Gir National Park

The Gir National Park is commonly known as sasan - Gir. Gir's lions are peculiarly unafraid of humans. This park is said to be the sole home of the pure Asiatic lions. Driving in the first impression of Gir is well yellow. yellow grass, yellow dust, yellow leaves on bolding trees. Stubby shrubs and thorny things everywhere. But if you look up, the sky is the color of a Robin' egg and a gaggle of gently purple hills loom beautifully in the distance. The forest is a bird watchers paradise.

Embedded deep in the psyche of the local people, the lions of the gir are a source of great pride and cultural identity. The tradition of lion tracking in Gir, dates back to the times of the Nawabs the British and their Shikars. Today of course the trackers area part of the forest Department, often equipped with no more than a walkie - talkie and a stick, keeping an eye on which lion is doing what, who had cubs doing what, who had cubs how many and how they are doing. The Gir National Park is well accessible and is well connected. It is well connected by rail as well as by road transport to neighboring towns.

History Of The Gir National Park : The Gir National Park and its lions are full of maharajas and shikars the sunset of the Raj, the early efforts of the Bombay natural history society's first conservationist and the emergence of India's post - independence wildlife protection policies. Over hundred of years maharajas had hunted big cats for sport but it was the British, with their sophisticated weapons that put in a mail in the coffin for the lion in India. In early 20th century the lion population of Gujarat suffered a tremendous setback the feminine years which lasted between 1901 and 1905 forced the animals to hunt for food in human settlements and target the local human population and livestock. The man animals conflict that arose from this desperate situation was brought under controls by the nawab of Junagarh, the district that most of Gir falls within today. When he decided to undertake the supervision of a project to save the few remaining lions of Gir. lion numbers rose and apart from a few initial hiccups in the wildlife protection programme toll his death, shooting was rigidly controlled. While elsewhere in India lions quietly vanished in Gir they were given half a chance. On September 18, 1965 Gir was formally declared a lion sanctuary. Today, the Government of Gujrat has declared as area of 1,421 Sq. Km as the Gir protected area and an aditional500 Sq. Km has been made a buffer home. In 1374, it was declared a national park and nature reserve. The estimated 359g count of lions in this forest indicates that the project for recuperating the species, it bring it back from the brink of extinction has been largely successful given then the imminent threat of extinction still hovers dangerously close close over the Asiatic lions. having been bred from less then 20 specimens, the present day population of gir's lions shares the same gene pool. The Asiatic lions (distinguishable from their African counterparts. Only by a few minor biological differences) share the forest with villagers and livestock, not to mention a no. of myriad industries waiting in the wings to turn Gir's natural resources into hard cash. But as of now, there is the law to prevent this eventuality.

Facts

Area: The Gir National Park has a total areq of 1412.13 Sq km
Location: The Gir National Park is 55 km of Junagarh district.
State: The Gir National Park is in Gujarat.
Time To Visit: The sanctuary is open from October 16 to June 15. The summer months are scorching hot, with the temp hitting 43 degree Celsius. the temperature hitting 43 degree Celsius. The best time to visit is definitely late November to early March when the temperature can drop to a cool 10 degree Celsius.

STD Code : STD code of The Gir National Park is 02877.

Climate: The Gir National Park has a tropical monsoon climate. It can become very hot at the time of summer temperature ranging from 43 degree Celsius or 109 degree Fahrenheit and very humid during the monsoon (June) during winters the temperature is above 10 degree Celsius or 50 degree Fahrenheit. The normal monsoon starts from Mid - June and lasts till September. Annual rainfall in The Gir National Park is between 600mm and 1000mm but due to irregular monsoon and uneven distribution of rainfall across the peninsula drought years are common. The park and sanctuary remains open all year but the cool and dry weather between late November and Early march is the recommended visiting period.

Flora

Under the survey In 1955, more than 400 flora spieces have been recorded in Gir forest by Samtapau and Raizada. During the survey of Botany department of M.S.University of Baroda has recorded the count to 507 during their survey. Gir Forest National Park is the largest dry deciduous forest in western India. Mostly half of the forest consists of Teak bearing areas. The forest is an important biological research area with considerable scientific, educational, aesthetic and recreational values. Gir forest consist of nearly 5 million kilograms of green grass by annual harvesting, which is valued approximately at Rs. 50 crores (Rs. 500,000,000). The forest provides nearly 15,000 metric tons worth of fuel wood annually.

Fauna

Gir Forest includes 38 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and more than 2000 species of insects.
Catogaries: Carnivores, Herbivores

The carnivores mainly consist of Asiatic lions, Leopards, Jungle cat, Hyenas, Jackals, Mongoose, Civet cats, and Ratels. Desert cats and Rusty-spotted cats exist but are rarely seen. In herbivores of Gir Forests are Chital, Nilgai (or Bluebull), Sambar, Four-horned Antelope, Chinkara and Wild boar. Blackbucks from the surrounding area are sometimes seen in the sanctuary. Among the smaller mammals,like Porcupine and Hare are common but the Pangolin is rare. Snakes are found in the bushes and forest. Gir forest have 6 recorded species of Vultures, including the King Vulture.