Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Sasan Gir in Junagadh district of Gujarat on the occasion of World Wildlife Day today. The NBWL has 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, members from different states, representatives from NGOs working in this field, chief wildlife wardens and secretaries from various states. This board works for the promotion of the conservation and development of wildlife and forests with the Prime Minister as its chairperson. The PM will also participate in the tree plantation at Sinh Sadan Campus in Gir. Mr Modi will also flag off the patrolling bikes for field staff for conservation and management of wildlife. The PM is also scheduled to interact with the eco guides, trackers and field staff.
Before the meeting, the Prime Minister is taking a lion safari in Gir National Park.
Our correspondent reports that Sasan Gir, the only habitat of Asiatic lions in the world has witnessed a consistent increase in the number of lions, as per the census conducted in 2020, the total population of lions in the Gir forest area is 674. Currently, Asiatic lions inhabit approximately 30,000 square kilometres across 53 talukas in 9 districts of Gujarat. The centre and state governments have undertaken numerous initiatives to conserve these majestic creatures and protect other wildlife species. As part of a national Project Lion, a National Referral Center for Wildlife is being established on over 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipalya in Junagadh district. Moreover, a high-tech monitoring centre for wildlife tracking and a state-of-the-art hospital has also been set up in Sasan to strengthen conservation efforts. The growth of eco-tourism in Gir has not only contributed to wildlife conservation but has also transformed the livelihoods of thousands of residents, fostering sustainable development in the region. More than 33 lakh tourists visited the Gir protected area during the last five years.
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