Poonam Avlokan, 674 Asiatic Lions in 2020

Recently, the Gujarat Forest Department has announced an increase in the number of Asiatic lions in Gir forest region. In comparison to 2015, the number of 151 Asiatic lions has increased in 2020.

Asiatic Lions in 2020

161 - Male

260 - Female

116 - Adults Pub

137 - Pubs

674 - Total Asiatic Lions in 2020

The number of Asiatic lions in 2015 was 523. The distribution of lions has increased from 22,000 sq km in 2015 to 30,000 sq km in 2020. 

The census of lions is done every fifth year before it was done in 2015. And was to be held on 5 and 6 June 2020. But it was postponed indefinitely due to the Covid-19  epidemic. Therefore, Gujarat Forest Department has done a census of lions using the Poonam Avlokan method and report at 9 June 2020.

This was the 15th census of lions, the census of lions was first conducted by the Nawab of Junagadh in 1936, after that, every fifth year since 1965, the government conducts a census of lions. Even before that, 6th, 8th and 11th lion census was postponed.

In the 2015 census of lions, the help of Poonam Avlokan was also taken. The use of Poonam Avlokan mechanism started from 2014. Poonam observation is done on the full moon day of every month. Although it does not have complete transparency and more Accuracy, it requires less experts to do it. Whereas the general census of lions requires more than 2,000 forest guards, experts and volunteers.

Although the number of Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region  is continuously increasing, but more than 90 Asiatic lions have died this year, most of these lions have died due to Canine Distemper Virus and Babesiosis.