Watch: Lioness refuses to mate with male in 'heat' face-off
A rare video from Gujarat's Gir Forest shows a lioness standing her ground against a male lion who tried to approach her when she wasn't interested in mating.
The tense face-off, caught on camera and shared by Rajya Sabha member and wildlife enthusiast Parimal Nathwani, gives a glimpse into the wild side of Asiatic lions—something that usually happens out of sight.
Why Nathwani wants lion to be India's national animal
Asiatic lions are known for their dramatic displays during mating season, which help set pride dynamics.
Thanks to focused conservation, their numbers in Gujarat have jumped from 674 in 2020 to 891 in 2024.
Nathwani has also called for the Asiatic lion to become India's national animal, highlighting how Gir is their only natural home and why protecting them matters for India's wildlife future.