Ahead of World Lion Day on August 10, the Gujarat government has announced a new measure to deal with growing concerns over human-lion conflict. The state Forest Department has started work on creating a 100-hectare confined area inside Ambardi Safari Park in Amreli district for lions that have been involved in attacks on humans.
The facility is being designed to provide the lions with a controlled environment that remains as close as possible to their natural habitat while preventing animals involved in repeated attacks from returning to areas where they could pose a threat to people.
Special Area to Keep Conflict-Affected Lions
According to the state government, the Forest Department has already started work on fencing the designated 100-hectare area within Ambardi Safari Park.
The purpose of the facility is to manage lions that have repeatedly become involved in human attacks. Instead of releasing such animals back into areas where they may again come into contact with people, they will be kept in the specially developed enclosure.
The move is aimed at addressing the difficult balance between protecting people and conserving Asiatic lions.
The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force, Jaipal Singh, said the facility would allow lions involved in human attacks to be kept in a limited area under favourable conditions.
He said the necessary directions for the project had been issued and work had already begun.
Focus on Reducing Human-Lion Conflict
Human-wildlife conflict has become an important concern in areas where villages, farms and residential settlements are located close to wildlife habitats.
The new facility is intended to ensure that lions identified as posing a repeated threat to people are not released back into locations where another conflict could occur.
At the same time, the Forest Department is seeking to maintain suitable living conditions for the animals rather than treating the facility simply as a holding area.
The 100-hectare enclosure will therefore be developed in a way that provides an environment suitable for the lions while keeping them away from densely populated areas.
Scientific Relocation of Wild Animals
The Forest Department regularly carries out the relocation of wild animals as part of its efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict.
Officials said wild animals that enter villages or densely populated areas are generally captured and moved to suitable forests, sanctuaries or other appropriate locations.
Relocation may also be carried out in cases involving injured or sick animals, population management or the need to provide animals with a more suitable habitat.
Lions and leopards that move into farms or residential areas can be relocated to safer forest areas. Similarly, crocodiles found close to human settlements may be shifted to suitable water bodies.
The department said such measures are intended to protect both people and wildlife while maintaining ecological balance.
Ambardi Safari Park Located Near Gir Protected Area
The new facility will come up at Ambardi Safari Park, a reserved forest located within the Gir protected area near Dhari in Amreli district.
The park covers approximately 365 hectares and is home to a variety of wildlife. Apart from the Asiatic lion, the park has populations of:
Leopards
Chital
Nilgai
Chinkara
Peafowl
Several other bird species
The location makes the park an important part of the wider Gir landscape and its wildlife conservation network.
Park Has Also Become a Tourism Destination
Ambardi Safari Park was opened in 2017 and has gradually developed into an important wildlife tourism destination in the region.
Visitors can experience the Gir ecosystem through safari activities and observe the area’s wildlife in a controlled setting.
The park has also contributed to the growth of eco-tourism and local employment opportunities in Amreli district, creating economic benefits alongside its role in wildlife conservation.
Move Comes Ahead of World Lion Day
The announcement comes as Gujarat prepares to observe World Lion Day on August 10, an occasion focused on raising awareness about lion conservation and the protection of the world’s remaining wild lion populations.
Gujarat is home to the world’s last surviving population of Asiatic lions, making the conservation and management of the species particularly important for the state.
The new 100-hectare facility at Ambardi Safari Park represents an effort to deal with one of the most challenging aspects of lion conservation: protecting people from conflict while ensuring that lions continue to receive appropriate care and habitat.
The Forest Department’s approach combines controlled relocation, scientific wildlife management and habitat protection to reduce the chances of repeated encounters between people and wild animals.
Also Read: Gujarat To Study Lion Behaviour Amid Fatal Attacks; 31 Lions Captured, 7 Declared ‘Maneaters’ https://www.vibesofindia.com/gujarat-to-study-lion-behaviour-after-rise-in-fatal-attacks/
