Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Thursday inaugurated the ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Programme at Gir National Park in Sasan Gir, Gujarat, as part of the pre-summit events leading up to the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026.
Addressing the programme, Patel credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” for the establishment of the IBCA and said it had strengthened global awareness towards big cat conservation.
He highlighted the role of community participation in conserving the Asiatic lion and said the species had become an integral part of the cultural identity of the Gir region.
“Gir stands as a living example of how economic progress can go hand in hand with wildlife conservation through an ecological approach,” Patel said.
He also spoke about ongoing conservation measures, including the development of Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as an alternative habitat for the natural dispersal of Asiatic lions.
Yadav said that India will host the first-ever IBCA Summit 2026 in New Delhi on June 1 and 2 under the chairmanship of PM Modi.
The summit, themed “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem”, will bring together Heads of State, ministers, policymakers, scientists, conservation experts, multilateral agencies, financial institutions, and over 400 representatives from 95 range countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
Yadav said the IBCA serves as a global coalition dedicated to the conservation of seven iconic big cat species – lion, tiger, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma – through international collaboration and scientific cooperation.
Describing Sasan Gir as a symbol of India’s biodiversity and conservation commitment, the Environment Minister said the Asiatic lion represented the pride, courage, and natural heritage of the nation.
“The Gir lion is not only the identity of Gujarat but also a symbol of India’s pride and natural heritage,” he said.
He highlighted several initiatives undertaken under the leadership of PM Modi, including the Asiatic Lion Population Estimation initiative, establishment of the National Wildlife Referral Centre in Junagadh, and habitat expansion projects in the Gir landscape.
Yadav said the spotlight event aimed to showcase India’s successful lion conservation model, strengthen international cooperation among lion range countries, and deliberate on challenges such as habitat pressure, climate change, and human-wildlife conflict.
Highlighting global concerns, the minister noted that lion populations worldwide had declined by more than 30 per cent due to habitat loss and degradation, while the Asiatic lion survives as a single wild population in India’s Gir ecosystem.
He said India’s conservation efforts had led to a major increase in lion numbers in the Greater Gir Landscape.
“The lion population in the Greater Gir Landscape has risen to an estimated 891 individuals in 2025, marking a 32 per cent increase compared to 2020,” Yadav said.
He added that the Asiatic lion enjoys the highest level of legal protection under Appendix-I of Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora and Schedule-I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
The minister also highlighted Centre’s Project Lion initiative launched in 2020, which focuses on long-term conservation through habitat restoration, ecological resilience, and population management.
The event was attended virtually by Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, while Gujarat Forest Minister Arjun Modhwadia, Minister of State for Forests Pravin Mali, senior officials from the Union and state governments, IBCA representatives, students, and conservation experts were also present.
During the event, dignitaries launched a ‘Lion Conservation Brochure’, while educational films and presentations on big cat conservation were showcased for participants and students attending the programme.
