Gir Forest, By Darshil Kapadiya, Amity university Rajasthan

1. Gir Forest
National Park
and
Wildlife Sanctuary
Submitted by:-
Darshil Kapadiya
(B.Tech CSE- A 2nd Sem)

2. Location
The Sanctuary spreads over Junagadh and
Amreli districts of Saurashtra. The main
centre "Sasan" is located in Talala taluka of
Junagadh district at about 60 km. from
Junagadh.
Latitude: 20° 40′ to 21° 50′ North
Longitude: 70° 50′ to 71° 15′ East
Area
Total area Gir forest – About
1412 Km2
Gir National Park – About
258.71 Km2
Gir Wildlife Sanctuary –
About 1153.4 Km2
Altitude – About 150 to 530
metres above mean sea
level.
Seasons
Winter – October to March
Summer – April to June
Monsoon – July to September
Temperature: Maximum – 45o C

3. Minimum – 5o C
Rainfall – 600 to 1000 mm
Coordinates – 21°08′08″N and 70°47′48″E
The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife
Sanctuary (also known as Sasan-Gir ) is a forest
and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, India.
Established in 1965, with a total area of
1,412 km2 (545 sq mi) for the fully protected area
the national park and 1,153 km2 (445 sq mi) for
the Sanctuary), the park 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.
It is the sole home of the Asiatic Lion and is
considered to be one of the most
important protected areas in Asia due to its
supported species. The ecosystem of Gir, with its
diverse flora and fauna, is protected as a result of
the efforts of the government forest department,
wildlife activists and NGOs. The forest area of Gir
were the hunting grounds of the Nawabs of
Junagadh. However, faced with a drastic drop in
the lion population in Gir, Nawab Sir Muhammad
Rasul Khanji Babi declared Gir as a "protected"
area in 1900. His son, Nawab Muhammad
Mahabat Khan III later assisted in the
conservation of the lions whose population had
plummeted to only 20 through slaughter for trophy
hunting

4. The 14th Asiatic Lion Census 2015 was conducted
in May 2015. In 2015, the population has been
523 (27% up compared to previous census in
2010). The population was 411 in 2010 and 359 in
2005. The population of lions in Junagadh District
has been 268, Gir Somnath District has been 44,
Amreli District has been 174 (highest increase)
and Bhavangar District has
been 37. There are 109
males, 201 females and 213
young/cubs.
Formerly the hunting reserve
of the Nawabs of Junagadh,
Gir Forest is the largest
compact tract of dry
deciduous forest in Gujarat and the only abode of
the Asiatic Lion in the world. Protection was first
given in 1900, when lion numbers were down to a
mere 12 individuals! By 1936, the number had
increased to 250 animals and today there are a
little over 300 individuals. Gir was declared a
Wildlife Sanctuary in 1965 and given National
Park status ten years later.
About Species
Besides the Asiatic Lion,
Gir supports a large
population of Leopard,
and other carnivores
include Jungle Cat,
Jackal, Striped Hyena,
Common and Ruddy

5. mongoose. The herbivores include Sambar, Chital,
Nilgai, Chowsingha, Chinkara and Wild Boar.
Over 300 bird species
have been recorded
here. These include the
Shaheen Falcon,
Bonelli's Eagle, Great
Horned Owl, Tawny
eagle and Blackwinged
Kite. Grey and Jungle
Bush Quail, Grey Partridge, Nightjar, Black-
headed Cuckoo Shrike, Gray Drongo, Pied
Woodpecker, Black Ibis, and White-necked Stork
are also found at Gir.
Year Count Male:Female:Cub
1968 177 -
1979 261 76:100:85
1984 252 88:100:64
1990 249 82:100:67
1995 265 94:100:71
2000 327 -
2005 359 -

6. About Lion Breeding Programme
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.
Lion Description
Scraggly, brown, dry and thorny. Gir, the last
bastion of the Asiatic lion, is a beautiful but harsh
teak dominated habitat in the Junagadh district in
Kathiawar, Gujarat. Far from the stereotypical
vision most people have of forests in the tropics,
Gir is anything but 'lush'. It is, nevertheless, one of
India's most precious and vital biodiversity vaults.
A semi-arid wilderness emblazoned by rust, beige
and the occasional scarlet, when the flame of the
forest and silk cotton trees are in bloom, Gir
2010 411 97:162:152
2015 523 109:201:213

7. brings to mind visions of distant Africa, despite the
fact that it lacks the extensive grasslands of the
Masai Mara. Yet, something in these ecological
circumstances proved to be just what the lions
needed, for it is only here, in relatively small
fragments of forests, supported by 'poor quality'
teak, that one of the world's rarest large cat
survives.
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.