanctuary.
Spread over 3,000 acres, Vantara is a rescue centre dedicated to the welfare of captive elephants and wildlife, providing sanctuary, rehabilitation and medical care to animals rescued from abuse and exploitation. The centre is also involved in empowering local communities by providing sustainable livelihoods and training in humane animal care practices. Later in the afternoon, the PM offered prayers at Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district. Trust member and former state chief secretary P K Laheri said the PM offered prayers and that no meeting of Somnath Temple Trust was scheduled.
