From Forest to Shore: Tracing the Asiatic Lion’s Journey into Mangrove Habitats
Asiatic lions Panthera leo leo listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List, are a critically important population confined mainly to the Gir forest in India. Our study documents the first recorded evidence of Asiatic lions utilizing mangrove habitats in the coastal areas of Gujarat, India. The study was conducted over January to June in 2024, involved sign surveys and camera trapping near mangrove habitat on the coastal areas. The study confirmed lion activity in the mangroves, capturing images and videos of four individual lions. Coastal habitats in India have increasingly been utilized by lions mainly due to a rise in their population. Coastal ecosystems offer alternative refuges, and also pose new challenges, including changes in prey availability and habitat structure. The findings suggest that coastal mangroves could serve as an important, though non-traditional, lion habitat. The study highlights the need for further research on how lions are adapted to this ecosystem by changing their behaviour, food and feeding habits.