Asiatic lion

The Asiatic lion lives in the wild in only one place in the world: the state of Gujarat in western India, in and around Gir National Park. It is a subspecies of lion and is closely related to the lions of North and West Africa. It is classed as Endangered, listed on CITES Appendix I and legally protected in India.

Adult males reach about 120 cm at the shoulder and weigh around 160 kg. They have sandy to ruddy-tawny fur and a shorter, sparser mane than African lions, so their ears show. Both sexes have a long fold of skin along the belly and a larger tuft at the tail tip.

From many countries to one forest

Until the 19th century Asiatic lions ranged from Saudi Arabia, eastern Turkey, Iran and Mesopotamia through southern Pakistan to central India. Since the turn of the 20th century their range has shrunk to Gir National Park and the land around it. The first scientific description, in 1826, was based on a skin from Persia. In 2017 many scientists began treating it as the same subspecies as the Barbary lion of North Africa, though some still keep the name persica.

A comeback, with new challenges

Only 411 lions were counted in 2010. The number then rose to 523 in 2015, 650 in 2017 and 674 in 2023, and an estimate for 2025 was 891. About a third now live outside the protected area, and conflict between local residents and lions has grown.

Lion life in Gir

Male Asiatic lions are often solitary or form small coalitions of up to three, while females live in larger prides with the cubs. The sexes usually only meet briefly to mate. In Gir the lions are mostly active at night and defend territories. They prefer thick plants or shaded river areas in dry periods. They hunt large animals such as chital, sambar and nilgai, as well as livestock, and may scavenge or catch wild boar and mugger crocodiles near water.

On the globe

The model shows a lion with a short mane, as the card describes. Compare it to an African lion: you can see the ears.