Excitement is in the Air As Lion Spotted for the First Time in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat

The first sighting of a big cat in the state's Porbandar district's Barda Wildlife Sanctuary since Independence has given the Gujarat forest department's efforts to create new habitats for Asiatic lions a boost, officials said on Friday. According to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Nityanand Srivastava, the three-and-a-half-year-old male lion entered the sanctuary about two days ago after spending some time nearby Porbandar town and feeding on livestock. The lion, which had been chased away by other males a few months ago, was now close to Porbandar town after slipping into a wooded area close to the coastal town of Madhavpur. The lion was radio-collared by the forest department a few months ago close to Porbandar town to track its whereabouts, according to Srivastav. The lion’s movement in the Barda sanctuary is being monitored. Lions can establish a second home in Barda thanks to the abundance of herbivores there, including antelopes and wild boar. Additionally, since 2013, mining has been prohibited within a one-kilometer radius of the sanctuary, a senior forest officer stated. The Barda Wildlife Sanctuary covers a total of 192 km and is located about 100 kilometers from Gir National Park and Sanctuary, the only remaining home of Asiatic lions.