**Summary:**
The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has addressed a parliamentary question regarding the rehabilitation of Asiatic lions in the event of a major disaster. The primary responsibility for wildlife protection and habitat management rests with State Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Central Government has initiated Project Lion, focusing on landscape-level conservation of Asiatic lions in Gujarat through integrated conservation and ecodevelopment.
Project Lion's objectives include securing and restoring lion habitats to manage the growing population, scaling up livelihood generation and local community participation, establishing a global knowledge hub for big cat disease diagnostics and treatment, and promoting inclusive biodiversity conservation.
To support wildlife health and disease management, a National Referral Center Wildlife is being established in Junagadh, Gujarat, to coordinate and govern relevant aspects.
The Gujarat State Government has implemented specific measures for Asiatic lion rehabilitation in case of a major disaster, including:
* Establishment of gene pool centers at Rampara (Morbi district) and Satvirda (Porbandar district).
* Development of Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a secondary habitat.
* Establishment of rescue and veterinary treatment centers across Gujarat, including Jasadhar, Jamwala, Simar, Ambardi, Krankach, Zanzarda, Babarkot, Gebar, and Sasan.
Ongoing conservation activities include habitat management, disease surveillance, veterinary care, ICT-based tracking systems, and ecodevelopment initiatives.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha on August 21, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change: The Indian government ministry responsible for environmental protection and conservation.
Asiatic Lion: A lion subspecies currently found in Gujarat, India, and the focus of conservation efforts.
Project Lion: A Central Government initiative for the landscape ecology-based conservation of the Asiatic lion in Gujarat.
Gujarat: A state in India, the only habitat of the Asiatic lion.
National Referral Center Wildlife: A center under establishment in Junagadh, Gujarat, for wildlife health and disease management.
Junagadh, Gujarat: A city in Gujarat where the National Referral Center Wildlife is being established.
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary: A wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat being developed as a second habitat for the Asiatic Lion.
SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH: The Union Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change who provided the information in the reply.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: REHABILITATION
OF ASIATIC LIONS IN MAJOR DISASTER
Posted On: 21 AUG 2025 6:00PM by PIB Delhi
Protection and management of wildlife and its habitats is primarily the responsibility of the State
Governments and Union Territory Administrations. The Central Government has launched ‘Project Lion’
which envisages landscape ecology-based conservation of the Asiatic lion in Gujarat by integrating
conservation and eco-development. The objectives of Project Lion are:
a. To secure and restore lions’ habitats for managing its growing population.
b. Scale up livelihood generation and participation of local communities.
c. Become a global hub of knowledge on big cat disease diagnostics and treatment.
d. Inclusive biodiversity conservation through Project Lion initiative.
Further, a ‘National Referral Center- Wildlife’ is under establishment at Junagadh, Gujarat which will
function as the hub for coordination and governance of various aspects related to wildlife health and disease
management.
Also, the State Government of Gujarat has taken the following measures for rehabilitation of Asiatic lions in
case of a major disaster:
Gene pool centers have been established at Rampara, Morbi district and Satvirda, Porbandar
(cid:108)
district of Gujarat.
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary has been developed as a second habitat of Asiatic Lion.
(cid:108)
Rescue and veterinary treatment centers have been established at different regions of Gujarat such
(cid:108)
as Jasadhar, Jamwala, Simar, Ambardi, Krankach, Zanzarda, Babarkot, Gebar and Sasan.
Various activities like habitat management, disease surveillance, veterinary care, ICT-based
(cid:108)
tracking systems and eco-development have been taken up for conservation of Asiatic Lion.
This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND
CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha
today.
*****
VM/SK
(Rajya Sabha USQ3255)
(Release ID: 2159304)