India's official count of Asiatic lions rose from 523 in 2015 to 891 in 2025, according to a release issued for World Lion Day.
The lions' range has also expanded. The release said it grew from around 30,000 square kilometers in 2020 to nearly 35,000 square kilometers currently.
India's Project Lion, announced in 2020, combines habitat improvement with disease monitoring, veterinary support, scientific population tracking, technology, and community involvement.
The government credited forest officials, conservationists, and local communities with helping protect the species and its habitat.
