The Gujarat Forest Department will install four prefabricated watch towers, deploy drones, and station round-the-clock tracking teams at Shatrunjaya Hill in Palitana, Bhavnagar district, to monitor Asiatic lion movement and protect the thousands of pilgrims who ascend the prominent Jain pilgrimage site on foot. The announcement was made on Tuesday, 18 August by Forest and Environment Minister Arjun Modhwadia following a high-level meeting in Gandhinagar.

What Was Decided at the Meeting

The meeting, chaired by Modhwadia and attended by Minister of State Pravin Mali, brought together senior Forest Department officials and representatives of Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi, the trust that manages the Shatrunjaya pilgrimage. The discussions covered a wide range of safety and conservation measures, including drone surveillance, lion tracking and scanning, prefabricated watch towers and centre-cum-cabins with stairs, infrastructure repair along the pilgrimage route, public awareness campaigns, and the possibility of declaring the area a 'Silent Zone'.

The department also discussed engaging local youth on a temporary basis for lion-tracking duties and pilgrim safety support — a measure aimed at building community participation while creating short-term employment.

What the Minister Said

'The Forest Department has closely observed and analysed the movement of lions in the area over the past year,' Modhwadia said. He noted that lions generally do not attack humans unless provoked, but can do so if disturbed or harassed. Accordingly, he advised pilgrims to begin their ascent after sunrise and complete their visit before sunset to minimise the risk of encounters in low-light conditions.

Modhwadia also referenced the Forest Department's arrangements during the last Fagan Feri at Shatrunjaya Hill, which he said members of the Jain community had appreciated. He directed officials to operationalise the proposed infrastructure and safety measures in the coming period.

Background: Lions at Shatrunjaya Hill

The measures follow a pattern of increasing Asiatic lion sightings on and around Shatrunjaya Hill in recent months, including a documented sighting on the hill itself in June. Shatrunjaya Hill, home to hundreds of Jain temples and a major pilgrimage destination in Gujarat, sees large numbers of devotees — many of whom make the steep climb on foot — making wildlife encounters a significant safety concern.

Notably, this is not the first time the Forest Department has coordinated with the Jain trust on wildlife safety at the site. Representatives of Shri Anandji Kalyanji Pedhi said the organisation has consistently had a positive experience working with the department and has regularly appealed to pilgrims to conduct their pilgrimage in a disciplined and peaceful manner and avoid distracting wildlife. 'Forest Department officers and personnel had always been available to assist when required,' they said.

What Comes Next

The Forest Department has been directed to put the proposed arrangements in place within a defined period, though a specific deadline was not publicly stated. The government is also actively considering a Silent Zone designation for the area, which would impose restrictions on noise and activity that could disturb wildlife. A project management consultancy component was also discussed, suggesting a structured rollout is being planned rather than ad hoc deployment.

With Asiatic lions steadily expanding their range beyond the Gir forest into surrounding districts including Bhavnagar, the Palitana initiative may serve as a model for managing human-wildlife coexistence at other sensitive sites across Gujarat.