Gujarat Lions

Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan Gir) is a forest and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat, India. Founded in 1965, whose total area is 1,412 km (about 258 km fully protected area (National Park) and 1153 km Sanctuary, the park is located 65 km south east of Junagadh. Home is the only pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica), and is considered one of the most important protected areas in Asia, as maintained by a species. Gir ecosystem, its diverse flora and fauna have been protected by the efforts of the forestry department of government, environmental activists and NGOs. Gir Forest area and the lions had been informed of the “protected” in early 1900, the then Nawab of the princely state and Junagadh. This initiative will contribute to the conservation of the lions whose population had fallen to only 15 through slaughter for trophy hunting.

April 2010 and the census recorded the lion, Gir is the number 411, an increase of 1952 compared to 2005. Leo farmed, which covers the park and its surroundings grew by about 180 lions in captivity from the beginning.

Climatic conditions
Besides the two seasons of summer and winter, Gir has tropical monsoon one. It can get very hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 43 ° C twelve o’clock or 109 ° F and humid during the monsoon in June In winter the temperature drops to about 10 ° C or 50 ° F. The monsoon normally starts from mid-June and lasts until September, with annual rainfall between 600 mm and 1000 mm. But due to irregular monsoon and uneven distribution of precipitation on the peninsula, is from years of widespread drought.

Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan Gir) is a forest and Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat, India. Founded in 1965, whose total area is 1,412 km (about 258 km fully protected area (National Park) and 1153 km Sanctuary, the park is located 65 km south east of Junagadh. Home is the only pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica), and is considered one of the most important protected areas in Asia, as maintained by a species.

Gir ecosystem, its diverse flora and fauna have been protected by the efforts of the forestry department of government, environmental activists and NGOs. Gir Forest area and the lions had been informed of the “protected” in early 1900, the then Nawab of the princely state and Junagadh. This initiative will contribute to the conservation of the lions whose population had fallen to only 15 through slaughter for trophy hunting.

April 2010 and the census recorded the lion, Gir is the number 411, an increase of 1952 compared to 2005. Leo farmed, which covers the park and its surroundings grew by about 180 lions in captivity from the beginning.

Climatic conditions
Besides the two seasons of summer and winter, Gir has tropical monsoon one. It can get very hot in summer, with temperatures reaching 43 ° C twelve o’clock or 109 ° F and humid during the monsoon in June In winter the temperature drops to about 10 ° C or 50 ° F. The monsoon normally starts from mid-June and lasts until September, with annual rainfall between 600 mm and 1000 mm. But due to irregular monsoon and uneven distribution of precipitation on the peninsula, is from years of widespread drought.

Sasangir General Park

The Sasangir General Park land, popularly proverbial as the Gir National Stadium is one of the most famous wildlife destinations in Bharat. It is institution to the parting few Asiatic Lions in the experience. Set in the Junagdh regularize of Province, it is an distinguished piece of business in State. The tourist attractions in Sasangir permit the National Green, the historic townsfolk of Junagarh, the ancient tabernacle of Somnath, and the beaches of Ahmedpur mandwi and Chorwad. The shift packages for Sasangir Nationalistic Tract offering a difference of itineraries that warrant most of the holidaymaker attractions in Sasangir.

The major tourist attractions in Sasangir are being discussed in brief below.

King Of Sasangir

Sasangir National Park:
The last refuge of the Asiatic lion is the most famous tourist attraction in Sasangir. The park was brought under protection by the Nawab of Junagarh which initiated conservation efforts that followed. Lion safaris in the National Park are among the best experiences you’ll ever have in a jungle in India. The National Park has a wide range of wildlife on display that includes lions, panthers, caracal, hyena, wild cat, sambar, chital, chowsingha, wild boar, nilgai, langur, macaques, and chinkara. Safaris are conducted at dawn or dusk by jeep. The tracks are beautiful and offer breathtaking sights of the park’s scenery. Accommodation is available in some luxury resorts located nearby.

