On the occasion of World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a lion safari at the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary on Monday morning, highlighting India’s commitment to wildlife conservation. The visit is part of his three-day tour of his home state, Gujarat.
PM Modi arrived in Sasan Gir on Sunday evening after offering prayers at the Somnath Temple, the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas. He stayed overnight at Sinh Sadan, a government-run forest guest house, before embarking on the safari alongside senior forest officials and ministers.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of biodiversity protection.
“Today, on #WorldWildlifeDay, let’s reiterate our commitment to protect and preserve the incredible biodiversity of our planet. Every species plays a vital role—let’s safeguard their future for generations to come! We also take pride in India’s contributions towards preserving and protecting wildlife,” he wrote.
Focus on Project Lion & Wildlife Conservation
PM Modi is set to chair the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at Sasan Gir. The NBWL, comprising 47 members—including Army officials, state representatives, and NGOs—plays a key role in wildlife policy formulation.
The central government has sanctioned over ₹2,900 crore under Project Lion to strengthen conservation efforts for Asiatic lions, which are exclusively found in Gujarat. These lions now inhabit nearly 30,000 sq. km across nine districts and 53 talukas of the state.
As part of the project, a National Referral Centre for Wildlife is being developed on 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipalya, Junagadh. Additionally, a high-tech wildlife monitoring centre and a state-of-the-art hospital have been established in Sasan to boost conservation and healthcare efforts for wildlife.
Visit to Animal Rescue Centre in Jamnagar
On Sunday, PM Modi also visited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation centre at the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex. The facility provides sanctuary and medical care to animals rescued from abuse and exploitation.