AHMEDABAD: The Asiatic lions are fast expanding their footprints to the coastal areas of Greater Gir. The latest Poonam Avlokan (estimation during full moon) carried out by the state forest department reveals that the population of these iconic predators has now gone up to around 750 from 674 in 2020 — just 11 per cent increase compared to a 27 per cent increase the previous year, top sources in state forest department said. The report is yet to be made official.
Coastal areas saw a 38% rise with the population of lions growing from 87 in 2020 to nearly 120 in 2022, said top sources privy to the official findings. The growth in population was mainly reported in the coastal areas of Bhavnagar, Amreli and Gir Somnath.
