Gir National Park

Gir is a beautiful place, located in the Junagadh district of the state of Gujarat. Gir National Park is one of the unique park in India. Total area of Gir forest is about 1412 km2. 

The Gir National Park and wildlife sanctuary is located about 60 km south east in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Park and wildlife sanctuary also known as Sasan Gir or Gir Van. Gir is the only natural habitat of world popular Asiatic Lions.

Gir forest was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1965. The total area of the sanctuary is about 1153.42 km2. Gir forest (258.71 km2. area) was declared as a National park in 1975. Total area of the National park is about 258.71 km2.

The Gir National Park and Sanctuary lie in the south-west of the Saurashtra peninsula in the state of Gujarat. In past, the Gir forest was the hunting reserve of the Nawabs of Junagadh. During the British Raj, lions were hunted mercilessly by the British officers assisted by the obliging Maharajas and Nawabs. In 1900, the famine decreased the lion population so badly that Lord Curzon cancelled his shoot in Gir where he had been invited by the Nawabs for a Shikaar. The Government of India banned the hunting of lion in the year of 1960.

The 14th Asiatic Lion Census 2015 was conducted in May 2015. In 2015, the population has been 523. The population was 411 in 2010 and 359 in 2005. The population of lions in Junagadh District has been 268, Gir Somnath District has been 44, Amreli District has been 174 (highest increase) and Bhavnagar District has been 37. There are 109 males, 201 females and 213 young/cubs.

Fauna & Flora

Teak (Tectona grandis), Dhavdo (Anogeissus latifolia), Khair (Acacia catechu), Sadad (Terminalia crenulata), Timru (Diospyros melanoxylon), Babul (Acacia nilotica), Amla (Phyllanthus emblica), Moledi (Lannea coromandelica), Kadayo (Sterculia urens), Jambun (Syzygium cumini), Karanj (Pongamia pinnata), Umro (Ficus racemosa), Vad (Ficus bengalensis), Kalam (Mitragyna parviflora), Charel (Holeptelia integrifolia), Sirus (Albizzia lebbeck), Amli (Tamarindus indica), Bahedo (Terminalia bellerica), Semal (Bombax ceiba), Bor (Zizyphus mauritiana), Khakhar (Butea monosperma) and Asundro (Bauhinia racemosa).

Mammals – Lion, Sambar, Chital, Blue bull, Four-horned antelope, Wild boar, Jackal, Striped Hyena, Jungle cat, Bear, Rusty-spotted cat, Langur, Porcupine, Leopard, Fox, Common mongoose, Indian porcupine, Chinkara, Golden jackals, Desert cat, Blackbucks etc.

Birds – Shrike, Gray Drongo, Pied Woodpecker, Black Ibis, Shaheen Falcon, Bonelli’s Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Tawny eagle, Jungle Bush Quail, Grey Partridge, Nightjar, Black-headed Cuckoo, Painted Sandgrouse, common green pigeon, Crested serpent eagle, orange headed ground thrush, paradise flycatcher, Indian pitta, Shrikes, Drongos, Barbets, Indian Rollers, Grey Partridge etc.