LIONS 19 TIMES SAFER IN GUJARAT THAN IN AFRICA: IUCN

• Gujarat celebrates as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) reclassifies Asiatic lions from endangered to vulnerable.
• Positive shift reflects Gujarat's successful conservation efforts.

• HABITAT TYPE: Forest, Savanna, Shrubland, Grassland, Desert

Comparison with African Lions:

• IUCN's latest global report highlights significant differences between African and Indian lions.
• African lions are 19 times more likely to be at risk of population decline than Indian lions (a 33% decline in lion populations in Africa).
• Widespread poaching in Africa contributes to the high risk.

Safety in Gujarat:

• Gujarat is the only habitat of Asiatic lions in the world.
• The Saurashtra region in Gujarat provides a safe haven for lions.
• The risk of decline in lion numbers in Saurashtra is estimated at only 2%.

Binomial Reclassification:

• Previously, Asiatic lions were classified separately as Panthera leo persica.
• Due to genetic similarity with African lions it is now grouped under Panthera leo leo.
• The IUCN estimates the wild lion population at 23,000, including 674 in Gujarat.

Threats to Lion Population:

• The main threats include habitat loss, conversion of protected areas and degradation of the prey base.
• Targeted poaching for body parts is emerging as a significant threat.

Economic Impact and Conservation:

• Lions cause huge economic losses in East Africa.
• Coexistence with humans helps preserve the lion population in Gujarat.

Historical Significance and Habitat Preservation:

• Lions found in Eastern Europe about 700 years ago, distributed from Africa to central India.
• India signed an agreement in the late 1960s to exchange lions for cheetahs with Iran.
• The presence of lions helps control the population of wild boar and nilgai, which benefits farmers.

Future Conservation Efforts:

• Proposal to expand the Greater Gir Sanctuary in Gujarat, tripling its size to 30,000 sq km.
• The goal of providing large protected areas for apex predators.

Conclusion:

Asiatic lions have been reclassified as vulnerable due to Gujarat's successful conservation efforts. Continued efforts are important to ensure the survival of this iconic species.

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