Gandhinagar: State forest and environment minister Arjun Modhwadia on Monday said that the 2025 census shows that the lion population has increased by 32%, and Gujarat is now focusing on stabilizing tiger and cheetah populations. The minister spoke in the assembly during budgetary demands of the forest and environment department.The minister said that on May 21, 2025, chief minister Bhupendra Patel announced the results of the 16th lion population estimation, recording a total of 891 — 196 males, 330 females, 140 sub-adults, and 225 cubs. He added that the state govt has implemented a series of measures to prevent unnatural deaths of lions.On tiger conservation efforts in the state, Modhwadia said that the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in Dang, which was a tiger habitat 25 years ago, recorded seven tigers in 1979, nine in 1989, five in 1993, and one in 1997. There have been no reports after 1997. He said that the state forest department spotted tiger presence at Pipargota on Feb 23, 2025.He said that as part of prey-base planning for tiger conservation, 17 sambars were brought to the Udhalmauda Breeding Centre.
