Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary comprises 1412 sq km
of deciduous forest interspersed with semi-evergreen and evergreen flora,
acacia, scrub jungle, grasslands and rocky hills. Fed by perennial and
seasonal rivers and streams, the sanctuary has large water bodies like
the Kamleshwar Dam that are good for crocodiles and birds.
The Gir National Park is located about 65
km south east in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. Gir
National Park is one of the India’s finest wildlife
sanctuaries located in Gujarat. This national park is set up
in an area of 1412 square km. of lush deciduous forests. This
national park was established on 18th September 1965 as a
Forest Reserve to conserve the Asiatic lion. The Gir National
Park is the final refuge of the rare Asian lions which roamed
freely two centuries ago
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throughout Middle East and some parts of
India. Sasan, with a forest rest house, is the headquarters of
the national park. Various deciduous forests, grasslands,
acacia scrub, wetlands and the seven rivers forms the
topography of this national park.
    The Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Sasan-Gir, is a forest and wildlife sanctuary in Gujarat, India. Established in 1965. The park is located 65 km to the south-east of Junagadh and 60 km to south west of Amreli. It is the sole home of the pure Asiatic Lions (Panthera leo persica) and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species. The ecosystem of Gir, with its diverse flora and fauna, is protected as a result of the efforts of the government forest department, wildlife activists and NGOs. The forest area of Gir and its lions were declared as “protected” in the early 1900s by the then Nawab of the princely state of Junagadh. This initiative assisted in the conservation of the lions whose population had plummeted to only 15 through slaughter for trophy hunting. | |
