Lion Safari at Gir & Conservation

Also known as Asiatic Lion this big cat is now found only in India. A small population of 400 live in Gir National Park in the Indian state of Gujarat. The animal has been exterminated from all over Asia and Northern Africa where it was once found in abundance.

Indian Lion differs in morphology from its African cousin and is a bit smaller in size. There is an observable difference between the manes of males. The conservation of lions in India takes place at Gir National Park. After many years of effort, the numbers have steadily increased in this sanctuary. But this has given rise to a problem, the lions are spreading around closer to human settlements in areas nearby.

Unlike tigers and leopards, lions are gregarious animals. They live in a herd which is called a pride. Usually, one dominant male commands the whole pride which consists of young males, cubs, and lionesses.

These carnivores hunt in a group that comprises females and cubs. The male rarely takes part in the hunts. Its major role is to protect the pride and breed. The animals fiercely protect their territories with the male playing a dominant role.

The lions prey on the big game. At Gir Sanctuary they hunt Nilgai, sambar, spotted deer, chinkara, four-horned deer, wild boar, and langur. Blackbuck from open areas also frequent the park and are consumed by carnivores.

Gir National Park is situated in Gujarat near the district of Junagadh. The park is the only home of the endangered Asiatic Lions. It is home to many other mammals. The topography of Gir is hilly and undulating with plains and river beds. The mountains are part of the Girnar Range.

The park has an area of 1412 sq. km that comprises the National Park and the WLS. The rivers that are the lifeline of GIR are Shingoda, Datardi, Hiran, Shetrunji, Godavari, Machhundri, and Raval. There are four smaller dams besides a big one called Kamleshwar. These are also used by the animals to survive. River systems and dams play a significant role in the conservation of all life forms here.

The forests are of the dry deciduous type with the dominance of teak and its associates. The ecosystem comprises dry forests, scrub, savanna, and open areas. These habitats hold many species of mammals besides the lion. Panther, sloth bear, sambar, Nilgai, Indian gazelle, spotted deer, desert cat, jungle cat; rusty-spotted cat, golden jackal, fox, hyena, wolf, and many more.

Birding at Gir is exciting since it is bird heaven in Gujarat. Some of the species found in this reserve are:

• Crested Serpent Eagle
• Bonelli's Eagle
• Tawny Eagle
• Honey Buzzard
• Asian Paradise Flycatcher
• Golden Oriole
• Black Headed Oriole
• Indian Pitta
• Common Iora
• Black Naped Monarch
• White Backed
• King Vulture
• Long Billed Vulture
• Greater Coucal
• Grey Francolin
• Partridges
• Painted Storks
• Pelicans
• Pipits
• Larks.

There is a fixed gate entry fee for Indians. While for the Foreign Nationals it is higher. There is also a guide fee applicable which is based on time spent in the park. Money is also charged for professional photography depending upon the equipment used.

During major festivals like Navratri, Diwali, and Holi the entry fee is hiked by fifty percent.

Further information can be had from the office of the field director or from Forest and Environment Department based at Gandhinagar near Ahmedabad.

The forest department at Gir National Park organizes Asiatic Lion safaris in the tourism area. The safari starts from Sasan Gir which is inside the National Park. This reserve is at Tala Taluka of Junagarh District of Gujarat. Junagarh Township is at a distance of sixty kilometers from here.

The safari offers a fair chance of sighting a pride in the wild. Though the forest density is less, there is plenty of places for big cats to hide. Expert tracking leads to pride on the lion safari at Gir National Park.

Top-rated tour operators in India offer affordable bird-watching packages for Gujarat. These package tours include Sasan Gir Safari for lions, Rann of Kutch, and Velavadar for birding and safaris. There are many hotels and resorts situated near Sasan. Jeeps and other small vehicles are available for safaris on hire.

A two nights stay is required to see the pride. For birding, more than three days will certainly result in sighting many exciting avian species.

Government rest houses may be available for a stay but then advance reservation is a must before arrival. There is a comfortable lodge operated by Gujarat Tourism Department with economical pricing. This is known as Lion Safari Lodge. For this lodge contact Gujarat Tourism, Rang Mahal, at Diwan Chowk, Junagadh in Gujarat.

The forest department runs a Sinh Sadan Guest House and offers accommodation at a reasonable price. Contact: CF, at Sasan Gir, Junagadh Gujarat.

Besides the Gir Lodge run by the Taj Group, many private lodges are situated here. These are well-equipped and organized safaris in the park.

Lion conservation has been successful at Gir and the preserve has reached an optimum number of big cats it can support. The increasing number has resulted in man-animal conflicts at the periphery. The periphery and certain inside areas of the preserve are occupied by pastorals called Maldharis. It is obvious that the sanctuary can no longer harbor more lions.

Another problem that besets this isolated population in India is inbreeding and susceptibility to an epidemic. In order to spread and thus conserve this vital member of our ecosystem a need to maintain a separate population is being felt. As per the Government's plan a pride of lions is to be translocated to Kuno Palpur Wildlife Sanctuary in the state of Madhya Pradesh.

The plan could not succeed due to the unwillingness of the Gujarat Government to transfer these animals to Kuno so far.

Maldharis are nomadic herdsmen who have migrated from MP and Rajasthan in India. They have settled in the Banni Grasslands of Gujarat for seven hundred years. They constitute a different caste. Rabari Bhanvan and Charan castes live near Gir National Park with their livestock. Their residence is called "ness" where cattle, goats, and sheep are also kept to produce dairy products.

There are frequent cases of conflicts with the abundant wildlife all around. The livestock creates grazing pressure by competing with the wild denizens.

In recent times the lions have spread in a larger area because their population has increased in South Gujarat. This is leading to the incursion of the predator into villages and small towns increasing the man-animal conflict. They are now present in almost 22000 sq. km area.

The state of Gujarat is well connected by Air, Rail, and Roads with New Delhi and the rest of the Indian States.

The Gir Sanctuary is situated in the Junagadh and Amreli Districts of Gujarat.

Distances:

• Rajkot: 120 KM
• Junagadh: 60 KM
• Veraval: 43 KM
• Ahmedabad: 400 KM

The nearest Airport is Keshod about 90 KM.

Ahmedabad is connected by Rail to Junagadh which is about 60 KM.

A study conducted by WII found Kuno Palpur to be the most suitable forest for the translocation of Gir Lions. The wildlife sanctuary has an area of 344 plus sq km with 900 km of the buffer. The park is home to wolves, nilgai, deer, langur, and wild boar among other animals.

This was a former geographical range of the lions and perhaps a meeting place with tigers. There may be a few tigers here that may be inhabiting the dense pockets of the wildlife sanctuary. But this is no problem for the reintroduction of lions to Kuna since the prime habitat of both the big cats differ and they have been known to co-exist in many instances as they did in Central India.

The impasse is more parochial and political in nature with meaningless sentiments endangering the Gir Population itself.