Kamleshwar Dam

Kamleshwar Dam:
As numerous as septet rivers run the expanse around Gir bema. These are the Hiran, Datardi, Shingoda, Raval, Godavari, Macchundri, and Saraswati. Out of these quaternity dams hold been constructed on the Hiran, Machhundri, Raval and Shingoda rivers. The Kamleshwar dam is built over the river Hiran, and is titled the life pipage of Gir. The lake beside the dam is try of the crocodile enculturation farm and is also visited by a monumental symbol of birds. It is settled in the middle of the sanctuary.

Nalsarovar Lake

Nalsarovar Lake:
This is one of the three reservoirs that adjoin the Sasangir wildlife sanctuary. The Nalsarovar Lake is famous for a large number of birds, including migratory species that arrive here from far off places. The major bird species spotted here include partridges, wood peckers, sand grouse, cuckoos, bush quail, paradise flycatcher, eagles, parrots, and flamingos.

Somnath Tempal

Somnath:
This is one of the most revered and ancient of the Hindu religious places of India. The temple of Somnath was among the richest temples of ancient India, but it was raided and sacked repeatedly by invading armies, notably so by the forces under Mahmud of Ghazni in 10th century AD. The temple is located about 46 kms form Sasangir and can also be reached from Junagdh.

Ahmedpur mandwi

Ahmedpur mandwi:
This is a fabulous beach set to the southerly of Gujarat. The island of Diu is rightful crosswise the indian and can be seen from the beach. The tenacious virgin beach is a wonderful recede, offering yummy matter in beach indorse shacks and an stunning wear of irrigate sports. The length from Gir is 140 kms.

Mahabat Maqbara:Junagadh

Junagadh:
Junagarh is the headquarters of the Junagadh district, and a historic town. The area was part of the former princely state of Junagadh. It has many tourist attractions including the Uperkot fort, Mahabat maqbara ( tomb), Darbar hall Museum, and the hill temples of Girnar. It is the base for tourists to Gir and Somnath. Junagarh is located about 65 kms from Sasangir.

The Sasan Gir Lion Sanctuary lies on the southwestern fringes of the Saurashtra Peninsula. The sanctuary is home to some 300 Asiatic lions. The sanctuary was created in 1913 to provide protection to the largest surviving groups of the Asiatic lions. It was given the status of the sanctuary in 1965. The vegetation of the sanctuary consists of teak and deciduous trees including Sal (Shorea), Dhak (Butea frondosa) and Thorn Forests. The forest has a rugged terrain with steep rocky hillsides. There are A few springs also, but their flow generally depend upon the season.

The Asiatic Lions had once become almost extinct specie. The number of Asiatic lions has been steadily on the rise since 1980 in the Gir Lion Sanctuary. The Asiatic Lion attracts a lot of visitors to the park every year. Sasan Gir is the only place in the world where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat outside the African continent. The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African counterpart. The lion Safaris are popular among tourists. Jeeps and minibuses are freely available for touring the forest. The best time of the day to observe lions in their natural surroundings is at dawn and dusk, when they are on the prowl. Though the Asiatic lion is an elusive creature, a morning safari has a good chance of spotting the beast.

The sanctuary provides natural habitat to other species like Chital, Chinkara (Gazelle), Four-Horned Antelope, Leopard, Nilgai, Spotted Deer, Wild Boar and Wild Ass. Monkeys, Parrots and peacock can also be seen around the forest. Adjacent to the Sihn Sadan Lodge is the Crocodile-Rearing and Research Center, where hatchlings are reared and then released into their natural habitat.
Around Sasan Gir Wildlife National Park

The Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary are also within the Gir Forest Area. You can spot birds like Back-Headed Cuckoo, Paradise Flycatcher, Pied Woodpecker and various species of Bush Quail, Eagles, Flamingo, Painted Sand Grouse, Partridge, Parrot and Peacock may be seen. There is a small temple, which is dedicated to Lord Krishna, located near the Tulsi Shyam Springs. is 64 km from Sasan Gir Forest Reserve. It is an important heritage sight.

Travel Tips

Tourists should not cause any damage floral and faunal life. The flora should not be plucked to take back home. You should not kindle any kind of fire; throw lit matches and cigarette buds. Do not throw or leave trash, litter and polyethylene bags in the forest. Firearms and chemicals should not be taken into the forests as they may cause harm to the wildlife and the vegetation. Never play radio and tape recorders as their frequency and voice might disturb, scare or irritate the animals.

