India needs a second home for Asiatic lions

UPSC Syllabus: Gs Paper 3- Ecology and Environment

Introduction

India has increased the Asiatic lion population from only a few dozen in the early twentieth century to about 891 today, making it one of the country’s greatest wildlife conservation successes. However, the entire wild population remains concentrated in the Gir landscape, leaving the species vulnerable to disease, natural disasters and other ecological threats. The challenge now is to strengthen conservation by creating a geographically separate second free-ranging population.

Need for a Second Home for Asiatic Lions

1. Conservation Success with Ecological Risk: India has successfully increased the Asiatic lion population to about 891, but the entire wild population remains concentrated in one landscape. This makes the species vulnerable despite its growing numbers.
2. Scientific Basis for a Second Population: Reports of the Wildlife Institute of India and government-backed studies since the 1980s have consistently shown that a single population faces a high risk from epidemics, forest fires and other disasters.
3. Threat of a Single Catastrophic Event: Conservation science considers one-location populations as a single point of failure. If Gir faces a major disaster, the entire wild Asiatic lion population could be lost.
4. Need for Long-Term Species Survival: Scientists support the metapopulation approach, where populations are spread across different habitats. This improves resilience and lowers extinction risk.
5. Growing Pressure on Gir Landscape: Gir covers only 1,412 sq km, while over 507 lions now live outside the protected area, moving through farms, railway tracks and open wells. This increases risks for both lions and people.

Scientific, Legal and Policy Support for Translocation

1. Wildlife Institute of India Recommendations: Multiple reports of the Wildlife Institute of India have repeatedly recommended creating a second free-ranging population to ensure the species’ long-term survival.
2. Supreme Court Directive: On 15 April 2013, the Supreme Court ordered the translocation of Asiatic lions from Gir to Kuno National Park. It stated that conservation decisions must follow ecological principles rather than regional interests.
3. Kuno Prepared for Lion Introduction: Villages were relocated and habitats restored to prepare Kuno for lions. However, no lions have been shifted despite these preparations.
4. National Heritage Principle: The Supreme Court recognised that Asiatic lions are India’s national heritage and not the property of any one State. Wildlife conservation should therefore serve national ecological interests.
5. Policy Backing Continues: Project Lion (2020) revived efforts to expand lion habitats and strengthen long-term conservation planning through additional protected populations.

Challenges in Establishing a Second Population

1. State-Level Resistance: Gujarat has opposed shifting lions outside the State. It has cited its conservation success and questioned habitat suitability elsewhere.
2. Policy Deadlock: Scientific advice, judicial directions and State-level interests have remained unresolved for over a decade, delaying implementation.
3. Disease Vulnerability: The 2018 Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) outbreak killed 28 lions and infected several others, showing the danger of keeping all lions together.
4. Environmental Risks: A single population remains exposed to droughts, forest fires, sudden prey decline and other unexpected events that could affect the entire species.
5. Limited Genetic Diversity: Hunting reduced Asiatic lions to fewer than 50 individuals in the early twentieth century. This created low genetic diversity and increased disease and reproductive risks.
6. Conflict Between Ecology and Politics: Wildlife is a shared constitutional responsibility, yet conservation decisions continue to be influenced by regional identity and political considerations.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary: An Emerging Conservation Model

1. A New Satellite Population: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, located about 100 km west of Gir, is being developed as an ecological insurance population under Project Lion.
2. Early Conservation Success: After habitat restoration, a male lion naturally entered Barda in 2023. Five relocated lionesses later produced 11 cubs, increasing the population to 17 lions by the 2025 census.
3. Project Lion Strengthens Conservation: Project Lion (2020) promotes expansion of lion habitats. Barda has been recognised as Satellite Population 8 under the ₹2,927 crore programme.
4. Improving the Prey Base: Initial surveys found only 119 spotted deer across 192.31 sq km. The Forest Department relocated deer from Gir using the Boma technique, which safely moves animals without causing capture-related injuries.
5. Strengthening Genetic Health: Scientists are using satellite telemetry and planned relocations to improve genetic mixing within Barda’s growing lion population and increase long-term resilience.

Way Forward for Long-Term Species Survival

1. Create a Geographically Separate Population: A second population should be located far enough from Gir so that disease or disasters cannot affect both populations at the same time.
2. Follow Scientific Conservation Principles: Conservation decisions should continue to follow scientific evidence supporting the metapopulation approach, which spreads populations across multiple habitats.
3. Implement Existing Institutional Decisions: The long-pending Supreme Court directive and national conservation plans require effective implementation to reduce long-term ecological risks.
4. Balance National and State Interests: Wildlife is a shared constitutional responsibility. Conservation decisions should prioritise national ecological security over regional identity.
5. Strengthen Habitat Readiness: Alternative habitats should have adequate prey, scientific monitoring and habitat restoration before supporting sustainable lion populations.

Conclusion

India has demonstrated that dedicated conservation can successfully restore the Asiatic lion population. Yet numbers alone cannot ensure long-term survival when every wild lion remains concentrated in one landscape. Creating a geographically separate second population is essential to reduce disease, disaster and genetic risks. Timely implementation of scientific recommendations will help transform conservation success into lasting ecological security.

Question for practice:

Examine the need for establishing a second free-ranging population of Asiatic lions in India for ensuring their long-term conservation and ecological security.

Source: The Hindu