Gir National Park
Gir National Park | |
---|---|
Talala (Gir), Veraval | |
Coordinates | 21°08′08″N 70°47′48″E / 21.13556°N 70.79667°E |
Area | 1,410.30 km2 (544.52 sq mi) |
Established | 1965 |
Visitors | 60,148 (in 2004) |
Governing body | Forests & Environment Department |
Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest,
The 14th Asiatic Lion Census 2015 was conducted in May 2015. In 2015, the population was 523 (27% up compared to previous census in 2010). The population was 411 in 2010 and 359 in 2005. The lion population in Junagadh District was 268 individuals, 44 in Gir Somnath District, 174 in Amreli District, and 37 in Bhavangar District. There are 109 males, 201 females and 213 cubs.[4]
Gir National Park is closed from 16 June to 15 October every year, throughout the monsoon season.[5]
History
In the 19th century, the rulers of
Geography
Water reserves
The seven major perennial rivers of the Gir region are Hiran, Shetrunji, Dhatarvadi, Shingoda, Machhundri, Ambajal and Raval. The four reservoirs of the area are at four dams, one each on Hiran, Machhundri, Raval and Shingoda rivers, including the biggest reservoir in the area, the Kamleshwar Dam, dubbed 'the lifeline of Gir'. It is located at 21°08′08″N to 70°47′48″E.
During peak summer, surface water for wild animals is available at about 300 water points. When drought hits the area following poor rainfall, surface water is not available at a majority of these points, and water scarcity becomes a serious problem (mainly in the eastern part of the sanctuary). Ensuring the availability of water during peak summer is one of the major tasks of the Forest Department staff.[citation needed]
Flora
More than 400 plant species were recorded in the survey of Gir forest by Samtapau & Raizada in 1955. The botany department of M.S. University of Baroda has revised the count to 507 during their survey. According to the 1964 forest type classification by Champion & Sheth, the Gir forest falls under "5A/C-1a—very dry teak forest" classification. Teak occurs mixed with dry deciduous species. The degradation stages (DS) sub-types are thus derived as:
- 5/DS1-Dry deciduous scrubforest and
- 5/DS1-Dry dry deciduous forest in western India.[1]
Teak bearing areas are mainly in the eastern portion of the forest, which constitutes nearly half of the total area. Several species of
The forest is an important
Wildlife
The count of 2,375 distinct
The
The main
The
The plentiful
Asiatic lion
The Asiatic lion's habitat is dry scrub land and open deciduous forest. The lion population increased from 411 individuals in 2010 to 674 in 2020, and all of them live in or around Gir National Park.[9]
In 1900 it was estimated that the population was as low as 100, and the Asiatic lion was declared a protected species. A census in 1936 recorded 289 animals. The first modern-day count of lions was done by
Even though the Gir Forest is well protected, there are instances of Asiatic lions being
During a prolonged drought from 1899 to 1901, lions attacked livestock and people beyond the Gir Forest. After 1904, the rulers of Junagadh compensated livestock losses. Today, the lions in Gir National Park rarely attack people.[12]
Lion conservation
Year | Count | Male:Female:Cubs |
1968 | 177 | - |
1974 | 180 | - |
1979 | 261 | 76:100:100 |
1984 | 252 | 88:100:64 |
1990 | 249 | 82:100:67 |
1995 | 265 | 94:100:71 |
2000 | 327 | 99:115:76 |
2005 | 359 | - |
2010 | 411 | 97:162:152 |
2015 | 523 | 109:201:213 |
2020 | 674 | 277:260:137 |
The Lion Breeding Programme creates and maintains breeding centres. It also carries out studies of the behaviour of the Asiatic lions and also practices artificial insemination.[13] One such centre has been established in the Sakkarbaug Zoo at the district headquarters of Junagadh, which has successfully bred about 180 lions. A total of 126 pure Asiatic lions have been given to zoos in India and abroad.[14][10]
The census of lions takes place every five years. Previously indirect methods like using pugmarks of the lion were adopted for the count. However, during the census of April 2005 (which originally was scheduled for 2006, but was advanced following the reports and controversy over vanishing tigers in India), "Block-Direct-Total Count" method was employed with the help of around 1,000 forest officials, experts and volunteers.[10] It means that only those lions were counted that were "spotted" visually. Use of "live bait" (a prey that is alive and used as a bait) for the exercise, though thought to be a traditional practice, was not used this time. The reason believed to be behind this is the Gujarat High Court ruling of 2000 against such a use of animals.
During the 2010 census 'The Cat Women of Gir Forest' counted more than 411 lions in the park, and 523 in 2015. The women who do the counting are from traditional tribes in neighbouring villages.[15] There are over 40 women van raksha sahayaks, who seek only to protect the animals of the park.
Ecological problems
Gir National Park and Sanctuary faces a number of threats to its ecosystem. Natural threats include recurrent drought, cyclones, and forest fires.[16] Anthropogenic threats include over-grazing,[17] encroachment, excessive traffic and resultant weed infestation.[16][18] Tourism contributes to this environmental degradation, as does the mining carried out in the periphery. Pollution results from the railway lines that run through the peripheral zone.[16] The narrow genetic base in the large mammals is also an issue of growing concern.[16][19]
See also
- Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
- List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat, India
- Girnar
- Talala Gir
- Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pania Sanctuary
- In-situ conservation
- Wildlife conservation
- Siddi
- Baradiya
- The Lion Queens of India
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary". Government of Gujarat. Forests and Environment Department. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ Jhala, Y. V.; Gopal, R.; Qureshi, Q., eds. (2008). Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India (PDF). TR 08/001. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Asiatic Lion population up from 411 to 523 in five years". deshgujarat.com. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
- ^ a b c "National Parks and Sanctuaries: Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary". Wildvistas.com. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- doi:10.11609/jott.o3954.6927-33.)
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - ^ Da Silva, A. and Lenin, J. (2010). "Mugger Crocodile Crocodylus palustris, pp. 94–98 in S.C. Manolis and C. Stevenson (eds.) Crocodiles. Status Survey and Conservation Action Plan. 3rd edition, Crocodile Specialist Group: Darwin.
- ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Gir Forest National Park – Gujarat Updates". 11 January 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ Annual Report 1972: Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust; page 41;
- .
- ^ "Gir National Park turns 57; 'WildLense' shares clip documenting a pride of young lions in the sanctuary - WATCH". TimesNow. 19 September 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ "Know Your City: In Junagadh, 160-year-old Sakkarbaug Zoo remains a favourite". The Indian Express. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
- ^ https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-and-the-arts/story/20130429-cat-women-gir-forest-narendra-modi-women-guards-asiatic-lion-763242-2013-04-18
- ^ a b c d "Gir National Park and Sanctuary: Environmental Review of Activities". Wildlife Institute of India. 8 October 2015. Archived from the original on 15 May 2020.
- ISBN 978-0-19-562652-0.
- JSTOR 27847039.
- PMID 24336928.
External links
- BirdLife International. "Important Bird Areas factsheet: Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary".
- Gir National Park travel guide from Wikivoyage
- Asiatic Lion Protection Society