Gir National Park, History, Feature, Location, Biodiversity and Facts

Gir National Park

Gujarat’s Talala Gir is home to the Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary (also known as Sasan Gir), a wildlife refuge and woodland. The Asiatic Lion’s sole recognised habitat is there. It was established in 1965 and is a component of the ecosystem of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests. This article on Gir National Park will be very helpful for the UPSC Syllabus Environment and Ecology section. In this article candidate can find all the information related to Gir National Park. To get more accuracy in the preparation of UPSC, candidates can go for the UPSC Mock Test provided by StudyIQ Education.

Gir National Park History

Until British colonialists and Indian rulers killed off the majority of their population through overzealous hunting, the Asiatic Lion was common throughout the Indian peninsula. Only 12 Asiatic lions were still present in India by the 1800s, and they were all confined to the Gir jungle. The British officials informed the Nawab of Junagarh about this. The Nawab was in a better position to create a sanctuary for the surviving lions because Gir was within the Nawab’s hunting territory, which he did.

The Nawab’s family fled to Pakistan as a consequence of Junagadh’s annexation in 1948, and the Indian government took control of the sanctuary to continue guarding the Gir lions. Asiatic lions can only currently be located in the Gir National Park. The Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is a thriving ecosystem with a varied flora and fauna thanks to the efforts of the government’s forest department and wildlife advocates. It is now regarded as being crucial to Gujarat’s ecosystem.

Also Read: Kaziranga National Park

Gir National Park Feature

India’s Gir National Park is a well-known wildlife destination that is becoming more and more well-liked among adventurous tourists, environment lovers, wildlife enthusiasts, photographers, and researchers. Since it is the only place in India where one can see Asiatic Lions, it continues to draw a lot of tourists from all over the globe.

Numerous other thousands of elusive wild creatures and hard-to-find birds can be found in the Gir National Park. Asses, hyenas, foxes, pygmy woodpeckers, brown fish owls, black deer, and rare Asiatic wild asses are a few instances.

Also Read: Ranthambore National Park

Gir National Park Location and Map

Sasan Gir, also known as Gir National Park and Wildlife refuge in Gujarat, India, is a forest, national park, and wildlife refuge close to Talala Gir. It is located south of Amreli, east of Junagadh, and northeast of Somnath. It belongs to the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous woodlands ecoregion. The candidate can use the map to determine the precise location of Gir National Park by referring to the representation of the park on it that is provided below.

Gir National Park Biodiversity

40 mammal species, 425 bird species, numerous reptile species, and tens of thousands of insect species can be found in the Gir woods. The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), an endangered animal species according to the IUCN Red List, is found in the Gir Forests, the biggest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in India. These forests are located in the semi-arid western region of the nation. The sanctuary has won praise from all over the world for its achievement in preventing the extinction of this threatened species.

Gir National Park Flora

A range of plant species, including Jambu, Karanj, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus, and Amli, are found in Gir National Park’s flora. These broad-leaved plants help the area by providing cool shade and moisture. As part of the reforestation strategy, Prosopis and Casuarina have been planted along Gir’s coastal boundaries.

Gir National Park Fauna

Nature’s most regal big animal, the Asiatic lion, is a unique gift. It is an exceptionally social animal with remarkable hunting prowess and intelligence. More than 425 distinct bird species have called Gir home. Globally endangered animals include the Aquila clanga, the Greater Spotted Eagle, the Dalmatian Pelican Pelecanus Crispus, the Indian Skimmer Rynchops Albicollis, the Oriental White-backed Vulture Gyps Bengalensis, and the Long-Billed Vulture Gyps Indicus. A range of waterfowl species can be found in Gir’s wetlands, especially at Kamaleshwar Dam. Six of the nine vulture varieties found in India reside in Gir. The White-rumped Vulture and the Eurasian Griffon, two species of Gyps, are now very uncommon.

Gir National Park Wild life

Many avifauna species, such as the crested snake, brown fish owl, Indian eagle owl, pygmy woodpecker, and vultures, can be found in the Gir National Park. A wide variety of wildlife can be found in the Gir Forest, close to the village of Sasan Gir, including langur monkeys, jackals, leopards, antelope, deer, and crocodiles.

Gir National Park Reserve

Datardi, Godavari, Hiran, Machhundri, Raval, Shetrunji, and Shingoda are the seven rivers, and the Kamleshwar Dam, also known as “the lifeline of Gir,” is one of them. The four reservoirs in the region are situated at four dams, one on each of the rivers Hiran, Machhundri, Raval, and Shingoda.

Gir Wildlife Sanctuary

The 1413 square kilometre Gir National Park, which is situated in Gujarat’s Saurastra area in the far west of India, was created on September 18, 1965. Although Gir was established to safeguard Asiatic lions, which are now threatened, it is now home to thousands of other land and avian species. Gujarat, India’s southwest peninsula is home to the sanctuary, which has low hills, rocky topography, and a variety of deciduous plants.

The terrain is rough, with steep rocky hills, deep ravines, and rivers that are dotted with sizable grassland areas. Among the top attractions are the Asiatic Lions, a bird sanctuary with over 200 kinds of birds, the Temple of TulsiShyam, and a crocodile breeding farm close to Sasan. This place comes to life thanks to a diversity of animals, including crocodiles, pygmy woodpeckers, chital, leopards, and others.

Gir National Park and Asiatic Lion

Only the Gir National Park in Gujarat, India, is home to the Asiatic cat. The last remaining wild group of Asiatic lions outside of Africa is found in India’s Gir National Park. In the past, Asia was home to many Asiatic lions. In their last surviving natural habitat, which includes the Maldhari community of the Gir Forest, lions coexist with humans.

Some of the lion population resides among local communities outside of the protected regions in the nearby farmland and hills. The dominant big cat’s presence draws people’s focus away from the incredible bird population at the sanctuary.

Gir National Park Facts

One of India’s first national parks is Gir National Park. It is situated in the Gujarat province of India. One of the most crucial locations for biological research, Gir National Park has made a major contribution to the development of science. In this national forest, there are also animals, birds, insects, and reptiles. In addition to the wildlife, Gir is blessed with some beautiful flora that is both abundant and diverse.

The Gir National Park has a high concentration of dry and less-moist conditions as a result of the presence of dry-deciduous forests. The last known group of Asiatic Lions are found in Gir National Park. The lion varieties found in Asia and Africa are the same species. Around a million years ago, Asian and African lions began to separate. The fact that lions are exclusively social cats that reside in prides should be noted.

In the past, the area between the Middle East and India was home to Asiatic tigers. These beautiful creatures are now largely extinct in the wild. Around 2,375 distinct wildlife species, including Asiatic Lions, can be found in Sasan Gir. The Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is close to Nalsarovar Lake, one of India’s Important Lakes.

Gir National Park UPSC

Sasan Gir, also known as Gir National Park and Wildlife refuge in Gujarat, India, is a forest, national park, and wildlife refuge close to Talala Gir. The Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica), an endangered animal species according to the IUCN Red List, is found in India’s biggest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in the semi-arid western region of the country. Read all about UPSC Exam preparation by visiting official website of StudyIQ UPSC online Coaching.

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