Gir National Park

o Area: 1,412 km² (545 sq mi)

o Location: Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Amreli Districts, Gujar
at, India
o Established: 1965
o Nearest city: Talala (Gir), Veraval
 LOCATION- . Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir,
is a forest and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India.
 LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE-It is located 43 km (27 mi) north-east of
Somnath, 65 km (40 mi) south-east of Junagadh and 60 km (37 mi) south-west of
Amreli.

What is Gir National Park famous for?

Gir National Park is famous for its majestic Asiatic lions and is the only place, where you can
find them in wild.

What is the habitat of the Gir National Park?

Animals : The entire forest area of the Gir National Park is dry and deciduous which provides
best habitat for Asiatic Lions. As per the new statics of 2015, the entire Saurashtra
Region is inhabited by 523 Lions and more than 300 Leopards. Apart from these two animals
the park is a home to two different species of Deer.

How many lions are in Gir National Park?

In the recent times, Gir is home to nearly 300 lions. The Gir National Park is an expansive
forested belt with its topography consisting in evergreen and semi-evergreen flora, scrub
jungle, Acacia grasslands, rocky hills, isolated hills, valleys, plateaus marshlands

History

In the 19th century, the rulers of Indian princely states used to invite the British colonists for
hunting expeditions. At the end of the 19th century, only about a dozen Asiatic lions were left
in India, all of them in the Gir Forest, which was part of the Nawab of Junagarh's private
hunting grounds. British viceroys brought the drastic decline of the lion population in Gir to
the attention of the Nawab of Junagadh, who established the sanctuary. Today, it is the only
area in Asia where Asiatic lions occur and is considered one of the most important protected
areas in Asia because of its biodiversity. The Gir ecosystem with its
diverse flora and fauna is protected as a result of the efforts of the government forest
department, wildlife activists and NGOs. It is now considered the jewel of Gujarat's ecological
resources.
us,
 Major Attractions At Sasan Gir

Animals :The entire forest area of the Gir National Park is dry and deciduous which
provides best habitat for Asiatic Lions. As per the new statics of 2015, the entire
Saurashtra Region is inhabited by 523 Lions and more than 300 Leopards. Apart
from these two animals the park is a home to two different species of Deer. The
Sambar is counted largest Indian Deer. The Gir forest is also known for the
Chowsingha – the world’s only four horned antelope. The Jackal, striped Hyena and
India Fox are some of the smaller carnivores found in Gir Forest.
Birds : The exotic flora of Gir National Park gives shelter to more than 200 species
of birds and moreover the sanctuary has been declared an important bird area by the
Indian Bird Conservation Network. Gir is also habitat of raptors like critically
endangered white-backed and long-billed vultures.
Reptiles :Sasan Gir is blessed with more than 40 species of reptiles and
amphibians. Kamleshwar – a large reservoir in the sanctuary is the best spot where
Marsh Crocodile can be seen in large numbers. Park has even many species of
snake including King Kobra, the Russell’s viper, Saw-scaled viper and the Krait.
Gir Interpretation Zone, Devaliya : Devaliya Safari Park is enclosed area of the
Sanctuary that offers a good opportunity for visitors to experience a rustic beauty and
wilderness of the area. The safari tour is conducted in a mini bus that takes visitors to
another cross section of the Gir. Travellers can watch here a good variety of wildlife
in just 20 to 30 minutes tour including Asiatic Lion.
 FLORA IN GIR NATIONAL PARK
Flora in Gir National Park consists of a mixed deciduous forest interspersed with
semi-evergreen and evergreen trees, scrub jungle, large patches of grasslands
and rocky hills. It is the largest dry deciduous forest in Western India. The forest
remains dry for most part of the year with scrub trees like babul and a few
flowering trees. The trees on the hills are sparse and short.
You will find a distinct belt of vegetation along the main rivers and streams. The
trees you can see in the deciduous forest are Teak, flame of the forest, Acacia,
Banyan, Zizyphas, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak. The Teak bearing areas constitute
nearly half of the total vegetation area.
The flora in Gir comprises of various species of plants like the Jambu, Karanj,
Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli. These broad-leaved trees provide a
cool shade and moisture content to the region. As part of the afforestation plan,
Prosopis and Casuarina have been planted in the coastal borders of Gir.
The flora in Gir is also significant since the forest of Gir is an important biological
research area with several scientific, educational, aesthetic and recreational
values
Asiatic lion habitat, distribution and population[edit]

