TIL: Wild Lions Live in India | Today I Learned

When thinking about lions, you might picture an African safari, but did you know that lions also live in India?

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The Asiatic lion, a subspecies that split from African lions around 100,000 years ago, once prowled across Asia and the Middle East. Sadly, the lions were hunted nearly to extinction, with as few as ten individuals left in existence by the late 1800s.

Today in Gujarat, India, the tiny population of wild Asiatic lions has found refuge in Gir National Park. With the help of conservation groups and local communities, the population has grown to around 500 individuals.

Come join National Geographic explorer Uri Golman in this week’s Today I Learned to find out more about these resilient animals.

Over the next four years, Uri Golman and his partner Helle Olsen will undertake twenty separate expeditions on all seven continents to document some of the last wild places on the planet.

SERIES PRODUCER: Christopher Mattle
PRODUCER/EDITOR: Laurence Alexander
ASSOCIATE PRODUCER: Elaina Kimes

TIL: Wild Lions Live in India | Today I Learned

National Geographic

[nikhilmish]

there were only 13 left ... now population is grown to 500...take a bow gir forest officials

[lochamoezung]

Famous Gir National Park ❣️👌🏾. Big love from Nagaland

[EdwardPlantagenet]

There is enough space in India for lions.
India will eventually reintroduce lions in MP & Rajasthan for sure because it has wide open grasslands fit for lions.

[mandiemoore]

I totally feel stupid because I've told people for years lions and tigers dont even live on the same continent.

[rohanchoudhury]

Today in 2022, it's 650+ and Gir Forest can't withstand anymore lions in its periphery
Indian Govt & Gujarat state govt need to take urgent decisions in translocation of few 100 lions to other states of India

[rightwing]

India has plan to shift some of lions to Kuno national park, Madhya Pradesh Where we found last traces of Asiatic lion lived in India outside Gir

[naandhankadavul]

When Africa
hunting their lion. For trophy and money.
India started to preserve it and trying to increase its population.
Great.

[nikhilsrivastava]

I have fantastic update, as per the reports of 2022 now there are more than 760+ lions in Gir forest (1200 as per unofficial reports). Also new sanctuary has been proposed 100 km away from Gir to accommodate the increasing lion population.

[jashuamuniandy]

Stop scrolling and watch the damn video !

[mehulkumar]

Don't show wrong map of India. Entire Kashmir is an integral part of India

[JurassicLion]

The North African Lions and west African lions have recently been shown to genetically be the same as the Asiatic lions that once were widespread across Asia and Southern Europe. This means “Asiatic lions” varied in size as Barbary lions (the lions that inhabited the Atlas mountians in countries such as Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Libya) were historically noted as being quite large and maybe even the largest lions.

[mehulrathod]

Had an experience with a Male and a female lion in gir national park in Feb 2020 will never forget that memory!
I was scared to death because the male lion was giving us a death stare while we were in Jeep!

[notrapcap]

There was 3-4 adult lions and few cubs spotted in Delhi India today (2020 may 7) since India had been on mandatory lock down quarantine for 21 days a lot of rare animals had come out of hiding because they realized there was no human threat anymore... that’s why the Clan of Lions and Lionesses where spotted walking through the villages with cubs in peace!!

[DrunkenManic]

I remember I read part of the trouble about relocating the lions is that tigers often kill them unless they're moved as a group.

[SEGA]

Asiatic lions used to be the largest lion specie but because of poaching and hunting of lions prey the weight decreased.
Before asian lion was 306 kg
Same with siberian tiger
Before siberian tiger 400kg

[Dev_]

today I learned nothing, because i already knew it..

[veloro]

We ought to re-introduce lions in southern Europe.

[Nate_Luke]

Is there a plan to introduce the asiatic lion in other parts of India or some of their historic range?

[coreyriccardi]

Ok so someone help me out if you know the answer, I've been so curious about these lions since I first found out about their existence. I've wondered though, does anyone know if there are tigers in the forest as well??? If so then how does that interaction turn out with an actual encounter between these 2 wonderful predators in the wild!!! Granted the tiger is much bigger in this situation it would still be so cool to witness

[dipanshurathore]

These lions are pride and honour of gujrat