- Why in news
- On 5 February 2026, the Environment Ministry told Rajya Sabha that Asiatic lion numbers rose from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025, and listed Gujarat's conservation steps.
- What it is
- The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) is a subspecies of lion found in the wild only in Gujarat, centred on Gir National Park and Sanctuary. It is listed Endangered on the IUCN Red List and is in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Its single wild population makes it vulnerable to disease and catastrophe, so a second home is being developed.
- Population
- Asiatic lion numbers rose from 674 (2020) to 891 (2025).
- Second home
- Barda Wildlife Sanctuary has been developed as a second home for lions, with corridors enabling movement between sub-populations.
- Monitoring
- A Hi-Tech Monitoring Unit at Sasan-Gir was set up in 2019 to track lions in real time by radio telemetry.
- Rail safety
- An SOP protects lions near railway tracks, with train speed limits in hotspot areas and patrolling.
- Status
- The Asiatic lion is listed Endangered by IUCN and is in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Don’t confuse with Asiatic lion vs African cheetah at Kuno: Kuno in Madhya Pradesh hosts reintroduced African cheetahs; the Asiatic lion's only wild home is Gujarat.
Species and protected areas: 12 Prelims questions since 2013; they test legal status, location and the year of designation.
Why it matters
- Recovery of a species with a single wild population shows conservation success.
- A second home reduces the risk of disease or disaster wiping out the population.
Problems
- Lions now live in revenue wastelands and near people, raising human-wildlife conflict and rail accident risk.
- A single genetically narrow population is vulnerable to epidemics.
Way forward
- Build further lion habitats beyond Gujarat and protect corridors.
- Strengthen veterinary care, community participation and monitoring.
Put in your answer
Lion population 2025: Asiatic lions numbered 891 in 2025, up from 674 in 2020.
Rail SOP: Train speed limits and patrolling protect lions near tracks.
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.The Asiatic lion is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- 2.The Asiatic lion is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- 3.Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat has been developed as a second home for the Asiatic lion.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Asiatic lion population in India increased from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025.
True. 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2025.
2.Barda Wildlife Sanctuary has been developed as a second home for the Asiatic lion.
True. Barda is being developed as the lions' second home.
3.The Hi-Tech Monitoring Unit for real-time tracking of lions was established at Sasan-Gir in 2019.
True. Established in 2019 at Sasan-Gir, using radio telemetry.
4.Wild Asiatic lions are found in India in Gujarat as well as in Madhya Pradesh's Kuno National Park.
False. The only wild population is in Gujarat; Kuno has no established wild lion population.
5.The Asiatic lion is listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
True. It is a Schedule I species.
6.The Asiatic lion is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
False. It is classified as Endangered.
7.Gujarat's measures include providing machans to farmers to guard crops at night.
True. Machans (elevated platforms) are provided to farmers.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.