Ahmedabad University Researcher Contributes to 16th Asiatic Lion Census

Forests in Saurashtra, Gujarat, are the only place in the world where the Asiatic Lion finds its last refuge. This makes the lion census not just a state exercise, but a globally significant conservation effort.

In the recently concluded 16th Asiatic Lion Population Census, Devvratsinh Mori, Field Coordinator at Ahmedabad University’s Ecology, Evolution, and Climate Change research cluster, served as the youngest member on the expert observer committee.

Stationed in the Liliya zone of Amreli district, where lion numbers were the highest (over 300), Devvratsinh helped identify lions, ensure data accuracy, and support forest staff with behavioural insights. His on-ground work strengthened the reliability of the census.

The census recorded a heartening rise: 891 lions, marking a 32% increase since 2020.

Recently, Devvratsinh was also part of a mission to document the Amur Falcon’s return migration from southern Africa to northeast Asia - a remarkable journey during which the 200-gram raptor crosses the Arabian Sea in a single nonstop flight.

Devvratsinh’s work reflects the wide reach and impact of India’s new generation of wildlife researchers.