Data presented in the state assembly shows that 286 Asiatic lions, including 143 cubs, have perished in Gujarat in the past two years. 58 of these deaths were not natural. There were reports of 456 leopard and leopard cub deaths during that time. The mortality rate rose to 85 adult lions and 80 cubs in 2024 from 58 adult lions and 63 cubs in 2023. According to the government, 225 leopards, including 71 cubs, perished in 2023, while 231 leopards, including 69 cubs, perished in 2024. The total number of unnatural leopard deaths was 153. According to a wildlife expert, “because of cannibalism, there are typically more cub deaths than adult deaths among big cats. At about 40%, the cubs’ chances of surviving the first three years are extremely low. The fact that adult lion deaths rose by 46% in 2024 compared to 2023 is another worrying statistic.
In the past two years, 286 lions have died in Gujarat
