As professional photographers our needs are many and specific, but your office staff, guides and drivers worked in concert to meet our constant demands. Jami Tarris & Theo Allofs, Canada - 2007
Sasan Gir, once the Asiatic Lion co-existed with the Bengal Tiger across north and central India. Today its entire population has been confined to a 545 sq mile tract called Gir. It is the only place in the world outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. Apart from lions, Gir also has one of the largest leopard populations in any park in India, making it a good place to see big cats of a different kind. The Kamleshwar dam in the middle of the Gir sanctuary is also home to a record number of marsh crocodiles.
After a disastrous famine and near extinction in 1913, the Nawab of Junagadh, under whose dominion the Gir region fell, took strict measures to protect the lions. In 1929, a former nawab ordered a series of Gir lion postage stamps for Junagadh, thus making the Asiatic lion the first wild animal to be depicted on an Indian stamp. Hunting was totally banned by the mid-50s and the lion sanctuary project was initiated in 1972 to create a balance between the endangered lions and the indigenous Maldhari tribe. With over 800 guards patrolling the entire park, Gir has evolved into one of the best-protected sanctuaries in India.
From 20 lions at the turn of the century to over 300 lions at present, a trip to Gir makes your chances of sighting a lion very high. The lion safari offers a fair cross-section of habitats and wildlife. Apart from spotting a colourful array of birds, you can also interact with local tribes inside the Gir sanctuary. The main tribe is a nomadic pastoral community called Maldhari, who live in scattered settlements called 'nesses'. Gir is also home to a Negroid community known as Siddis, who are African in origin but speak Gujarati.
Fauna:
Other wildlife to look out for are the Four-Horned Antelope (the only four-horned ungulate in the world), Indian gazelle (chinkara), Spotted Deer (Chital), Blue Bull (Nilgai), Wild Boar, Wolf, Hyena, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Hare and other mammals found in the forest.
Interesting birds at Gir are the Paradise Flycatcher, Grey Drongo, Grey & Painted Francolin, Painted Sandgrouse, Bush Quail, Crested Hawk Eagle, Crested Serpent Eagle, Bonnelli's Eagle, Shikra Hawk, Sirkeer Cuckoo and White-necked Stork.
Flora:
Gir lies in the southwest part of the Saurashtra peninsula, dominated by grasslands and mixed deciduous forests of ber, jamun, Flame of the Forest and a variety of acacia. Nearly 70% of the tropical dry deciduous forest is covered by old teak plantations.
Fact sheet:
State : Gujarat Area : 1412 sq. km Altitude : 152 - 528 m Vegetation : Tropical dry deciduous, thorn scrublands, semi-evergreen riverine flora Water resources : Seven rivers, marshes, lakes and Kamleshwar dam in the middle of the sanctuary Winter : Mid-October to Summer: April to mid-June Monsoon : June to September Rainfall : 1016 mm Temperature : Min 6°C- Max 40°C