The safaris require a permit before entering the safari area. The Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge Office issues the permits on the spot.
Climate

The Gir Forests are usually dry and arid. The greenery in the forests can be seen during the monsoon season. The summers, from April to June, are harsh with temperatures rising to 40°C. the winters, from December to February are cool and comfortable. The tourists need to carry light woolens during the summers and heavy woolens during the winters. Sasan Gir Wildlife National Park
How To Reach

The park is well connected by the road network from the nearest town of Veraval and Junagarh, which are at a distance of 32 km and 64 km respectively. Daily two steam trains run to Veraval and one to Junagarh from the rail junction at Sasan Gir, which is the nearest railway station at about 1 km from the park. The nearest airport is at Keshod, which at a distance of 86 km.

The Sinh Sadan Forest Lodge provides accommodation to the visitors to the park. Gujarat Tourism’s Lion Safari Lodge is close by to the river at about 200 meters from the Sinh Sadan. The lodge has well-maintained gardens and is equipped with modern facilities. There are a few reasonably priced hotels a little distance away from the forest reserve.

The STD/ISD services are available at the lodges of the forest reserves. The lodges may also provide with the postal services. Veraval is the nearest major post office where telegraph and fax facilities as well as medical facilities are available.

In 1907, Governor of Junagadh acknowledged Asiatic lions over shelter upon discovery only xiii of the large cats in the woods. Patch officially snug since that abstraction, they rest threatened with extinction. The Asiatic Celebrity is confidential as “critically endangered” by the Supranational Unionised for Improvement of Nature (IUCN).

Historically, these lions ranged as far painter as Assemblage, and into territories now famed as Persia, Pakistan, India, Empire, and Yemen. They are the lions of biblical honor.

Compared to their African cousins, Asiatic lions tally shaggier coats and longer tassels at the ends of their tails. They also bang a distinctive pen of injure that runs the size of their bellies.

The Gir Biome itself is a dry, broadleaf earth comprised of near 30% Tree trees. The area is plate to hundreds of species of birds and another animals, including leopards and Patterned Deer.

Sound here to study many near how the lions are threatened by open-pit wells without barricades around them…..

Water reserves:-

The heptad study continual rivers of the Gir part are Hiran, Shetrunji, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Godavari and Raval. The figure reservoirs of the expanse are at quaternary dams, one each on Hiran, Machhundri, Raval and Shingoda rivers, including the greatest pool in the atlantic, the Kamleshwar Dam, dubbed ‘the line of Gir’.
During limitation summer, aboveground installation for undomesticated animals is procurable at almost 300 h2o points. When drought hits the region stalking a short downfall, surface wet is not lendable at a eld of these points, and installation inadequacy becomes a sobering problem (mainly in the eastern piece of the sanctuary). Ensuring the availability of water during spot season is one of the stellar tasks of the Forest Department body.

Flora:-
Writer than 400 plant species were recorded in the summary of Gir ground by Samtapau & Raizada in 1955. The Phytology department of M.S. University of Baroda has revised the ascertain to 507 during their canvas. According to the 1964 ground write arrangement by Protector & Sheth, the Gir vegetation water under “5A/C-1a-very dry wood earth” sorting. Tree occurs integrated with dry deciduous species.

The abjection stages (DS) sub-types are thusly derivative as:
1) 5/DS1-Dry deciduous cleanup flora and
2) 5/DS1-Dry port forests (Locally proverbial as “vidis”).
It is the maximal dry broadleaf forest in feature India.

Wood comportment areas are mainly in the oriental percentage of the vegetation, which constitutes nearly half of the tally extent.
The timberland is an consequential begotten research atlantic with goodly technological, educational, enhancive and recreational values. It provides nearly 5 million kilograms of site dope by reference gathering, which is valued some at Rs. 50 crores (Rs. 500,000,000) (US$ 10 cardinal). The woods provides nearly 15,000 unit scores worth of gas actress annually.

There is good news for the country: the Asiatic lion population has increased. Chief Minister Narendra Modi announced this in Gandhinagar on Sunday. Compared to the last count in 2005, there has been an increase of 52, taking the total to 411 this year.

