New Delhi: India has several national parks which have been established to protect wildlife and ecosystems. Among them, the Gir National Park is undoubtedly one of the most popular in India, if not the most. The park is the world’s only place outside Africa where one can find a lion in the jungle. Moreover, it is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic Lions. Also, there are thousands of other wild animals in the forest.
How was the Gir National Park founded?
The Gir National Park is located near Talala Gir in Gujarat. Due to rapid hunting expeditions in the 19th century both by the rulers of princely states and British officials, the population of Asiatic Lions began to shrink and by the end of the century, only about a dozen of them were left in India and all of them lived in the Gir Forest. It was the private hunting ground of the Nawab of Junagarh who was alerted by the British government about the drastic decline of the lion population in Gir. The Nawab founded the sanctuary to save the population of Asiatic Lions and is said to be the jewel of the ecological resources of Gujarat.
On September 18, 1965, the Indian government made it a wildlife sanctuary. Today, the park covers 1412 square kilometres of land and the National Park’s core area takes up 258 km of the total area. While the population of lions in 1913 was around 20 in Gir, it rose to 523 in 2015.
Flora and fauna in the Gir National Park
Well, it is obvious from this article by now that Gir National Park is mostly famous for being the lone habitat of Asiatic Lions in the world. The area is dry and deciduous, which is ideal for the lions to reside. The lions of Gir are a sight to behold, with an average length of 2.75 metres and a bigger tail tassel, bushier elbow tufts and prominent belly folds than African lions.
Also, the national park is home to over 300 leopards, Sambar, Chowsingha (only four-horned antelope in the world), Jackal, Indian Fox, Striped Hyena, and more than 40 species of reptiles and amphibians including Marsh Crocodile, Russell’s viper, King Kobra, the Krait, star tortoise, freshwater turtles, soft-shelled turtle, Indian rock pythons and monitor lizards. There are over 425 species of birds in the sanctuary and the park is a habitat of raptors like critically endangered white-backed and long-billed vultures, the Greater Spotted Eagle, the Palla’s Fish Eagle and the Egyptian Vulture. The Changeable Hawk Eagle, Serpent Eagle and other birds of prey call Gir their home.
The Gir National Park is located near Talala Gir in Gujarat. Due to rapid hunting expeditions in the 19th century both by the rulers of princely states and British officials, the population of Asiatic Lions began to shrink. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
