Gone are those days when the magnificent lion used to roam across the globe. We, the people have ensured that they are killed off almost everywhere else other than untamed Africa. Today the lions hold only a miniscule of their earlier habitat and the gorgeous Asiatic Lion has been pushed to the brink of extinction and left hanging on an impossible slice of land known as Gir National Park.
The Gir forest in the state of Gujarat has seen a dramatic fall and rise in the population of the Asiatic Lion over the past 100 years. At the beginning of this century Gujarat was struck with a famine that resulted in a severe drought. It resulted in a painful drama; the lions because of the lack of food resources began to prey on human beings. The reaction was immediate. A terrible backlash followed against the lions and the population witnessed a catastrophic decline. By 1910 reports suggested that only 24 lions were left in the wild (the authentication of this report has not been proved though and some sources say that it was spread so that the killing stops, the actual figure may have been close to 100).
Whatever the actual figure was, the fate of the Asiatic Lion seemed doomed. The Lions did stage a remarkable comeback, thanks largely due to the Nawab of Junagadh, a local monarch, who banned all lion hunting in the area. The lion population did increase and currently there are about 300 or so of these awe inspiring beasts left in the jungles of Gir, a 560-square-mile (1, 450-square-kilometer) sanctuary.
The initiative taken by the nawab received a boost when the government decided to establish Gir as a Forest Reserve, primarily to conserve the Asiatic lion.in 1965. The Gir forest is an interesting mixed deciduous type with a plethora of trees like the teak, ber, jamun, a variety of acacia, particularly babul. It is one of the most scenic too with hilly tracts and rivers flowing through it.
Apart from the lion the sanctuary boasts of the chinkara, wild boar, striped hyena, jackal, common langur, porcupine, hare, black buck etc. It is a haven for birds and have over 200 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 rivers are home to the marsh crocodile.
But Gir is Gir because of the lions. Some quick facts about the Asiatic Lion:
The Asiatic Lion is a subspecies that split from their African cousins perhaps 100, 000 years ago. They are smaller than their African counterparts and have shorter manes. Interestingly they have a long fold of skin on their undersides, something that is not too common in the lions of Africa. Unlike Africa, where the Lions prey in large groups to tackle the large prey animals; the Lions at Gir prey in much smaller groups because of the smaller size of their prey.
Scientific name: Panthera leo persica
Weight: Male 150-250Kg; Female 120-180Kg
Length (head and body): Male 1.7-2.5m; Female 1.4-1.75m
Length (tail): 70-105cm
Shoulder height: Male 1-1.23m; Female 80-107cm
Sexual Maturity: Male 5 years; Female 4 years
Mating season: All year round
Gestation period: 100-119 days
Number of young: 1 to 6
Birth interval: 18-26 months
Typical diet: Deer, antelope, wild boar, buffalo
Lifespan: 16-18 years
(source: https://asiatic-lion.org/facts.html)
The Gir is also the home of the Maldharis, the people who have co-existed with the lions for ages. The Maldharis are primarily cattle herders and their cattle form a substantial part of the lions’ diet. These great hospitable people have been facing a crisis of late though. The Maldharis who have given the lion a place in their lore and songs have been persuaded by the government to leave the vicinity of the sanctuary and relocate somewhere else. It is cruel to push these people away from their homeland but sadly that is something that needs to be done to save the remaining Asiatic Lions.
It is time for us too to take notice and do our bit to help saving these animals from extinction. We may remind ourselves that Emperor Ashoka more than 2000 years ago had engraved the images of these amazing beasts in a pillar in Sarnath and that pillar had messages urging for nonviolence, tolerance, and respect for all living creatures. I sincerely hope that the people of our great country join hands to save the Indian lion from passing onto the text books of the generations to come.
I am sorry to have drifted too much. Not given too much information on the basic things like accommodation, the best time to visit etc. But I hope you do not mind that.
Cheers to all of you at MS and the Lions in Gir.