A peer-reviewed study on Asiatic lions in Gujarat’s coastal belt has challenged the assumption that lions living outside the Gir Protected Area depend mainly on domestic livestock. The finding matters for UPSC because it links wildlife ecology, coastal habitat management, and human-wildlife conflict in one current conservation issue.
What happened
The study, published in the journal Conservation, analysed 160 lion scat samples collected during March and April 2024 from coastal districts including Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli, Bhavnagar and Porbandar.
The analysis found that wild prey dominated the diet and the biomass consumed by coastal lions. The study also said livestock formed a significant but smaller part of the diet than commonly assumed.
Background and earlier position
Asiatic lions are naturally associated with Gujarat, and the Gir landscape has long been the core habitat. Gujarat’s coast also supports three satellite lion populations, showing that the species is using human-dominated landscapes and not only the Gir core area.
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