Editing Lion (section)

===In Asia===
[[File:Lion Gir.jpg|thumb|A lioness in Gir National Park]]
The last refuge of the Asiatic lion population is the {{cvt|1412|km2}} Gir National Park and surrounding areas in the [[Saurashtra (region)|region of Saurashtra]] or [[Kathiawar Peninsula]] in Gujarat State, India. The population has risen from approximately 180 lions in 1974 to about 400 in 2010.<ref name="Singh, Gibson">{{Cite journal |last1=Singh | first1=H. S. |last2=Gibson |first2=L. |title=A conservation success story in the otherwise dire megafauna extinction crisis: The Asiatic lion (''Panthera leo persica'') of Gir forest |journal=Biological Conservation |volume=144 |issue=5 |pages=1753–1757 |year=2011 |doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2011.02.009| bibcode=2011BCons.144.1753S}}</ref> It is geographically isolated, which can lead to [[inbreeding]] and reduced [[genetic diversity]]. Since 2008, the Asiatic lion has been listed as [[Endangered]] on the [[IUCN Red List]].<ref name=Breitenmoser2008/> By 2015, the population had grown to 523 individuals inhabiting an area of {{cvt|7000|km2}} in Saurashtra.<ref name=Venkataraman2016>{{cite book |author=Venkataraman, M. |year=2016 |chapter=Wildlife and human impacts in the Gir landscape |title=Human Animal Conflict in Agro-Pastoral Context: Issues & Policies |editor1=Agrawal, P. K. |editor2=Verghese, A. |editor3=Krishna, S. R. |editor4=Subaharan, K. |publisher=Indian Council of Agricultural Research |location=New Delhi |pages=32−40}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Singh, A. P. |year=2017 |title=The Asiatic Lion (''Panthera leo persica''): 50 Years Journey for Conservation of an Endangered Carnivore and its Habitat in Gir Protected Area, Gujarat, India |journal=Indian Forester |volume=143 |issue=10 |pages=993–1003}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Singh, H. S. |year=2017 |title=Dispersion of the Asiatic lion ''Panthera leo persica'' and its survival in human-dominated landscape outside the Gir forest, Gujarat, India |journal=Current Science |volume=112 |issue=5 |pages=933–940 |doi=10.18520/cs/v112/i05/933-940 |doi-access=free}}</ref> In 2017, about 650 individuals were recorded during the Asiatic Lion Census.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lion population roars to 650 in Gujarat forests|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Lion-population-roars-to-650-in-Gujarat-forests/articleshow/59907625.cms|author=Kaushik, H.|newspaper=The Times of India|date=2017|access-date=9 August 2017|archive-date=8 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808193821/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/lion-population-roars-to-650-in-gujarat-forests/articleshow/59907625.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

The presence of numerous human settlements close to Gir National Park resulted in conflict between lions, local people and their livestock.<ref>{{cite journal |first1=V. K. |last1=Saberwal |first2=J. P. |last2=Gibbs |first3=R. |last3=Chellam |first4=A. J. T. |last4=Johnsingh |title=Lion-Human Conflict in the Gir Forest, India |date=1994 |doi=10.1046/j.1523-1739.1994.08020501.x |journal=Conservation Biology |issue=2 |volume=8 |pages=501–507|bibcode=1994ConBi...8..501S}}</ref><ref name=Venkataraman2016 /> Some consider the presence of lions a benefit, as they keep populations of crop damaging herbivores in check.<ref name=Meena2016>{{cite book |author=Meena, V. |year=2016 |chapter=Wildlife and human impacts in the Gir landscape |editor=Agrawal, P. K. |editor2=Verghese, A. |editor3=Radhakrishna, S. |editor4=Subaharan, K. |title=Human Animal Conflict in Agro-Pastoral Context: Issues & Policies |publisher=Indian Council of Agricultural Research |location=New Delhi}}</ref>