Recently on the occasion of World Lion Day in August, Gujarat added another feather in its hat with a pivotal milestone, namely, the Barda Wildlife Sanctuary which has come out to be a burgeoning sanctuary for the Asiatic lion. From a single wanderer that migrated to the sanctuary in 2023, Barda now shelters a total of 17 lions, including 6 adults and 11 cubs, cementing its reputation as the ‘second home’ of the species after the stronghold that is Gir. On the day of commemoration of lions, authorities also unveiled an INR 180 crore investment in the wildlife conservation and ecotourism centred around Barda’s revival.
Barda Wildlife Sanctuary, which spans 192.31 square kilometres spanning the districts of Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka, is well located close to the Dwarka-Porbandar-Somnath tourism route. Since a male lion's natural migration in 2023, five lionesses have moved to the refuge to accompany him. According to official accounts, their successful breeding has produced eleven cubs, establishing Barda as a viable new habitat for the species and resulting in a resident population of seventeen lions.
The number of Asiatic lions in Gujarat has increased significantly, rising by 32 percent during 2020 to 891 in 2025. Currently, 507 of these lions, or more than half, reside outside of Gir and have spread to other areas like Barda. This growth is the result of a deliberate attempt to disperse the population throughout Saurashtra. According to statistics, these figures rank among the biggest cat species' most impressive recoveries worldwide. According to the 2025 count, 22 lions have been observed travelling across designated corridor regions, and 497 lions live in satellite populations spread over nine locations, including Barda.
The stated sources don't go into great depth, but ecological restoration is largely responsible for the successful lion resurgence in Barda. Invasive species have been eliminated as part of India's managed conservation approach in order to support native grasslands and prey species, which is a well-established basis for lion reintroduction procedures.
The sanctuary’s growing lion population was celebrated on World Lion Day 2025 by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Gujarat’s Chief Minister, who jointly launched a INR 180 crore initiative to support both lion conservation and ecotourism infrastructure at Barda. Plans include a 248-hectare safari park, which will transform Barda into a visitor-friendly destination that blends wildlife protection with public engagement.
Deploying Barda as a “second home” for Asiatic lions signals a shift in conservation strategy—from containing the entire population within Gir to nurturing satellite habitats. While Gir remains the central stronghold, Barda exemplifies how carefully managed dispersal can help secure long-term species survival and habitat diversity across a broader landscape.
Barda, which was once a peaceful haven, is now filled with the roars of an increasing number of lions. From a single migrant in 2023 to a flourishing pride today, it epitomises Gujarat's conservation philosophy of progress. With the right infrastructure and strategic investment, Barda is well-positioned to serve as a refuge and a centre for education and interaction.
(With inputs from various sources.)
