📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Rathodkrunal81
Local
New Forest Command Set Up in Gujarat’s Barda as Lions Return
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 30 Sep 2026, 07:31 AM
👁 15
The Gujarat forest department has created a new command post in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary after confirmed sightings of Asiatic lions moving into the area.
The forest department of Gujarat has inaugurated a dedicated command centre in Barda Wildlife Sanctuary following verified reports of Asiatic lions re‑establishing a presence in the region. The move comes after recent camera‑trap footage and field observations indicated that lions, traditionally confined to the Gir forest, are expanding their range into neighboring habitats.
The new command post will coordinate patrol teams, deploy tracking equipment, and serve as a hub for real‑time data collection on lion movements. Forest officials say the initiative aims to safeguard both the animals and local livestock, reducing the risk of human‑wildlife conflict.
Additional forest personnel have been assigned to the Barda zone, and community outreach programmes are being launched to educate villagers about safety measures and compensation mechanisms. The department expects the command centre to enhance monitoring capabilities and support long‑term conservation of the endangered lion population.
The establishment of the command reflects a broader strategy by the state to manage the gradual spread of lions beyond Gir, ensuring ecological balance while addressing the concerns of local communities.
The new command post will coordinate patrol teams, deploy tracking equipment, and serve as a hub for real‑time data collection on lion movements. Forest officials say the initiative aims to safeguard both the animals and local livestock, reducing the risk of human‑wildlife conflict.
Additional forest personnel have been assigned to the Barda zone, and community outreach programmes are being launched to educate villagers about safety measures and compensation mechanisms. The department expects the command centre to enhance monitoring capabilities and support long‑term conservation of the endangered lion population.
The establishment of the command reflects a broader strategy by the state to manage the gradual spread of lions beyond Gir, ensuring ecological balance while addressing the concerns of local communities.