On World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gujarat’s Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Junagadh district on Monday morning as part of his state tour. After arriving from Somnath, where he offered prayers at the Lord Shiva temple – the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas – on Sunday evening, Modi stayed overnight at Sinh Sadan, a forest guest house managed by the state forest department in Sasan.
On Monday, he set out on a lion safari from Sinh Sadan, accompanied by several ministers and senior forest officials.
During his visit to Sasan Gir, the headquarters of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, PM Modi will also chair the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL). The NBWL comprises 47 members, including the Chief of Army Staff, state representatives, NGO members, chief wildlife wardens, and secretaries from various states.
Following the meeting, the prime minister will interact with women forest staffers working at Sasan.
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The central government has allocated over ₹2,900 crore for Project Lion, a major conservation initiative aimed at protecting the Asiatic lions – a species found exclusively in Gujarat. According to a government release, these lions now occupy approximately 30,000 square kilometers across 53 talukas in nine districts of Gujarat.
Additionally, a National Referral Center for Wildlife is being developed on 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipalya in Junagadh district as part of a national conservation project. To further enhance wildlife protection, a high-tech monitoring center and a modern hospital have also been established in Sasan.
On Sunday, PM Modi also visited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation, and rehabilitation center located within the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex. This facility focuses on providing sanctuary, rehabilitation, and medical care for captive elephants and other rescued wildlife.
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