What’s more: lions can now be found outside the Gir National Park and Sanctuary area, in the four districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Porbandar and Junagadh. This is what is now called the Bruhud (greater) Gir region. The Census has also found 77 cubs in the Gir National Park and Sanctuary, 46 sub-adult lions (23 males and as many females), 29 unidentified lions, 162 adult females and 97 adult males. Moreover, there has been a 40 per cent increase in the sub-adult population. The lioness and cub ratio is 1:2, which has always been the other way round, said Forest officials.
Savarkundla, Liliya and the adjoining areas of Amreli and Bhavnagar districts have 43 lions between them; the coastal areas of Una, Kodinar, Sutrapada and Chhara have 21 big cats. Altogether, there are 76 lions—21 females and 26 males—in the greater Gir region.

Modi said: “The lion population has increased due to public participation. In1968, there were only 177 big cats. The Census methodology followed by the forest staff should be institutionalized, as it had a scientific approach. This can help Forest departments in other states as well. After several poaching cases were recorded, certain initiatives were taken to safeguard the lions such as raising the walls of the wells. Last year, only one cub died after it fell into a well.

Answer is Just 359 Lions left. The answer is not only for Gujarat, but also for India and Asia. GIR Forest is the only place where Asiatic Lions are found. So, whether question is of Gujarat, India or Asia, answer remains 359.

The first census of Lions was carried out by Nawab of Junagadh which shows that only 13 Lions were alive at the time of 1907. Although many highly doubt over the figure as British Census revealed the population of Lions as 234 in 1934. Most of experts believe that Nawab of Junagadh intentionally published the wrong the details to stop the hunting and poaching of extincting lions. Lions became extinct in Turkey by the arrival of 18th Century. No lions were seen in Iraq and Iran since 1918 and 1941

Before three hundered years ago, voice of lions were being heard by residents of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. But 1900 only few spices were alive of Lions and that too limited to GIR forest of Gujarat. The census in 1950 found that only 100 Lions are alive.

The decreasing population of lions can be labeled to lot of reasons. Most important reasons include hunting and poaching, while increasing natural or accidental death have also risen the tensions. Nearly 400 open wells are present in the GIR forest which kill several lions each year. Planning is to cover the wells so that death occurring due to such incident can be stopped.

The reason for alive lions in the GIR can be credited to the local people popularly called Maldharis. Being Vegetarian in nature, this Maldharis have always protected the Lions in their region even though many times Lions kill their cattle also.

Next Census of Lions will begin from 22nd of April in the Gir Forest National Park by the Forest Department of Gujarat. Officials estimates that the population of lions could now be more than 400 but final result will be very soon.

The forest officials of Gujarat are all set to conduct a comprehensive and methodological lion census at the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajkot, Gujarat.

The Asiatic Lions, listed Critically Endangered by the UN are only left in the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajkot. Since the 1908, population of lions has keep increasing at the steady rate. What was 13 in 1908 is now around 359 as per census of 2004 of Govt. of India.

The census of 2010 will differ a lot from earlier census because of new methodology and analysis used. Not only that, a more sophisticated team of experts will count the only Asiatic Lions. A team comprising of 1600 people, including that of forest officials, state officers, zonal officers, and volunteers, will conduct the census at the national park of GIR from April 23 to 27 of 2010.

Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Divisional Forest Officer Sandeep Kumar said, the preparations for the census are on for the last nine months and the lions are being closely monitored in their natural habitat. He further stated that we might see increase in the count of Lions from the previous one. It has always increased since we started and span of 6-7 years will increase the population to further. The results will be declared on 1st May, 2010 at the Sardar Patel Stadium of Ahmedabad on the day when Gujarat will be celebrating 60 Years of foundation.

The census will include the use of scientific tools of mapping like the Geographical Information System (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS) to come to more accurate figures. Kumar said “We are using the GIS this time extensively for our preparation purposes. We are also using the Global Positioning System (GPS) to know their exact location”.

The officials also plan to take photographs of all the lions, lionesses and cubs found, so that they can have photographical evidence and records of the species.