Sasan Gir, also known as Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, is a forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary next to Talala Gir in Gujarat, India. It may be found 60 kilometres (37 km) south of Amreli, 65 km (40 mi) east of Junagadh, and 43 km (27 mi) north of Somnath. It has a total area of 1,410.30 km2 (544.52 sq mi), of which 258.71 km2 (99.89 sq km) is completely protected as a national park and 1,151.59 km2 (444.63 sq mi) is designated as a wildlife sanctuary. It was founded in 1965 in the former Nawab of Junagarh’s private hunting territory. It belongs to the ecoregion of Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous woods.

In May 2015, the 14th Asiatic Lion Census was carried out. 523 people made up the population in 2015, which is a 27% increase from the 2010 census. The population increased from 359 in 2005 to 411 in 2010. A total of 268 lions were present in the Junagadh District, 44 in the Gir Somnath District, 174 in the Amreli District, and 37 in the Bhavangar District. There are 213 cubs, 201 females, and 109 males total.

Throughout the monsoon season, from 16 June to 15 October each year, Gir National Park is closed.

History:

The monarchs of Indian princely kingdoms used to invite British colonists on hunting trips during the 19th century. Only a handful of Asiatic lions remained in India by the end of the 19th century, and they were all located in the Gir Forest, which was a portion of the Nawab of Junagarh’s exclusive hunting grounds. Viceroys from the British government alerted the Nawab of Junagadh, who created the sanctuary, to the sharp reduction in the lion population in Gir. Today, it is the only place in Asia where Asiatic lions can be found, and because of its biodiversity, it is regarded as one of the most significant protected areas in Asia.The government’s forest department, wildlife activists, and NGOs worked together to safeguard the Gir environment and its varied flora and animals. It is currently regarded as Gujarat’s ecological resources’ crown gem.

Geography:

Water reserves:

The Gir region’s seven principal permanent rivers are the Hiran, Shetrunji, Dhatarvadi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ambajal, and Raval. The area’s four reservoirs are located at four dams, one on each of the Hiran, Machhundri, Raval, and Shingoda rivers. The Kamleshwar Dam, known as “the lifeline of Gir,” is home to the largest reservoir in the region. It may be found between 21°08′08′′N and 70°47′48′′E.

About 300 water spots offer surface water to wild animals during the height of the summer. Water scarcity becomes a significant issue (especially in the eastern portion of the sanctuary) when drought strikes the region after a period of low rainfall because surface water is often unavailable at most of these locations. One of the main responsibilities of the Forest Department employees is to ensure water availability at the height of the summer.

Flora:

In the study of the Gir forest conducted by Samtapau & Raizada in 1955, more than 400 plant species were identified. The M.S. University of Baroda’s botany department corrected the total to 507 during their assessment. The Gir forest is classified as a “5A/C-1a—very dry teak forest” in Champion & Sheth’s 1964 categorization of forest types. Teak grows alongside species of dry deciduous trees. Thus, the following degradation stages (DS) sub-types are deduced:

Dry savannah forests (also known as “vidis”) and 1.5/DS1-Dry deciduous scrub forests are both found in this area. It is western India’s largest dry deciduous forest.

The eastern part of the forest, which makes up over half of the entire area, has the majority of the teak bearing regions. There are several acacia species. Ber, jamun (Syzygium cumini), babul (acacia), flame of the forest, zizyphus, tendu, and dhak may also be found in this area. Additionally, there are flora like karanj, umlo, amli, sirus, kalam, and charal, as well as the rare vad or banyan tree. These broadleaf trees give the area a cool canopy and moisture content. Casuarina and prosopis have been planted along Gir’s shore boundaries as part of the afforestation effort.

The forest is a significant region for biological study and has significant benefits for science, education, aesthetics, and enjoyment.By harvesting it every year, it supplies around 5 million kilos of green grass, which is worth about 500 million yen (US$7.12 million). Every year, the forest provides roughly 123,000 metric tons of fuel wood.

