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Gujarat CM Announces Barda Sanctuary Scheme to Relocate Maldharis

Source:theprint ↗

Why It Matters

Crucial for understanding wildlife conservation efforts, specifically the second home project for Asiatic Lions in Gujarat and human-wildlife management involving pastoralist communities like Maldharis.

Summary

The Gujarat government has announced a scheme to relocate Maldhari pastoralist communities from the Barda Sanctuary to establish it successfully as a second home for Asiatic lions. This move aims to expand the habitat range of the endangered Asiatic lion beyond Gir National Park, mitigate human-wildlife conflict, and ensure structured ecological rehabilitation.

Key Points

  • The Gujarat government has announced a comprehensive rehabilitation and relocation scheme for Maldharis living inside the Barda Sanctuary.
  • Barda Sanctuary is being developed as a second home for the endangered Asiatic Lions to reduce overcrowding and disease risks in Gir National Park.
  • The relocation package aims to ensure voluntary resettlement of pastoralist communities while securing safe wildlife corridors and habitat expansion for big cats.

Prelims Trap

Barda Sanctuary is situated in the Kutch region of Gujarat alongside the Greater Rann.

Aspirants often assume Barda Sanctuary is in Kutch or South Gujarat, but it is located in the Saurashtra region (Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts).

Static Concepts Connected

Gujarat Geography and Biodiversity

What are the key protected areas and wildlife sanctuaries associated with the Asiatic Lion in Gujarat?

  • Gir National Park: Gir National Park is the only natural wild home of the Asiatic lion globally, spanning Junagadh, Gir Somnath, and Amreli districts.
  • Barda Sanctuary: Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Porbandar and Devbhumi Dwarka districts, designated as the second home for Asiatic lions.
  • Satellite Habitats: Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary and Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary serve as important satellite habitats and dispersal corridors for the expanding lion population in Saurashtra.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Lion Relocation + Forest Rights Act Linkage

    Asiatic lion relocation mirrors Project Tiger's core strategy of establishing secondary habitats, requiring careful balancing of tribal/pastoralist rights under the Forest Rights Act with wildlife corridors.

  • Maldhari Pastoralists + Protected Area Rehabilitation

    Pastoralist relocation in Barda mirrors similar exercises in Gir and protected areas nationwide, testing rehabilitation packages against socio-economic realities of traditional forest dwellers.

Barda Sanctuary's role as a 2nd home for Gir lions + NTCA/WII guidelines will be tested in a multi-statement environment.

Linked PYQs · 2

Linked PYQs · 2

  • 2026GPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    The 'Great Indian Bustard (GIB)' (Ghorad) is frequently seen in the news in the context of wildlife conservation efforts in western India. Consider the following statements regarding this species: 1. Currently, the highest surviving wild population of the Great Indian Bustard in India is located in the semi-arid grasslands of Gujarat. 2. It is a long-distance migratory bird that travels from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent to escape harsh winters. Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?

  • 2022GPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Which garden of Gujarat has the trees and plants of rare species?