Project Lion: PM Modi Announces National Wildlife Health Centre in Gujarat

A National Referral Centre for Wildlife (NRC-W) will be established in Gujarat's Junagadh district as part of Project Lion. As per the official sources, the project has received a budget of ₹2,927.71 crore from the Union government.

Construction of a boundary wall has already begun on the 20.24 hectares of land in New Pipaliya that the Gujarat forest department has set aside for the facility. 

60% Infectious Diseases Caused by Animals

According to one of these officials, the Central Zoo Authority, a nodal agency of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, plans to establish this center to enhance the capacity to monitor diseases in wildlife, particularly in relation to pathogens that can spread to humans, a phenomenon known as zoonosis.

The official, whoa wished to remain anonymous, continued, "Wildlife health is an important and often overlooked component of conservation efforts." "60% of all infectious diseases that affect humans are spread by animals, and zoonoses account for sixty percent of newly discovered infectious diseases worldwide."

Why is Disease Monitoring Centre Needed?

The need for such a centre is urgent, as evidenced by recent wildlife health emergencies. In 2019, over 18,000 migratory birds perished from avian botulism. 24 lions died as a result of the 2018 Asiatic lion outbreak in Gir Forest. About 400 monkeys died in 2015 due to an outbreak of Kyasanur Forest sickness, according to another official.

The four guiding concepts of the NRC-W will be preparedness, prevention, response, and surveillance. Disease research, a national wildlife disease surveillance program, emergency response, wildlife professional training, and policy formation are all part of its mission.

Natural Environment for the Lions

Existing natural elements, such as ponds, streams, and contours, will be preserved on campus. Four departmental buildings for administration, training, informatics and analytics, and wildlife health management are part of the plan.

Additionally, Project Lion builds a state-of-the-art veterinary clinic and monitoring center in Sasan to keep an eye on Gir's wildlife.

What is Project Lion?

On August 15, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced Project Lion, which prioritizes technology-driven conservation, human-lion conflict reduction, and community engagement.

According to 2020 statistics, there are 674 Asiatic lions spread across 53 talukas in 9 districts, occupying nearly 30,000 square kilometers in Gujarat. The 10-year project intends to protect these animals.

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Barda Wildlife Sanctuary: A Second Home for Lions

According to a forest department official, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary has become a "second home" for lions as a result of this effort, and it currently houses 17 lions, including 6 adults and 11 cubs.

Authorities built 11,000 machans to lessen confrontation between humans and wildlife, parapet barriers around 55,108 open wells to avoid wildlife falls, deployed 92 rescue vehicles for wildlife crises and hired 237 beat guards in 2024 to bolster conservation efforts.