India had declared the lion as its national animal.

On 9 July 1969, India declared the Asiatic lion as its National Animal.

The Asiatic lion held this status until 1972.

On 18 November 1972, the Royal Bengal Tiger was selected to replace the lion as India's national animal.

It was chosen over the Asiatic lion due to the wider presence of the tiger across India.

Project Tiger was launched on 1 April 1973 to strengthen the conservation of the species.