Current Affairs - Environment - Discussion

The ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Programme was inaugurated at Sasan Gir in Gujarat by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav as a precursor to the IBCA Summit 2026. The programme highlighted the success of Asiatic lion conservation efforts in the Greater Gir Landscape, where the lion population reached an estimated 891 individuals in 2025, reflecting a 32% increase since the 2020 census. The initiative aligns with Project Lion, launched in 2020 for long-term conservation and habitat restoration. Gujarat remains the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions in the world, making the state globally significant for wildlife conservation and biodiversity protection.