Prime Minister Narendra Modi went on a lion safari at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat's Junagadh dis🤡trict on Monday morning, on the 🌄occasion of the World Wildlife Day.
In a𝓡 post on X, Modi said the population of Asiatic lions has seen a steady rise due to collective efforts, and commended the contribution of tribals and women living in surrounding areas in preserving the Asiatic lions' habitat.
"This morning, on #WorldWildlifeDay, I w⛎ent on a Safari in Gir, which, as we all know, is home to the majestic Asiatic Lion. Co🌺ming to Gir also brings back many memories of the work we collectively did when I was serving as Gujarat CM," he said.
"In the last many years, collective efforts have ensured that the population of Asiatic Lions is rising steadily. Equally commendable is the role of tribal communities and women fr♕om surrounding areas in preserving the habitat of the Asiatic Lion," Modi added.
The 🤡prime🦄 minister also posted pictures of lions that he came across during the safari.
Union Minister of Environment, Forest an♏d Climate Change Bhupender Yadav, other ministers and senior forest department officials accompanied Modi during the safari.
The PM later went to 𝓰chair the seventh meeting of the National Board for Wildlife at Sasan Gir, the headquarters of the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
The central gove🅘rnment has approved more than Rs 2,900 crore for Project Lion, meant for the conservation of Asiatic lions for which Gujarat is the only abode, stated a government release.
Currently, the Asiatic lions inhabit nearly 30,000 square kilometres🦹 across 53 talukas in 9 districts of G❀ujarat, it said.
Additionally, as p𓃲art of a national project, a National Referral Centre for Wildlife is beiꦯng established on over 20.24 hectares of land at New Pipalya in Junagadh district, it said.
A high-tech monitoring centre for wildlife tracking and a state-of-the-art hospital have also been set up in Sasan to strengthen conservation eff🅰orts, the release said.
Earlier, Modi had a night halt at ඣSinh Sadan, a forest guest house managed by the state ౠforest department, in Sasan after his arrival from Somnath where he offered prayers at the Lord Shiv temple, the first among 12 jyotirlingas, on Sunday evening.
On Sunday, Modi also visꦉited Vantara, an animal rescue, conservation and rehabilitation centre located at the Reliance Jamnagar refinery complex.
It is a rescu🅺e centre dedicated to the welfare of captive elephants and wildlife, providing sanctuary, rehabilitation and m🀅edical care to animals rescued from abuse and exploitation.
