New Delhi, May 12 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday expressed happiness over the latest census of Asiatic lions that registered an increase of 27 percent in the population of the endangered species.
“News that made me very happy- 27% (percent) increase in Asiatic lions. Kudos to locals, officials and wildlife lovers whose efforts led to this,” the prime minister tweeted.
Found in Gujarat’s Gir forest, the population of big cats has gone up by 27 percent from the last census in 2010 to 523. There are 109 male lions, 201 females and 213 cubs in the Gir sanctuary and nearby forest areas of Junagadh district.