About
Gir National
Park Gujarat
The
Gir National
Park,
was established
on 18th
September,
1965,
as a Forest
Reserve,
primarily
to conserve
the Asiatic
lion.
The total
area under
national
park status
is about
2,450
hectares.
It is
located
in the
Junagadh
District
of
Gujarat,
about
65 km
south-east
of Junagadh
city,
and 90
km east
of Keshod
Airport,
in the
Kathiawar
(Saurashtra)
Peninsula.
Sasan,
with a
forest
rest-house,
is the
headquarters
of the
sanctuary.The
Gir is
a mixed
deciduous
type of
forest
with teak,
ber, flame
of the
forest,
jamun,
a variety
of acacia,
particularly
babul.
It is
a hilly
tract
with plenty
of rivers,
and offers
the visitor
long pleasant
drives,
through
the thick
forest
cover.
Gir
National
Park
is the
only remaining
habitat
of the
Asiatic
lion,
which
has been
confined
to this
forest,
since
1884 (
about
239 lions
were reported
in 1985
).The
Asiatic
lion is
slightly
smaller
than its
African
cousin,
nevertheless,
a large
male lion
of the
Gir is
quite
a sight
to behold.
The best
way to
observe
the big
cats is,
of course,
in their
natural
surroundings,
at dawn
and dusk,
when they
are on
the prowl.
The Forest
Department
does arrange
lion shows
every
Sunday,
where
the spectators
can watch
prides
of lions
on the
hunt.There
are guided
trips
available,
to watch
these
magnificent
animals
from a
very close
range.
Fauna in Gir National Park:
The unique ecosystem of Gir herbivores about 38 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and more than 2000 species of insects. The main carnivores of the Gir are the Asiatic lion, leopard, jungle cat, hyaena, jackal, mongoose, civet cat, and ratel. Desert cats & rusty spotted cats are very rare. The main herbivores of the Gir are Chital, Nilgai, Sambar, Four horned antelope, Chinkara & Wild boar. In the adjoining Gir forest there is a small population of blackbuck.
The avifauna is represented in plenty by more than 300 species of birds most of which are resident. The Main scavnger bird is the vulture of which about 6 species have been recorded. Some of the typical birds of Gir are Crested serpent eagle, Bonnali's eagle, crested hawk eagle, King vulture, Brown fish Owl, Great Horned Owl, Bush Quail, Pygmy Woodpecker, Black headed Oriole, Crested swift and Indian Pitta. Grey Hornbill is now extinct from the area.
Other Attractions in Gir National Park
The
Gir National
Park
is steeped
in history
and folklore.
It boasts
of temples
of great
antiquity,
like Kankai
Mata and
Tulsishyam,
a place
of pilgrimage
with hot
springs.
The forest
is famous
for its
cattle
herders,
the Madharis,
whose
buffaloes
form a
substantial
part of
the lions'
meals.
Extremely
hospitable,
the Madharis
are herders,
whose
lifestyle
has changed
little
over the
years,
and their
folklore
and traditions
are a
unique
record
of coexistence
of humans
with lions.
Wildlife
viewing
in the
Girs is
best done,
by driving
around
the forest.
The best
drives
from Sasan
are, to
Baval
Chowk
and Kankai,
to Chodavdi
and Tulsishyam,
and to
Kamaleshwar
dam. Though
a sturdy
car would
do, a
jeep is
definitely
more appropriate.
Three
unusual
reserves,
the Nalsarovar
Lake and
Sanctuary
- home
to several
water-birds,
the Little
Rann of
Kutch
- home
of the
Indian
wild ass,
and the
fascinating
Flamingo
Island,
render
the state
of Gujarat
a virtual
haven
for wildlife
buffs
The
Topography(Gir
Wildlife
Sanctuary
):
The state
of Gujarat
has some
splendid
wildlife
reserves
that are
quite
out of
the ordinary.
The Gir
National
Park is
the only
home in
India
of the
Asiatic
Lion of
which
there
are nearly
300 in
the park.
This sanctuary
lies in
the Gujarat
peninsula
in South
West India
and is
gifted
with a
terrain
that is
rugged
with low
hills
and the
vegetation
is full
of mixed
deciduous,
with stands
of Teak,
Acacia,
Jamun,
Tendu
and Dhak
trees,
interspersed
with large
patches
of grasslands.
On the
hills
of the
trees
are sparse
and stunted.
Flora in Gir National Park:
Acacia and Banyan trees. 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.
Climate(Gir
Wildlife
Sanctuary)
From the
three
common
seasons
of summer,
winter
and monsoon,
summer
takes
the longest
stretch,
in which
the average
minimum
and maximum
temperature
ranges
between
10ºC
to nearly
45ºC.
The hottest
months
recorded
in Gir
are April
and May.
The rains
bring
some relief
from the
heat during
the monsoons
period
of, starting
from middle
of June
and September.
The maximum
recorded
during
this period
in the
area is
around
1,866
mm and
the minimum
recorded
being
199mm.
Because
of less
rainfall
water
always
remains
a critical
factor
in the
well being
of the
forest.
At times
the waterholes
are required
to be
replenished
through
water
tankers
from outside
and the
park staff
maintains
around
350 of
such waterholes.
The
Lion King
(Gir National
Park )
Gir Sanctuary
is the last
and only
home of
the critically
endangered
Asiatic
Lion.
These lions
are a smaller
more compact
version
of their
African
version,
and are
best viewed
at dawn
or dusk
when they
are on the
move. The
major difference
between
the two
is that
the African
Lion appears
larger than
the Indian
Lion because
of its large
and luxuriant
mane.
Extension
Of The
Sanctuary
In the
past Gir
had a
much bigger
coverage
area.
After
Indian
government
placed
a total
ban on
killing
of Lions
in 1955,
within
the time
span of
three
years
the area
estimation
came around
2,560-sq-km
and the
Lion population
was estimated
at 287.
Since
then,
the forest
area very
quickly
got reduced
in area
to 1,452-sq-km.
In 1965,
the Gujarat
government
declared
Gir forest
as a sanctuary
and in
1975;
part of
the sanctuary
was declared
as a National
Park.
And with
the success
of the
protection
program
there
is an
incredible
increase
in the
Lion population
too, from
177 in
1974 to
around
300 in
1995.
The main
territories
of this
territorial
predator
outside
Gir in Gujarat
include
Nagwa Beach
in Diu,
Sutrapada,
Palitana,
Mahuva,
Savarkundla,
Mitiyala,
Keshod,
Maliya Hatina,
and Girnar.
Wildlife
Resorts
in Gir Wildlife
Sanctuary:
Gir
National
Park Tour
Packages:
