At the crack of dawn today, as the world celebrated World Wildlife Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi traded his usual schedule for an extraordinary encounter with nature. Venturing into the heart of Gujarat’s Gir National Park, the last stronghold of the majestic Asiatic lion, Modi embarked on a lion safari that underscored both his personal connection to the region and India’s broader commitment to wildlife conservation.
Dressed in a camouflage safari outfit, camera in hand, the Prime Minister set out from Sinh Sadan, a historic forest guest house in Sasan, where he had spent the previous night. Accompanied by ministers and senior forest officials, Modi’s journey into the Gir forest wasn’t just a symbolic gesture—it was a hands-on celebration of a conservation success story he has long championed. “This morning, on #WorldWildlifeDay, I went on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion,” Modi shared in a post on X at 11:42 AM IST. “Coming to Gir also brings back many memories of the work we collectively did when I was serving as Gujarat CM.”
The Gir National Park, nestled in Gujarat’s Junagadh district, is more than just a wildlife sanctuary—it’s a testament to decades of dedicated conservation efforts. Home to the world’s only population of Asiatic lions, the park has seen their numbers rise from a precarious 523 in 2015 to 674 by 2020, a 29% increase that reflects the tireless work of the Gujarat government, forest officials, and local communities. Modi’s visit spotlighted this achievement, especially poignant on a day dedicated to raising awareness about the planet’s biodiversity.
Armed with his camera, Modi didn’t just observe—he captured the moment. At 11:57 AM IST, he posted on X: “Lions and lionesses in Gir! Tried my hand at some photography this morning,” accompanied by a glimpse of his wildlife snapshots. The images of the regal lions roaming their natural habitat offered a rare, personal glimpse into the Prime Minister’s morning, blending his official duties with a clear passion for nature.
This wasn’t Modi’s first foray into Gir. As Gujarat’s Chief Minister in 2007, he visited the forest following a poaching crisis that claimed several lions. That experience sparked transformative initiatives, including the creation of the Greater Gir Wildlife Protection Task Force and the Gujarat State Lion Conservation Society, both of which have bolstered the region’s ecological and economic resilience. His efforts also extended to empowering local communities, with eco-tourism now supporting over 1,000 families directly and 15,400 indirectly through activities like selling local goods and operating transport services.
The timing of Modi’s visit aligned perfectly with World Wildlife Day 2025, themed “Wildlife Conservation Finance: Investing in People and Planet.” Gujarat’s conservation model embodies this ethos, blending sustainable funding with community involvement. During his visit, Modi also chaired a meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Sasan, reinforcing national policies to protect endangered species. The central government’s ₹2,927-crore Project Lion, launched in 2020 under Modi’s leadership, continues to drive habitat restoration and conflict mitigation efforts, including developing the nearby Barda Wildlife Sanctuary as a second home for lions.
For Modi, the morning was both a return to his roots and a forward-looking statement. After offering prayers at the Somnath Temple the previous evening, his safari underscored a blend of tradition and progress. Interacting with women forest staff—a group he helped integrate into the workforce during his tenure as Chief Minister—he highlighted the human element of conservation, a theme echoed in his X posts urging collective action to “protect and preserve the incredible biodiversity of our planet.”
As the sun rose over Gir, Narendra Modi’s morning with the lions wasn’t just a wildlife adventure—it was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when leadership, community, and nature align. With his camera clicks and conservation legacy, the Prime Minister celebrated a shared victory: ensuring the roar of the Asiatic lion endures for generations to come.