Lions were once found throughout Asia, from Iran to the Indian subcontinent. Today, the only surviving lion population outside of Africa are the Asiatic lions exclusively found in the Gir forest of Gujarat, India. According to the latest estimates, there are approximately 600 Asiatic lions remaining in the wild in Gir. At our Online Talk #SinghIsKing, wildlife biologist Dr Meena Venkatraman talks in-depth about the Asiatic lion, including the unique social structures within lion prides, the cultural significance of lions, the rich history of lion conservation efforts, and the contemporary challenges threatening their survival in the wild.

About the speaker:

Dr Meena Venkatraman is a wildlife biologist with a 20-year career in studying nature. She has studied the community ecology of small mammals, the range and distribution of Nilgiri tahr, and the phenomenon of musth in elephants. She has dedicated five years to observing lions and studying their social behaviour. Her work has provided invaluable insights previously undocumented in Asiatic lions. Along with academic research, she focuses on environmental education and conservation management. She is actively involved with international conservation organisations, contributing to conservation planning and policy. She has been featured in various print and audio-visual media, including popular documentaries. She has also published extensively, contributing to both popular science articles and research articles.