The Asiatic lion's habitat is dry scrub land and open deciduous forest. The lion population
increased from 411 individuals in 2010 to 523 in 2015, and all of them live in or around Gir
National Park.
In 1900 it was estimated that the population was as low as 100, and the Asiatic lion was declared
a protected species. A census in 1936 recorded 289 animals. The first modern day count of lions
was done by Mark Alexander Wynter-Blyth, the principal of Rajkumar College, Rajkot and R.S.
Dharmakumarsinhji sometime between 1948 and 1963;[citation needed] and a further survey, in 1968,
recorded that since 1936 numbers had fallen to 162.[9]
Even though the Gir Forest is well protected, there are instances of Asiatic lions being poached.
They have also been poisoned in retaliation for attacking livestock. Some of the other threats
include floods, fires and the possibility of epidemics and natural calamities. Gir nonetheless
remains the most promising long term preserve for them.[citation needed]
During a prolonged drought from 1899 to 1901, lions attacked livestock and people beyond the
Gir Forest. After 1904, the rulers of Junagadh compensated livestock losses. Today, the lions in
Gir National Park rarely attack people.[
CLIMATE IN GIR NATIONAL PARK
Gir National Park in Gujarat remains open throughout the year, but should be
ideally visited between late-November and early-March. During this period the
weather remains cool and dry. The climate in Gir varies round the year. Besides
summer and winter, Gir enjoys a tropical monsoon climate. The temperature
plummets to about 10°C in winter and rises to a scorching 43°C in summer. The
normal monsoon starts from mid-June and lasts till September, and bulk of
precipitation is received during July and August.
Climate in Gir remains soothing round the year for you to have a comfortable
visit to the Gir National Park in Sasangir, Gujarat. The pleasant and salubrious
climate in Gir helps you to witness the large number of animals and birds at Gir
National Park in Sasangir, Gujarat with convenience. 
 Month Best Time Climate Min. Temp (°C) Max. Temp (°C)

January 10 21

February 15 22

March 18 24

April 22 27

May 25 32

June 26 43

July   26 32

August   25 29

September   24 30

October 22 33

November 19 26

December 16 23
BEST TIME TO VISIT GIR NATIONAL PARK
The sole shelter of Asiatic Lions in the world and not just India, The famous Gir
National Park of Gujarat is a thrilling wildlife adventure spot. Stretching across
an area of about 1412 sq.km, the park falls within the Junagadh district and
within Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The Lion sanctuary and reserve of Gir is
closed from 16th June to 15th October every year. The best time to visit Gir
comes between the months of December to March. Though, April and May are
very hot but considered as the best months for wildlife viewing and photography.

     

Seasons Months Temperature

Summers March to May 30°C - 45°C

Monsoon June to Oct 25°C - 30°C

Winter Nov to Feb 08°C - 15°C

      

Seasons Months Temperature

GIR NATIONAL PARK HAPPENINGS

(1)October 2005 - 9 lions have died mysteriously apparently killed. The intense
monsoons in Gir this year has lead to unrestrained growth of treeswhich have
now started spreading into the savannahs thereby reducing the area of the open
grasslands which the big cats like.
(2)2005 - To accommodate the growing lion population the state government is
proposing a Greater Gir project which plans to bring forests around Gir, and into
which the lions have already started dispersing - like Mitiyana, Jesar, Hipavali,
and Paniya, into the fold of Greater Gir thereby giving these areas official
'protected' status. Work for creating the necessary infrastructure, including
construction of check dams and water holes has started
(3)July 2005 - One of the victims of the Gujarat floods was a lion which was
washed up near Droneshwar dam.
(4)January 2005 - The residents of Virpur village in Amreli district were rudely
awakened in the night when seven Asiatic lions raided their cattle - morning
revealed the remains of 35 goats, 4 wild pigs, and an ox. While the residents were
used to one or two lions straying into the village every week, this was an army
which left them shaken.
(5) January 26, 2001 - Gujarat was struck by a severe earthquake which
Measured 7.9 on the Richter scale. While humans had no inkling of the disater
which was going to strike, the animals in Gir were forewarned of the tremor. The
animals started behaving unusually from the night of January 25 and continued
till the quake struck. The lions, leopards, cheetal and other deer species started
crying loudly and running helter-skelter. The roar of the lions was deafening and
they ran with their tails up and erect. Snakes were seen coming out of the holes
and climbing trees.
(6) A large number of villages in and around the Gir Protected Area (GPA) that
includes the Gir National Park and Sanctauary are using LPG for cooking
purposes. This has led to a fall in collection of firewood. The introduction of LPG
in the region was taken up under the World Bank - Global Environment Facility
(GEF) Gir Eco-Development Project in 1999.

FAUNA IN GIR NATIONAL PARK

Gir National Park is a popular wildlife reserve in Sasangir, Gujarat. Fauna in Gir
National Park forms a major part of wildlife in Gujarat.  It is a beautiful park
dotted with an abundance of flora, fauna and avifauna alluring a lot of travelers
from India as well as from abroad. Sprawling over an area of 1412 sq km, Gir
National Park is one of the most attractive National Parks in India.
If you are a wildlife enthusiast, than there is no better place than this National
Park. Fauna in Gir National Park are numerous and diverse. Gir provides shelter
to a large number of fauna and avifauna species The park is home to a number of
species of lions and leopards making it one of the major big-cat hubs in India. Gir
National Park is the last and only home of the gravely endangered Asiatic Lions.
There is also a large population of marsh crocodile or mugger in Gir. The large
water bodies at the park like the Kamleshwar Dam houses several crocodiles and
birds.
There are roughly 2375 fauna species, out of which there are 38 species of
mammals, 37 species of reptiles, 2000 species of insects and 300 species of
avifauna.
Mammals

Asiatic Lions, Indian Cobras, hyenas and Indian leopards form the prime
attractions of the park. Other than this you may also spot rarely seen species like
Indian mongoose, Indian palm civets, ratels, desert cats, golden jackals, jungle
cats, sambar, chital, four-horned antelope, chinkara, wild boar, blackbucks,
porcupine and pangolin. 

