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population in the secondary take immense pride in coexisting
habitat at Barda Wildlife with the lions. Programs like
Sanctuary. Finally, mitigating the Vanya Prani Mitra (over
a major threat, approximately 400 local wildlife volunteers)
50,000 open wells in wildlife provide vital frontline support in
corridors have been secured conflict resolution, rescue and
with parapet walls. awareness. Eco-guides foster
The accuracy of the 2025 tourist awareness and generate
population figure (891) stems local income.
from a meticulously conducted The Gir Samvad Setu
census using the Direct Beat initiative builds trust by resolving
Verification Method across a community issues locally. Nature
vast 35,000 Sq. km. area. The Education Camps sensitise
landscape was divided into youth, while the massive
8 regions, 32 zones, 112 sub- participation in World Lion Day
zones and 735 sampling units, (reaching 18.89 lakh people in
each surveyed by a trained 2024) demonstrates profound
team equipped with GPS, community mobilisation.
cameras and communication Incorporating traditional
gear. Crucially, GPS-enabled ecological knowledge further
tracking and GIS spatial analysis, enriches conservation planning.
involving buffer zones around The inclusion of women
sightings, rigorously eliminated forest officers since 2007 has
duplicate counts. Transparency significantly strengthened
was ensured by involving efforts, enhancing community
independent observers, wildlife engagement (especially with
experts and NGO volunteers, rural women), contributing
with over 3254 personnel directly to wildlife monitoring
participating in this massive, and rescue, leading education
scientifically robust exercise. outreach and bolstering law
First time the village Sarpanchs enforcement patrols.
and other local leaders of Despite this success,
surrounding villages of Gir forests challenges persist for long-
were involved in this exercise. term sustainability, including
Community participation is the changing land use, forest
bedrock of Gir’s success. Locals fires, invasive weeds, human-

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