The upcoming Poornima Avaloka, Gujarat’s official Asiatic lion census, scheduled for the second week of May 2025, will utilize a combination of traditional and modern methods. While the forest department will rely on the tried-and-tested beat count method for the final population estimate, they plan to incorporate technology for data collection and analysis. This census will cover an expanded area of 35,000 square kilometers, encompassing 13 administrative forest divisions across Saurashtra. The department will deploy 1,500-2,000 field personnel to collect detailed data, including individual identification marks, GPS locations, and digital imagery, which will be integrated into the e-gujforest system. The census methodology has evolved over time, with the current beat count method being praised for its cost-effectiveness and adaptability to new technologies. The 2025 census aims to build upon the success of the 2020 count, which revealed a significant increase in the lion population.