Blog Details

Gir National Park

Gir lion safari

• Author : Adeeb Sahil
• Date : September 04, 2025

Asiatic lions are rare animals and different from the African lion species. These lions are only found in India. Right now, all of them live in Gujarat, in and around Gir National Park. This park is well known because it is the only place where these lions are still living in the wild. Many people travel from India and other countries to enjoy the Gir lion safari and watch these lions in their natural habitat.

Experts have been saying for a long time that keeping all lions in one place is not safe. If there is a disease or a natural problem like fire, flood, or drought, it could harm all the lions. To avoid this risk, a plan was made to move some lions to another place. The chosen place was Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh.

The main aim was to keep lions in two places for safety. But due to many issues and delays, the lions have not been shifted, and now Kuno is known for cheetahs.

The Original Lion Plan

The plan to move some lions out of Gir and take them to another area started in the 1980s. Wildlife scientists and conservationists were worried that the entire population was restricted to only one park. They said that this was a dangerous situation for the future of the species.

After long studies and surveys, the Wildlife Institute of India decided that Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh had suitable conditions for lions. The forest area was large, it had good vegetation, and prey animals like deer and antelope were present. The government even moved several villages out of the area to make more space for lions. The park was managed carefully so that it could provide a safe home for them.

In 2013, the Supreme Court of India also gave an important order. It said that Gujarat must send some lions to Kuno so that a second population could finally be created. This was seen as a big step forward. Many people thought that now, at last, lions would move to Kuno. However, things did not move further after this.

Gujarat’s Opposition

Even though the Supreme Court gave the order, the Gujarat government did not agree. Successive governments in the state argued that Gir National Park was the best and only suitable home for lions. They said that no other place, including Kuno, had the same environment & safety for lions.

Another reason was related to the pride of the state. There is a strong connection between lions and the identity of Gujarat. They are often called the “pride of Gujarat.” The state government did not want to part with its lions. Leaders felt that sending them to another state would mean losing something very special.

The Supreme Court dismissed these objections and repeated its order, but Gujarat still did not release any lions. Because of this, the relocation project stopped at the level of paperwork and discussions. No lions were actually moved. The plan froze because of bureaucratic delays and political disagreements.

The Rise Of Cheetahs In Kuno

While the lion plan was stuck, another big wildlife project was introduced. Cheetahs, which had become extinct in India in 1952, were chosen for reintroduction. After many years of talks with other countries, cheetahs from Namibia and South Africa were brought to India. The first group of cheetahs arrived in Kuno National Park in September 2022.

This was called Project Cheetah. It received a lot of national and international attention. India’s Prime Minister also joined during the launch of the program. Soon, Kuno National Park became famous as the new home for cheetahs. Media reports, government announcements, and public discussions all started to focus on cheetahs instead of lions.

Because of this, most resources, staff, & management in Kuno shifted toward cheetahs. The plan to bring the lions lost its importance. Although officially it was not canceled, in reality, the lion project was no longer active.

The Official Change

On July 30, 2024, the Madhya Pradesh forest department made an important announcement. The "Lion Project" of Kuno was formally renamed the "Cheetah Project" and also with an update to the position of project director. It was now called “Field Director, Cheetah Project, Shivpuri.”

Officials explained that this was only a procedural change. They said that internationally, Kuno was now known for cheetahs, so it made sense to update the name. They also said that the lion project was not officially stopped. But in practical terms, the change showed a clear shift. Lions were no longer the main focus in Kuno.

Findings From Audit Report

The Madhya Pradesh government conducted an audit of the project in November 2023. The report gave clearer details about the situation. It showed that no real work had been done to bring lions to Kuno. The park’s management plan, which was originally designed for lions, had completely turned towards cheetahs.

The audit also said that the Supreme Court-appointed committee, which was supposed to send reports about habitat surveys, had not submitted the required documents. Without those reports, it was impossible to know if any progress was happening.

The main conclusion of the audit was simple: the cheetah project was moving ahead with full support, but the lion relocation project had been ignored.

Current Situation

At present, all Asiatic lions continue to live only in Gir National Park and nearby areas in Gujarat. Kuno has never received these lions. This is the case even after decades of discussion and even after the Supreme Court order.

Kuno National Park is now mainly known for hosting the cheetah project. It has cheetahs from Namibia & South Africa, and more may come in the future. The government has not officially said that the lion project is finished, but there are no visible actions to restart it.

This means that lions are still restricted to Gir. For tourists, this has one advantage. The Gir lion safari in Gujarat continues to be the only way by which people can see Asiatic lions in the wild. Thousands of visitors go to Gir every year for this special experience. But from a conservation point of view, it is risky to have all lions in one location. If any big problem occurs in Gir, the whole population may be affected.

Experts continue to say that a second home is important. However, the way things are moving, it looks like lions may not be shifted to Kuno in the near future. Cheetahs now define Kuno, but lions continue to stay in Gujarat.