**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1515 in Lok Sabha regarding the protection and rescue of Asiatic Lions in Gir Forest, Gujarat, to be answered on 09.02.2026. It outlines measures taken by the Central Government and State Government of Gujarat to enhance disaster preparedness and response for the Asiatic lions. It highlights the role of State governments and the Gujarat Forest Department and the implementation of SOPs.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Responsibilities:** The protection and management of wildlife is the primary responsibility of State Governments and Union Territory Administrations.
* **Gujarat Forest Department Initiatives:** The Gujarat Forest Department conducts:
* Training programs
* Capacity-building
* Field-based preparedness activities
* **Sasan-Gir Rescue Centre:** The Rescue Centre at Sasan-Gir has a:
* State-of-the-art Lion Hospital with wildlife veterinarians and para-veterinary personnel.
* Modern diagnostic and treatment infrastructure.
* Stockpiles of emergency medicines.
* Specially designed holding and treatment cages.
* **Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs):** SOPs issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are implemented by the Gujarat Forest Department.
**Impact Analysis**
**State Governments and Union Territory Administrations**
* **Impact:** Bears the primary responsibility for the protection and management of wildlife, including rescue and treatment of wild animals.
* **Action Required:** Continue to ensure the safety and well-being of Asiatic lions in their respective regions through ongoing disaster preparedness activities and the implementation of relevant SOPs.
**Gujarat Forest Department**
* **Impact:** In charge of implementing the SOPs issued by the NDMA
* **Action Required:** Regularly conducts training programs, capacity-building, and field-based preparedness activities, along with maintaining and operating the Rescue Center at Sasan-Gir.
Key Entities Referenced
Gir Forest: Location in Gujarat, India, central to the policy's focus on Asiatic lion protection and rescue during disasters.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): Issuing body of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disaster response.
Standard Operating Procedure (SOP): Integrated, time-bound, inter-agency procedure for effective disaster response concerning Asiatic lions, issued by NDMA.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The primary ministry responsible for answering the parliamentary question related to the protection and rescue of Asiatic Lions.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1515
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
Protection and Rescue of Asiatic Lions in Gir Forest, Gujarat
1515. SHRI PARSHOTTAMBHAI RUPALA:
Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Central Government in coordination with the State Government of Gujarat, the
Forest Department, Disaster Management Authorities and other concerned agencies, has
taken concrete steps to conduct mock drills in the Gir forest area to gain field-level
operational experience for the safe rescue and treatment of Asiatic lions during disasters such
as forest fires and floods;
(b) whether special provisions have been made to strengthen the veterinary hospital at Sasan
Gir, availability of expert wildlife veterinarians, modern equipment, ambulances and
emergency medicine stockpiles; and
(c) whether an integrated, time-bound, inter-agency Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has
been implemented for effective disaster response?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE
(SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)
(a) to (c) The protection and management of wildlife, including rescue and treatment of wild
animals is primarily the responsibility of the respective State Governments and Union Territory
Administrations. As informed by the State of Gujarat, the Forest Department regularly conducts
training programmes, capacity-building, field based preparedness activities to enhance operational
readiness for disaster response.
The Rescue Centre at Sasan-Gir has a State-of-the-art Lion Hospital with wildlife veterinarians,
para-veterinary personnel for round the clock management of hospital. The hospital is equipped
with modern diagnostic and treatment infrastructure, stockpiles of emergency medicines, including
tranquilizers, antibiotics, supportive drugs, etc. In addition, specially designed holding and
treatment cages have been developed to cater requirement of rescue and rehabilitation.
Further, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA), is implemented by the Gujarat Forest Department.
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