Reptiles 
Gir National Park has a wide variety of reptiles including monitor lizard, marsh
crocodile, hare tortoise, snakes and pythons.
Avifauna
The national park houses several species of avifauna including brown fish owl,
Indian eagle owl, pygmy woodpecker, vultures, crested serpent eagle, Bonelli's
eagle, crested hawk-eagle, brown fish owl, rock bush-quail, crested treeswift,
Indian pitta and black-headed oriole.

ASIATIC LIONS IN GIR NATIONAL PARK

It was at the end of the 18th century when worried over the dwindling population
of lions, Lord Curzon declined an invitation to hunt and requested the Nawab to
take steps to conserve the species. The Gir lion population had been reduced to a
very low number by the early years of the 20th century : fewer than 20 according
to the Chief Forester of Junagadh. However the neighboring ruler, the Jam Saheb
of Nawanagar, felt that the ruler of Junagadh was giving low numbers in order to
dissuade hunters and that there were about 100 lions.
In the post-Independence years, conservationists such as Dharmakumarsinhji of
Bhavnagar, and Dr.Salim Ali urged the then Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru to
save the lion. The result was that in 1965 Gir was formally declared a Sanctuary
and in 1974 was declared a National Park.
Lions at Gir National Park
The Gir forest is an isolated patch of natural vegetation in the Saurashtra
peninsula. It covered more than 3,000 square kilometers, as measured by the
Great Trigonometrical Survey of 1877. Today, the remaining forest barely covers
1,500 square kilometers. Even though the lion population has increased in the
last few decades the fact that their natural habitat is restricted and hemmed in
by human settlements on all sides is a major limiting factor to its potential for
growth. The establishment of a second free-ranging population is imperative for
enhancing the long-term prospects of the Asiatic lion.

Ecological problems[edit]
Gir National Park and Sanctuary faces a number of threats to its ecosystem.
Natural threats include recurrent drought, cyclones, and forest fires.
[11]
 Anthropogenic threats include over-grazing, [12] encroachment, excessive
traffic and resultant weed infestation. [11][13] Tourism contributes to this
environmental degradation, as does the mining carried out in the peripherals
zone. Pollution results from the railway lines that run through the peripheral
zone.[11] And the narrow genetic base in the large mammals is of growing
concern.[
The lion breeding programme and lion-countingEdit
Ye Cou Male:Female:
ar nt Cubs

19 177 -
68

19 180 -
74

19 261 76:100:100
79

19 252 88:100:64
84

19 249 82:100:67
90

19 265 94:100:71
95

20 327 99:115:76
00

20 359 -
05

20 411 97:162:152
10

20 523 109:201:213
15
674 277:260:137
20
20
The Lion Breeding Programme creates and maintains breeding centres. It also carries
out studies of the behaviour of the Asiatic lions and also practices artificial
insemination. One such centre has been established in the Sakkarbaug Zoo at the
district headquarters of Junagadh, which has successfully bred about 180 lions. 126
pure Asiatic lions have been given to zoos in India and abroad.
The census of lions takes place every five years. Previously indirect methods like
using pugmarks of the lion were adopted for the count. However, during the census of
April 2005 (which originally was scheduled for 2006, but was advanced following the
reports and controversy over vanishing tigers in India), "Block-Direct-Total Count"
method was employed with the help of around 1,000 forest officials, experts and
volunteers. It means that only those lions were counted that were "spotted" visually.
Use of "live bait" (a prey that is alive and used as a bait) for the exercise, though
thought to be a traditional practice, was not used this time. The reason believed to be
behind this is the Gujarat High Court ruling of 2000 against such a use of animals.
During the 2010 census 'The Cat Women of Gir Forest' counted more than 411 lions
in the park, and 523 in 2015. The women who do the counting are of traditional
Muslim tribes in neighboring villages. There are over 40 women van raksha sahayaks,
who seek only to protect the animals of the park. These women have worked hard to
win cooperation not just from local villagers but also from maaldharis, the semi-
nomadic tribal herdsmen who live in the sanctuary. While tourist numbers are
increasing people do not seem to understand the phenomena taking place. The lions
are almost tame in the presence of these female guards.

Gir Interpretation Zone, DevaliaEdit

Gir forest lion marking the territory by urine

Gir National Park and Sanctuary does not have a designated area for tourists.
However, to reduce the tourism hazard to the wildlife and to promote nature
education, an Interpretation Zone has been created at Devalia within the sanctuary.
Within its chained fences, it covers all habitat types and wildlife of Gir with its
feeding-cum-living cages for the carnivores and a double-gate entry system.

Two very good news:

Population of the majestic Asiatic Lion, living in Gujarat’s Gir Forest, is up by almost
29%.
Geographically, distribution area is up by 36%.

Kudos to the people of Gujarat and all those whose efforts have led to this exc

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi)  June 10, 2020