Location :
64 km from Junagadh and 32 km from Verawal Total Coverage Area : 1,412.14 sq. km./ Lion
sanctuary 141,213 hectares (of which national park 35,948
hectares).
About Sansan Gir Wildlife
Sanctuary:
The Gir National Park, was established on 18th September,
1965, as a Forest Reserve, primarily to conserve the Asiatic
lion. The total area under national park status is about
2,450 hectares. It is located in the Junagadh District of
Gujarat, about 65 km south-east of Junagadh city, and 90 km
east of Keshod Airport, in the Kathiawar (Saurashtra)
Peninsula. Sasan, with a forest rest-house, is the
headquarters of the sanctuary.The Gir is a mixed deciduous
type of forest with teak, ber, flame of the forest, jamun, a
variety of acacia, particularly babul. It is a hilly tract
with plenty of rivers, and offers the visitor long pleasant
drives, through the thick forest cover.
Gir National Park is the only remaining habitat of the
Asiatic lion, which has been confined to this forest, since
1884 ( about 239 lions were reported in 1985 ).The Asiatic
lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin,
nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight
to behold. The best way to observe the big cats is, of
course, in their natural surroundings, at dawn and dusk,
when they are on the prowl. The Forest Department does
arrange lion shows every Sunday, where the spectators can
watch prides of lions on the hunt.There are guided trips
available, to watch these magnificent animals from a very
close range.
The chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, common
langur, porcupine, hare, black buck, are the other animals,
that can be found in this sanctuary. There are over 200 bird
species including the peafowl, grey partridge, Bonelli's
eagle, crested serpent eagle, jungle bush quail, painted
sandgrouse, common green pigeon and several species of doves
. The Gir is also home to the marsh crocodile, which can be
sighted easily in its rivers, particularly in the lake of
the Kamaleshwar dam. There is also a crocodile breeding farm
at Sasan.
The Gir National Park is steeped in history and folklore. It
boasts of temples of great antiquity, like Kankai Mata and
Tulsishyam, a place of pilgrimage with hot springs. The
forest is famous for its cattle herders, the Madharis, whose
buffaloes form a substantial part of the lions' meals.
Extremely hospitable, the Madharis are herders, whose
lifestyle has changed little over the years, and their
folklore and traditions are a unique record of coexistence
of humans with lions.
Wildlife viewing in the Girs is best done, by driving around
the forest. The best drives from Sasan are, to Baval Chowk
and Kankai, to Chodavdi and Tulsishyam, and to Kamaleshwar
dam. Though a sturdy car would do, a jeep is definitely more
appropriate.
Three unusual reserves, the Nalsarovar Lake and Sanctuary -
home to several water-birds, the Little Rann of Kutch - home
of the Indian wild ass, and the fascinating Flamingo Island,
render the state of Gujarat a virtual haven for wildlife
buffs
The Topography (Gir National Park
):
The state of Gujarat has some splendid wildlife reserves
that are quite out of the ordinary. The Gir National Park is
the only home in India of the Asiatic Lion of which there
are nearly 300 in the park. This sanctuary lies in the
Gujarat peninsula in South West India and is gifted with a
terrain that is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is
full of mixed deciduous, with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun,
Tendu and Dhak trees, interspersed with large patches of
grasslands. On the hills of the trees are sparse and
stunted.
Climate (Gir National Park )
From the three common seasons of summer, winter and monsoon,
summer takes the longest stretch, in which the average
minimum and maximum temperature ranges between 10șC to
nearly 45șC. The hottest months recorded in Gir are April
and May. The rains bring some relief from the heat during
the monsoons period of, starting from middle of June and
September. The maximum recorded during this period in the
area is around 1,866 mm and the minimum recorded being
199mm. Because of less rainfall water always remains a
critical factor in the well being of the forest. At times
the waterholes are required to be replenished through water
tankers from outside and the park staff maintains around 350
of such waterholes.
The Lion King (Gir National Park )
Gir Sanctuary is the last and only home of the critically
endangered Asiatic Lion. These lions are a smaller more
compact version of their African version, and are best
viewed at dawn or dusk when they are on the move. The major
difference between the two is that the African Lion appears
larger than the Indian Lion because of its large and
luxuriant mane.
Extension Of The Sanctuary
In the past Gir had a much bigger coverage area. After
Indian government placed a total ban on killing of Lions in
1955, within the time span of three years the area
estimation came around 2,560-sq-km and the Lion population
was estimated at 287. Since then, the forest area very
quickly got reduced in area to 1,452-sq-km. In 1965, the
Gujarat government declared Gir forest as a sanctuary and in
1975; part of the sanctuary was declared as a National Park.
And with the success of the protection program there is an
incredible increase in the Lion population too, from 177 in
1974 to around 300 in 1995.
The main territories of this territorial predator outside
Gir in Gujarat include Nagwa Beach in Diu, Sutrapada,
Palitana, Mahuva, Savarkundla, Mitiyala, Keshod, Maliya
Hatina, and Girnar.
