SASAN GIR (GUJARAT) — Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav, inaugurated the ‘Lion’ Species Spotlight Event today at Sasan Gir. Organized as a pre-summit event for the upcoming International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA) Summit 2026, the programme highlights India’s successful landscape-based conservation models.
The event was presided over virtually by Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Bhupendra Patel, alongside state forest ministers and senior central officials.
Preparation for the First-Ever IBCA Summit 2026
Shri Bhupender Yadav announced that India will host the inaugural IBCA Summit in New Delhi on June 1–2, 2026, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
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Scope: The summit will bring together 400 representatives from 95 range countries across Asia, Africa, and the Americas.
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The Alliance: IBCA focuses on a global coalition to protect seven iconic big cats: Tiger, Lion, Leopard, Snow Leopard, Cheetah, Jaguar, and Puma.
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Tagline: “Save Big Cats, Save Humanity, Save Ecosystem.”
India’s Asiatic Lion Success Story
While global lion populations have declined by over 30% due to habitat loss, India has registered a significant conservation victory in the Greater Gir Landscape.
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Population Growth: The Asiatic lion population has risen to an estimated 891 individuals in 2025, marking a 32% increase since 2020.
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Legal Protection: The species is afforded the highest legal safeguards under Appendix-I of CITES and Schedule-I of India’s Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
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Project Lion: Launched in 2020, this initiative focuses on habitat restoration, population management, and establishing natural dispersal sites like the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary.
Balancing Economy and Ecology
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel emphasized that Gir serves as a global template for how economic progress can co-exist with wildlife conservation. He credited local community participation as an indispensable factor in ensuring that the Asiatic Lion continues to flourish in its only wild habitat.
