The
Gir national park 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, interspersed 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. |
Asiatic
lion
It
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.
Wildlife Attractions Lion
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.
Leopards
Leopard
is considered to be one of the most beautiful and graceful
animals in the jungle, also the most dangerous one.
Popularly known as the Prince of Cats, this animal is
the most adaptable from the family of predators, one
the reason why it occupies a much larger spread of Gujarat
forest cover, and in Gir National Park it has been found
in all the varied habitats and vegetation types. The
approximate population of 210 Leopards resides within
the sanctuary area.
Reptiles Not
leaving the water predators behind, Mash crocodiles
are often seen along the Kamleshwar Dam Site. Another
major attraction among the reptile population of Gir
National Park are the numerous non-venomous Snakes such
as the Indian Rock Python along with the four venomous
varieties, which are Indian Cobra, Common Krait, Saw
Scaled Viper, Russell's Viper.
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.
Rich and Varied Bird life The
forest is also rich in bird life, and an estimated of
300 species are found inhabiting Gir National Park over
the years. Many wildlife experts say that if Gir has
not been a Lion sanctuary, it could have easily passed
off as a protected area for the incredible diversity
of birds that it harbours. The avifauna in here occupies
the forest floors, small plants and shrubs and even
the canopy of the trees. The Paradise Flycatcher, Black
Headed Cuckoo Shrike, Pied Woodpecker, Bonelli's Eagle,
Creset Serpant Eagle, Painted Sandgrouse, Bush Quail
and Grey Patridge are among the varieties that are commonly
found over here.
Flora
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.
Climate
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.
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