World Lion Day was marked on 10 August 2026 to raise awareness about lion conservation and threats such as habitat loss, poaching and human-wildlife conflict. As apex predators, lions keep prey numbers in check and maintain ecosystem balance. India hosts the world's only remaining wild Asiatic lions, found mainly in Gujarat's Gir landscape. Project Lion, launched in 2020, works on habitat management, population monitoring, research and conflict reduction. Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat is being developed as an additional habitat so that the entire population is not concentrated in a single landscape.