Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his happiness over the increasing population of the majestic Asiatic Lion in Gujarat’s Gir Forest as the population of wild beast has grown to 674, 29% up from its 2015 count. In another tweet, he said, "Over the last several years, the Lion population in Gujarat has been steadily rising. Asiatic lions are present in Protected Areas and agro-pastoral landscape of Saurashtra covering nine districts in a sprawling expanse of over 30000 sq. The population estimation of Asiatic Lions is conducted at an interval of five years. The 15th Asiatic Lion Population Estimation was scheduled during 05-06 June, 2020, but owing to the present COVID-19 situation, it was not conducted as planned, the Gujarat forest department said.

Source: dna June 10, 2020 16:41 UTC