On Monday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a meeting for the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) to celebrate World Wildlife Day. He announced that the count of Asiatic lions will take place in May this year. After enjoying a lion safari at Gir National Park in Gujarat, Modi went to the meeting in Sasan, which was also attended by Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and other important members.
During the meeting, Modi laid the foundation stone for a new National Referral Centre for Wildlife in Junagadh. He also declared that a Centre of Excellence for managing conflicts between humans and wildlife will be set up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. Additionally, he revealed a book about river dolphins.
The NBWL, which helps the government protect wildlife, has 47 members, including military leaders and state representatives. Modi is the chairperson, while the Environment Minister is the vice-chairperson.
After his safari, Modi shared on X that the Asiatic lion population has been increasing thanks to everyone’s hard work. He praised the tribal communities and women around Gir for their efforts in protecting the lions’ habitat. Modi noted that over the last decade, populations of tigers, leopards, and rhinos have also grown, showing how much people value wildlife.
The government has approved over ₹2,900 crore for Project Lion, aimed at protecting Asiatic lions, which only exist in Gujarat. Currently, these lions live in nearly 30,000 square kilometers across 53 areas in 9 districts of Gujarat.
A National Referral Centre for Wildlife is being built on over 20 hectares in Junagadh. This center will include a high-tech monitoring station for tracking wildlife and a modern hospital to support conservation work. The state government has worked with the Railways to create safety plans to prevent lion accidents on train tracks in their area, and this effort has greatly reduced such accidents.
As part of his three-day visit to Gujarat, Modi also visited the Somnath temple and an animal rescue center called Vantara, where elephants and other animals get care and rehabilitation.