Junagadh: On the occasion of World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on a lion safari at the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat’s Junagadh district on Monday morning.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi highlighted the steady rise in the population of Asiatic lions due to collective conservation efforts and lauded the tribal communities and women in the region for their role in protecting the lions’ habitat.
“This morning, on #WorldWildlifeDay, I went on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion. Coming to Gir also brings back many memories of the work we collectively did when I was serving as Gujarat CM,” he wrote.
He further added, “In the last many years, collective efforts have ensured that the population of Asiatic Lions is rising steadily. Equally commendable is the role of tribal communities and women from surrounding areas in preserving the habitat of the Asiatic Lion.”
Modi also shared pictures of the lions he encountered during the safari.
He was accompanied by Union Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, other ministers, and senior forest department officials.
Later in the day, the PM chaired the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Sasan Gir, the headquarters of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
According to an official release, the central government has sanctioned over ₹2,900 crore for Project Lion, aimed at the conservation of Asiatic lions, which are exclusively found in Gujarat.
Currently, Asiatic lions inhabit nearly 30,000 square kilometers across 53 talukas in 9 districts of Gujarat, the release stated.
Additionally, a National Referral Centre for Wildlife is being established on 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipalya in Junagadh district as part of a national project. To further strengthen conservation efforts, a high-tech monitoring centre for wildlife tracking and a state-of-the-art hospital have also been set up in Sasan, the statement said.
Before the safari, Modi spent the night at Sinh Sadan, a forest guest house managed by the state forest department in Sasan, after arriving from Somnath on Sunday evening, where he offered prayers at the Lord Shiva temple, one of the 12 Jyotirlingas.
On Sunday, he also visited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation centre at the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex. The facility is dedicated to the welfare of captive elephants and wildlife, offering sanctuary, rehabilitation, and medical care to animals rescued from abuse and exploitation.