• UGI USER
  • Dec 26, 2022
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Lion @ 47: Vision for Amrutkal

Why In News

  • Recently, the Project Lion document titled “Lion @ 47: Vision for Amrutkal” has been launched by the Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change.

More in news

  • Gujarat’s Barda Wildlife Sanctuary: It has been identified as a potential second home for Asiatic lions.
    • It is located near Porbandar which is 100 kilometers from the Gir National Park.

About

  • Project Lion:
    • By fusing conservation and eco-development, it envisions landscape ecology-based conservation of the Asiatic Lion in Gujarat.
    • The last remaining home of the Asiatic lion, the Gir landscape in Gujarat, is where the project is being carried out.
  • Objectives:
    • To protect and rehabilitate lion habitats in order to control their expanding numbers.
    • Increase local community participation and income generation.
    • become a world authority on the diagnosis and treatment of big cat disease.
    • The project lion initiative aims to promote inclusive biodiversity protection.
  • Distribution:
    • The Asiatic Lion Landscape, which is made up of nine districts—Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar, Botad, Porbandar, Jamnagar, Rajkot, and Surendranagar—covers over 30,000 square kilometres today.

Challenges

  • Due to the low genetic diversity of the species and its vulnerability to extinction risks from diseases, efforts have been launched since the 1990s to find a relocation site for Asiatic lions both inside and outside of Gujarat.
  • To develop a second free-ranging population of lions and reduce conservation threats, geographic separation is the main goal of translocation.

About Lions

  • Scientific name: Panthera Leo is the name given to the lion, one of the largest animal species on earth.
  • Their oldest known references can be found in the pillars of the Mauryan empire, giving them a prestigious role in Indian history and culture.
  • The majestic lion is depicted on all four sides of the Indian national emblem.
  • Status: IUCN Endangered: Asiatic lion.
  • Currently, the Gir Forest in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat, western India, is the only place where the Asiatic lion (Panthera Leo) may be found.
  • Role in the animal kingdom: Lions play a crucial role in preserving the ecological balance of their ecosystems.
  • As the top predators in their area, they control the population of grazers. Trophy hunting and habitat loss are threats.
  • Conservation Efforts Taken:
    • Asiatic Lion Conservation Project: It was launched by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

The lion census is conducted once every five years.