Gujarat lost 286 lions, 456 leopards in two years: Govt says in Assembly

A total of 286 lions have died in Gujarat over the past two years, as of December 31, 2024.

- DILIP SINGH KSHATRIYA @ Ahmedabad

Of these, 228 succumbed to natural causes, while 58 met unnatural deaths. The crisis extends to leopards, with 456 fatalities in the same period—303 due to natural causes and a staggering 153 from unnatural factors, the state government admitted in the assembly.

Responding to a query by Congress MLA Shailesh Parmar, Forest and Environment Minister Mulubhai Bera detailed the breakdown: 121 lion deaths in 2023 and a sharper rise to 165 in 2024. The toll includes 58 adult lions and 63 cubs lost in 2023, escalating to 85 lions and 80 cubs in 2024. Natural causes claimed 102 adult lions and 126 cubs, but the concern deepens with 41 lions and 17 cubs meeting unnatural deaths.