The population of the last remaining wild Asiatic Lions in Gujarat, India has made a phenomenal comeback. In only five years, their population has increased by 30% and now totals 891 lions! This population now constitutes the only and last wild group of Asiatic Lions remaining anywhere in the world. It instills a sense of pride in local communities but provokes fear and concern. These majestic creatures drive tourism revenue and contribute to pest control. Their newfound success can result in fatal accidents with humans. In the twelve months preceding June 2025, seven lion attack-related deaths had been reported. This catastrophic trend underscores the deepening peril to both people and wildlife of modern day coexistence.
Asiatic Lions, known for their darker manes and formal belly folds, are a bit smaller than their African cousins. They are mostly confined to the Gir Forests of Gujarat. Many local farmers reap the benefits of their predation on nilgais and pigs, species considered agricultural pests. As the lion population starts to increase, so do the cases of retaliation against humans. Over the last five years, there have been well over 20 fatal attacks on humans. During the same period, cattle attacks have almost doubled.
A Double-Edged Sword
The population of the Asiatic Lion is increasing. This expansion has created a complicated interaction between local people and these beautiful large felines. Most villagers are counting on lions to bring in tourists, which raises their salaries. This famously tolerant coexistence has recently been put to the test as lions have increasingly expanded into villages, forcing them into conflict with humans.
“The minute a lion moves into human-dominated habitats, the probability (of it attacking humans) just increases,” – Not explicitly mentioned but likely said by an unquoted person in the article.
As more lions leave these protected areas, they end up taking up space that local community members need. Jehan Bhujwala highlights this issue, explaining that “when you have too many animals, they claim space outside of the protected area… and then they start coming into conflict with local (people).”
In a tragic incident highlighting this dilemma, Heera Ajnera described how a lion attacked his youngest child: “This lion grabbed the child… My family tried everything to rescue him.” Such events have forced some families to leave their farms in terror, moving to camps in neighboring villages.
Conservation Efforts and Challenges
The Gujarat government has acknowledged the dilemma presented by this burgeoning lion population. In the past three years funding for Asiatic Lion protection increased by more than 70%. For fiscal year 2023-2024, $18.2 million has been earmarked to fund these critical initiatives. According to conservationists, even with these efforts, not enough is being done to guarantee the long-term survival of the species.
In 2013, India’s Supreme Court took a courageous step. They directed the translocation of Asiatic Lions from Gir Forests to Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary. None of this plan has come to fruition, keeping all Asiatic Lions in Gujarat. Recently, conservationists have expressed alarm about the dangers of an entire population being focused in one location.
“Having all your eggs in one basket is very risky. If there is a disease outbreak, then there is trouble for you,” – Ravi Chellam.
Being able to adapt increases lions’ chances of survival, and health is a concern with the increasing lion concentration. Yadvendradev Vikramsinh Jhala emphasized that such high levels of coexistence between large carnivores and humans are uncommon worldwide.
The Path Forward
The fate of Asiatic Lions in Gujarat rests on how well these two competing interests can be balanced. Through their combined efforts, local communities and conservationists have created innovative solutions that reduce human-wildlife conflict and provide lasting protection to this endangered species.
Jehan Bhujwala remarked on the unique aspect of India’s conservation history: “They all coexisted, and that coexistence, that tolerance, is something which is very unique.” While this jaguar-lion coexistence is praiseworthy, it needs to be closely watched as more lions are born and added to the landscape.
Except as lions wander deeper into urban spaces—lounging on airport rooftops or showing up in hotel parking lots—further challenging residents—they’re the ones who pay the price. “Lions have been found in basement parking lots of hotels… on top of people’s homes,” Chellam reported. In the face of this escalating trend, finding development solutions that keep people safe while protecting lions has never been more urgent or essential.
