There are many tourists who wonder how the Asiatic Lions were so brilliantly conserved in Gir National Park located in the Indian state, Gujarat. Like many of India's wildlife reserves, this national park was also a hunting reserve of princes before the twentieth century. A major part of this region is covered with dry deciduous forest, and is the only natural habitat of Asiatic Lion India and the world has, at present. Count of these lions in the year 2010 was 411, which is a significant increase as compared to their population of 52 in 2005. It was made possible with the Lion Breeding Programme initiated by park's authorities, which covers the entire wildlife sanctuary and its surroundings. Not many people are aware of the fact that the population of Asiatic lions was reduced to just 12 by the end of nineteenth century. If there is one person to whom the credit of conserving this animal species must go to, it ought to be Muhammad Mahabat Khanji III, the last ruling Nawab of Junagadh in British India.
Nawab Mahabat Khanji was educated at Mayo College in Ajmer, one of the largest cities in the Indian state, Rajasthan. He was very fond of animals, and was concerned about the dwindling population of lions in Gir. He imposed a ban on the hunting of lions in the early twentieth century. This led to an increase in their number from 50 lions in 1920 to about 250 in the year 1936. By the 1940s, the last remaining Asiatic lions in Iraq and Iran had completely disappeared, while their population in Gir survived and thrived. When India became an independent nation, the forest of Gir came under the new state, Saurashtra, which is now a region in Gujarat. Though Junagadh was merged into Saurashtra state, the policies of conservation continued. Gir forest was recognized as a wildlife sanctuary in 1965, and in 1975 an area of 150 square kilometres in it was declared a National Park. Today, the total area comprises of the core area of National Park, and Lion Reserve that forms the surrounding forests. For many decades, a cattle-herding group known as Maldhaaris had been living in the forests of Gir. Today, they have been moved to thorn-barricaded settlements outside the boundary of Gir National Park. This has resulted in forest regeneration and improvement of prey densities.
Earlier, the Maldhaaris had lost some of their livestock as a result of lions preying on them. With their resettlement, there was a change in the diet of lions. Today, they prey on wild animals, which keeps the domestic cattle protected to a great extent. Census of Gir's lions is conducted every five years, employing safe and effective method called 'Block-Direct'Total Count'. This is made possible with the assistance of forest officials, volunteers and experts. In this method of census, only the lions spotted visually are counted. Gir National Park also has an Interpretation Zone located at Devalia, which has been effective in educating tourists and reducing threats posed by tourism to wildlife.
Tushar Karia is an animal lover who has an immense passion for wildlife photography. He has been involved in the promotional activities of some of the Gir National Park resorts and have acquired plenty of knowledge about its wild animals in the process.
Nawab Mahabat Khanji was educated at Mayo College in Ajmer, one of the largest cities in the Indian state, Rajasthan. He was very fond of animals, and was concerned about the dwindling population of lions in Gir. He imposed a ban on the hunting of lions in the early twentieth century. This led to an increase in their number from 50 lions in 1920 to about 250 in the year 1936. By the 1940s, the last remaining Asiatic lions in Iraq and Iran had completely disappeared, while their population in Gir survived and thrived. When India became an independent nation, the forest of Gir came under the new state, Saurashtra, which is now a region in Gujarat. Though Junagadh was merged into Saurashtra state, the policies of conservation continued. Gir forest was recognized as a wildlife sanctuary in 1965, and in 1975 an area of 150 square kilometres in it was declared a National Park. Today, the total area comprises of the core area of National Park, and Lion Reserve that forms the surrounding forests. For many decades, a cattle-herding group known as Maldhaaris had been living in the forests of Gir. Today, they have been moved to thorn-barricaded settlements outside the boundary of Gir National Park. This has resulted in forest regeneration and improvement of prey densities.
Earlier, the Maldhaaris had lost some of their livestock as a result of lions preying on them. With their resettlement, there was a change in the diet of lions. Today, they prey on wild animals, which keeps the domestic cattle protected to a great extent. Census of Gir's lions is conducted every five years, employing safe and effective method called 'Block-Direct'Total Count'. This is made possible with the assistance of forest officials, volunteers and experts. In this method of census, only the lions spotted visually are counted. Gir National Park also has an Interpretation Zone located at Devalia, which has been effective in educating tourists and reducing threats posed by tourism to wildlife.
Tushar Karia is an animal lover who has an immense passion for wildlife photography. He has been involved in the promotional activities of some of the Gir National Park resorts and have acquired plenty of knowledge about its wild animals in the process.