The Asiatic lion once ranged from Greece to India but survives in the wild only in India, in and around the Gir forest in the west of the country. It is slightly smaller than the African lion, with a sparser mane and a fold of skin along the belly. Numbers fell to a few dozen a century ago and have climbed since: 523 in 2015, 674 in 2020 and 891 in 2025, with about half now living outside the core forest.
Key facts
- Only wild population is in India, in and around Gir; listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
- 2025 estimation: 891 lions (674 in 2020), range about 35,000 sq km across 11 districts; adult females up from 260 to 330. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Project Lion was announced on 15 August 2020; World Lion Day is 10 August.
- In 2013 the Supreme Court ordered some Gir lions to be moved to Madhya Pradesh to create a second population; the state has resisted.
Latest
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary now holds 17 Asiatic lions, their return after nearly 144 years; a PLOS One study calls Barda a potential long-term stronghold beyond Gir.
Why exams ask about it
The state, the latest count, the wildlife schedule and the second-home plan are the usual questions.