Gujarat’s Barda sanctuary emerges as potential long-term habitat for Asiatic lions: Study
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The study, titled “Beyond Gir: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a Potential Stronghold for Asiatic Lions”, examined the lions’ space use, habitat preferences, social interactions and diet to assess the sanctuary’s suitability as a habitat beyond their traditional stronghold in Gir.
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Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region can support a long-term population of Asiatic lions
Gandhinagar: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat’s Saurashtra region can support a long-term population of Asiatic lions, with the sanctuary now home to 17 of the endangered big cats after their natural return to the area following an absence of nearly 144 years, according to a new study published in the journal 'PLOS One'.
The study, titled “Beyond Gir: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a Potential Stronghold for Asiatic Lions”, examined the lions’ space use, habitat preferences, social interactions and diet to assess the sanctuary’s suitability as a habitat beyond their traditional stronghold in Gir.
Spread across 192.31 sq. km, principally in Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, Barda provides suitable habitat, adequate prey resources and favourable ecological conditions to sustain a lion population over the long term, the study found.
The research was conducted by Mohan Ram (IFS), Aradhana Sahu (IFS), Nityanand Srivastava (IFS), Rohit Chaudhary, Lahar Jhala and Yashpal Zala, associated with the Gujarat Forest Department and Banda University of Agriculture and Technology.
The lions began recolonising Barda naturally after nearly 144 years, starting with the dispersal of a male lion, followed by the Gujarat Forest Department’s introduction of five females to augment the population.
Six lions — one male and five females — were radio-collared for the study, generating more than 1,69,000 GPS locations between January 2023 and July 2025.
The findings showed that the animals were actively using the sanctuary’s forests and grasslands, establishing home ranges and developing social associations.
“This is very significant research from the Asiatic lion’s conservation perspective. With the lion population no longer confined to a single core landscape, Barda can serve as a population buffer for lions dispersing from the southwestern side of Gir. Protecting such satellite habitats and maintaining connectivity between them will be essential for the species’ long-term survival,” Forests and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia said.
He added that the state government, under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is committed to protecting the Asiatic lion in Gujarat and ensuring its long-term survival. He also referred to the wider efforts to conserve wildlife under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Minister of State for Forests and Environment, Pravin Mali, said vacant frontline staff positions had been filled on priority, eight full-time lion trackers had been deployed to monitor the animals’ movements and health daily, and rapid-response mechanisms had been strengthened to address human-wildlife conflict.
"Improving the availability of natural prey is another focus of the conservation effort. During 2025-26, 441 chitals, or spotted deer, were translocated from Gir Wildlife Sanctuary to Barda to increase the herbivore population and strengthen the prey base," Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Jaipal Singh said.
Since 2007, hundreds of spotted deer have also been released through captive-breeding efforts, while sambar deer have been bred and released in the sanctuary.
"The sanctuary’s conservation efforts have also been accompanied by the development of ecotourism. Ecotourism activities began in Barda in 2024, creating work opportunities for local residents as nature guides and safari operators," said Ram Ratan Nala (IFS), Conservator of Forests, Junagadh (Wildlife) Circle.
Barda received 2,271 visitors in its first year of ecotourism, with the number rising to 3,359 in 2025-26, an increase of about 48 per cent.
Local communities are also participating in conservation work, including the removal of invasive species, restoration of degraded areas and construction of firebreaks.
Around 3,200 hectares were covered by habitat-improvement work this year. The work includes invasive-species removal, grassland development and soil and moisture conservation measures intended to improve habitat quality, water availability and forage resources.
Barda’s floral diversity, including a range of medicinal plants, adds to its ecological significance as Gujarat seeks to maintain suitable habitats for Asiatic lions beyond Gir.
