Lion Safari in India
About The Asiatic Lion is rated the most endangered large carnivore globally.
And India has the distinction of being the last earthly refuge of the Asiatic
lion. The Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary is the one and only remaining
habitat of this proud and majestic species. An average Asiatic Lion, also
known as the Indian Lion, is generally 2.5 m to 2.9 m tall, and weighs between
200 to 250 kg. It has a majestic mane and a big tail tuft. Indian Lions move
about in prides, comprising 2-3 male adults and more lionesses and cubs. They
communicate with each other with a variety of grunts, meows, growls, moans
and roars, and while female cubs stay with the pride, the males leave after
they are three years old. The Asiatic Lions are lazy and indolent creatures
that prey on the Sambar, Chital, Nilgai, Wild Pig, and occasionally on goats
and camels.
Lion males often live in pairs that last a lifetime. However, in the pride
it is the females who go out hunting in packs and bring back prey, which is
first devoured by the male, and only then by the rest of the pack. In the
daytime, they live close to water holes and rest in the shade. Hunting is
relegated to dusk, or at night. The Asiatic lion once ranged from Asia Minor
and Arabia through Persia to India. In fact, at the turn of the century, Gir
was a splendid mixed, deciduous forest of teak, acacia, zizyphas and banyan,
sprawled over some 3,386 sq. km. Lions would have thrived there, were it not
for their enemies-hunters and a devastating famine that all but wrapped up
the prey species. At one time the estimated number of lions went down to as
low as thirty. However, due to the efforts of the authorities and the Gir
National Park, the Asiatic lion has been narrowly saved from extinction. Though
it is still a highly endangered species, statistics show that if efforts are
kept up, their numbers might begin to improve.
Flora Attractions
Vegetation in Gir can be looked at in four ways. The first is the Teak forest
and nearly half of the protected area has this kind of a habitat. The main
tree species that occupy this habitat are Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Amla,
Moledi, Dhavdo, Kadayo and Bahedo. The non-Teak forests, which comprise the
remaining forest consists of tree species like the Khair, Dhavdo, Sadad, Timru,
Amla, Moledi, Kadayo, Salai, Simal, Khakhro, Ber and Asundro. A distinct belt
of vegetation is found along the main rivers and streams. Species like the
Jambu, Karanj, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli are found here. These
trees are mostly broad leaved and evergreen, giving the area a cool shade
and the moisture content. Finally, Prosopis and Casuarina have been planted
in the coastal border as part of the aforestation plan.
Other Attractions
Among the lesser-known wildlife of Gir National Park include the most common
animal that can be sighted in the sanctuary is the Chital or Spotted Deer.
Others main wild attractions are Nilgai, Chinkara, Sambhar, Black Bucks, the
four horned Antelope, Wild Boar, Indian Flying Foe, Grey Musk Shrew, Indian
Hare, Pale Hedgehog, Small Indian Mangoose, Small Indian Civet, Indian Pangolin,
Indian Porcupine, Ratel, Indian Fox, and Jackal.
The three smaller wildcats - the Jungle Cat, Desert Cat and the Rusty Spotted
Cat, also inhabit Gir forest, which shows that the forest is not just meant
for the protection of Lions, but the whole of the cat family.
Gir National Park
About Gir is the only home in India of the Lion of which there are nearly
300 in the park. The Gir national park lies in the Gujarat peninsula in SW
India. The terrain is rugged with low hills and the vegetation is mixed deciduous,
with stands of Teak, Acacia, Jamun, Tendu and Dhak trees, interespersed with
large patches of grasslands. On the hills of the trees are sparse and stunted.
Within the sanctuary, there are numerous human settlements of cattle herders
called Maldharis with an estimated 20,000 head of livestock (which, incidentally,
forms a significant part of the Lion’s diet). There are also places of Hindu
worship and pilgrimage and sulphur springs at Tulsi Shyam and Kankai Mata.
At the edge of the park there are good populations of Indian Gazelle, protected
by the religious sentiment of the local people. Birds in the park include
the Paradise Flycatcher, Bonelli’s Eagle and Painted Sandgrouse. Three unusual
reserves, the Nalsarover Lake and Sanctuary, where large numbers of water-birds
can be seen; the bare saline flats of the Rann of Kutch, incredibly the home
of the Indian wild ass and the spectacular Flamingo island where nesting colonies
of flamingoes are to be seen, make Gujarat an exciting place for wildlife
enthusiasts.
