The Gir Forest National Park and WildlifeSanctuary (also known as Sasan-Gir) is best known as being the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica). Measuring about 258 km² for the fully protected area (the National Park) and 1153 km² for the Sanctuary, the area is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species.
Today, the sustaining ecosystem of Gir, with its diverse flora and fauna, is a result of the efforts of the Government forest department, wildlife activists and NGOs. The forest area of Gir and its lions were declared as "protected" in the early 1900's by the then Nawab of the princely state of Junagadh. This initiative resulted in the conservation of the lions whose population had plummeted to only 15 through slaughter for trophy hunting.
The April 2005census saw the highest lion-count in Gir at 359, an increase of 32 compared to 2001. The lion breeding programme covering the park and surrounding area has bred about 180 lions in captivity since its inception.
In addition to the two district seasons of summer and winter, Gir has the tropicalmonsoon climate. It can become very hot during the summers, with noon temperature reaching 43 °C or 109 °F mark at times, and humid during the monsoon in June. Winter sees the temperature dropping to about 10 °C or 50 °F. The normal monsoon starts from mid-June and lasts till September, with the annual rainfall ranging between 600 mm and 1000 mm. However, because of the irregular monsoon and uneven distribution of rainfall across the peninsula, drought years are not uncommon.
The park and the sanctuary remain open all year around but the cool and dry weather between late-November and early-March is the recommended visiting period. During this period it is generally easy to sight the wildlife in the open.
Geography
Map showing details of Gir National Park and Gir Wildlife Sanctuary.
Water reserves
The seven major perennial rivers of the Gir region includes Hiran, Saraswati, Datardi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ghodavadi and Raval. The four reservoirs of the area are at four dams, one each on Hiran, Machhundri, Raval and Shingoda rivers.
During peak summer, surface water for wild animals is available at only about 300 water points. At the time when drought hits the area following a poor rainfall, surface water is not available in a majority of these points, and water scarcity becomes a serious problem mainly in the eastern part of the sanctuary. Ensuring the availability of water during peak summer is one of the major tasks of the Forest Department staff.
Flora
More than 400 flora species have been recorded by the survey of Gir forest by Samtapau & Raizada in 1955. Botany Department of M.S. University of Baroda, however, has revised the count to 507 during their independent survey. According to the 1964 forest type classification by Champion & Sheth, the Gir forest falls under "5A/C-1a—very dry teak forest" classification. Teak occurs mixed with dry deciduous species. The degradation stages (DS) sub-types are thus derived as: 1) 5/DS1-Dry deciduous scrub forest and 2) 5/DS1-Dry savannah forests (Locally known as "vidis"). It is the largest dry deciduous forest in western India.
Teak bearing areas are mainly confined to the eastern portion of the Gir forests, which constitutes nearly half of the total area. The remaining western half has with miscellaneous species. It is recognized to be an important biologicalresearch area with considerable scientific, educational, aesthetic and recreational values. It provides nearly 5 million kilograms of green grass by annual harvesting, which is valued approximately at Rs. 50 crores (Rs. 500,000,000) (US$ 100 million). The forest provides nearly 15,000 metric tons worth of fuel wood annually.
Wildlife
The count of 2375 distinct fauna species of Gir includes about 38 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and more than 2000 species of insects.
Among the smaller mammals, Porcupine and Hare are common but the Pangolin is rare. The reptilians are represented by Marsh crocodile (highest population among all protected areas in India), the Indian Star Tortoise and the Monitor Lizard in the water areas of the sanctuary. A variety of snakes are found in the bushes and forest. Pythons are sighted at times along the stream banks.
The area is otherwise quite well protected and there are no incidences of Lion poaching. But the biggest threat faced by the park is the presence of Maldharies, these communities are vegetarian and do not indulge in poaching. They are basically pasuralists. And they have huge number of cattle per family. Average number of cattles mainly "Gir Cow" is around 40-50. There is no limit on the number of cattles a family can keep. So during grass scarce seasons maldharies even from outside the sanctuary push their cattles in the park in the garb of selling and take them away after monsoon season. So eventually it has become grazing ground for large number of cattles of not only of the maldharies in the park but also for those living in an area of say 100 Km around the park. These maldharies are legally entitled to live in the park and refused to move out on some pretext or another. Slowly and slowly the area around the nesses ( small hamlets where maldharies live) is getting denuded of vegatation. This is putting lot of pressure on the park. But the worst part is that the population of maldharies as well as there cattles is increasing day by day and some maldharies though have houses outside the forest but still want to keep there cattles inside the forest so as to get unlimited access to forage.
Gir Interpretation Zone, Devalia
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. Typically the inside population of the zone includes about 100 spotted deer, about 100 Nilgai (or Bluebull), about 15 wild boars, about half a dozen sambars and blackbucks, and other mammal and reptilian species along with birds. In addition limited number of tourist are allowed to go in the sanctuary on designated routes. The best time to visit the area is outside the monsoon season.
The Lion breeding programme and lion-counting
Year
Count
Male:Female:Cub
1968
177
-
1974
180
-
1979
205
76:100:85
1984
239
88:100:64
1990
284
82:100:67
1995
304
94:100:71
2000
327
-
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 various zoos in India and abroad. Considering the genetic print of all the existing lions in Gir, Stephen O'Brien, a geneticist, says after his study, "If you do a DNA fingerprint, Asiatic lions actually look like identical twins... because they have been the descendants of a pride of just 15 that was all left at the turn of 1900s." This makes them especially vulnerable to diseases, and causes 70 to 80% of sperms to be deformed — a ratio that can lead to infertility when lions are further inbred in captivity.
Asiatic Lioness, named MOTI, at Bristol Zoo, England (1996).
The census of lions takes place every five years. Traditionally, 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.
