Asiatic lion

The Asiatic lion is a lion that belongs to the subspecies Panthera leo leo. The surviving population of these lions is restricted to the Indian state of Gujarat. It is classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List, is included on CITES Appendix I, and is legally protected in India.

Phylogeographic analysis reveal that the Asiatic lion is genetically closely related to the North and West African lions. The adult males measure up to 120 cm (47 in) in shoulder height and weigh about 160 kg (350 lb), making them slightly smaller than large African lions but similar to Central African populations. The Asiatic lion has a ruddy-tawny to sandy grey fur, a distinctive longitudinal skin fold along its belly, and a larger tail tuft. The males are distinguishable from the females by the presence of manes, though they are shorter and sparser than the African counterparts. It also differs from the African lion in skull structure, having a stronger sagittal crest, shorter post-orbital area, and often divided infraorbital foramina.

The first scientific description of the Asiatic lion published in 1826 was based on a specimen from Persia. Until the 19th century, it ranged from Saudi Arabia, eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia and southern Pakistan to Central India. Since the turn of the 20th century, its range has been restricted to the Gir National Park and its surrounding areas in Western India. The Indian population, which numbered only 411 individuals in 2010, has steadily increased since then. In 2015, the lion population was estimated at 523 individuals, which increased to 650 in 2017 and 674 by 2023. As of 2025, there was an estimated 891 lions in the wild. Since the mid-1990s, due to increase in the Asiatic lion population, about a third resided outside the protected area, and the conflict between local residents and the lions have increased.

Male Asiatic lions are often solitary or form small coalitions of up to three, while females live in larger prides with the cubs. Males and females usually only associate briefly during mating. In the Gir National Park, they are mainly nocturnal and defend territories, whose size varies. They prefer dense vegetation or shaded riverine habitats in dry periods. They prefer large prey and commonly hunt chital, sambar, nilgai, and other livestock, and may also scavenge or prey on species such as wild boar and mugger crocodiles near water sources.