Wildlife:

There are around 38 species of mammals, 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles, and more than 2,000 kinds of insects among Gir’s 2,375 diverse species of fauna.

The Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, jungle cat, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, Indian gray mongoose, ruddy mongoose, and honey badger are the principal members of the carnivores group. There are Asiatic wildcats and rusty-spotted cats, but they are uncommon.

Chital, nilgai, sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara, and wild boar are the primary herbivores of Gir. Blackbucks from the neighborhood can occasionally be sighted in the sanctuary. Porcupine and hare are frequent among the smaller animals, while pangolins are uncommon.

The Indian cobra, mugger crocodile, tortoise, and monitor lizard are examples of reptiles that live in the water bodies of the sanctuary. In the trees and bushes, snakes can be discovered. On occasion, pythons have been seen along the stream banks. The Gujarat State Forest Department chose Gir when it established the Indian Crocodile Conservation Project in 1977. It then released almost a thousand marsh crocodiles into Lake Kamaleshwar and other nearby small bodies of water.

More than 300 species of birds make up the avifauna population, the majority of which are permanent residents. There are six known species of vultures in the category of birds known as scavengers. Crested serpent eagle, changeable hawk-eagle, brown fish owl, Indian eagle-owl, rock bush quail, Indian peafowl, brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, black-headed oriole, crested treeswift, and Indian pitta are a few of the characteristic species found in Gir. From the most recent census in 2001, the Indian grey hornbill was not discovered.

Asiatic lion:

The habitat of the Asiatic lion consists of open deciduous woodland and arid scrub terrain. The number of lions climbed from 411 in 2010 to 674 in 2020, and they are all found in or close to Gir National Park.

The Asiatic lion was designated a protected species in 1900, when the population was thought to be as low as 100. In a 1936 census, 289 animals were counted. Between 1948 and 1963, Mark Alexander Wynter-Blyth, the principal of Rajkumar College in Rajkot, and R.S. Dharmakumarsinhji conducted the first modern-day count of lions; a subsequent survey, conducted in 1968, revealed that since 1936, numbers had decreased to 162.

There have been incidents of Asiatic lions being poached even though the Gir Forest is tightly protected. Additionally, they have been poisoned as payback for attacking cattle. Other dangers include the potential for diseases, fires, floods, and other natural disasters. The most potential long-term preserve for them is still Gir.

Lions attacked cattle and humans outside the Gir Forest from 1899 to 1901, when there was a protracted drought. The Junagadh kings began compensating cattle losses after 1904. Nowadays, Gir National Park’s lions seldom ever attack humans.

Lion conservation:

Lions are counted once every five years. In the past, indirect techniques such using the lion’s pugmarks were used to count. However, the “Block-Direct-Total Count” approach was used in April 2005 during the census (which was initially intended for 2006 but pushed in response to news and debate over disappearing tigers in India). This was done with the assistance of over 1,000 forest authorities, specialists, and volunteers. It denotes that just those lions who were “spotted” visually were tallied. Although it is said to be a traditional practice, using “live bait” (a prey that is alive and utilized as a bait) for the exercise was not employed this time.The Gujarat High Court decision from 2000 against such an animal use is said to be the cause of this.

‘The Cat Women of Gir Forest’ recorded more than 411 lions in the park in 2010 and 523 in 2015. Women from traditional Muslim tribes from nearby areas perform the counting. There are more than 40 female van raksha sahayaks, who just want to save the park’s creatures.

Ecological problems:

The environment of Gir National Park and Sanctuary is threatened by a number of factors. Forest fires, cyclones, and persistent drought are examples of natural risks. Overgrazing, encroachment, excessive traffic, and the resulting weed infestation are examples of anthropogenic dangers. Tourism and nearby mining operations also contribute to this environmental damage. The railway lines that pass through the periphery zone cause pollution. Concern is increasing over the huge animals’ limited genetic diversity.