Asiatic Lion

Asiatic lions are slightly smaller than African lions. They have shorter manes (hair around their face) than African counterparts.
Lions are the only cats that live in groups, called prides. Female lions are the pride’s primary hunters. They often work together to prey upon large mammals.
Asiatic lions were once distributed upto the state of West Bengal in east and Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, in central India.
At present Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat, is the only abode of the Asiatic lion. The last surviving population of the Asiatic lions is a compact tract of dry deciduous forest and open grassy scrublands in southwestern part of Saurashtra region of Gujarat.
According to IUCN, they have ENDANGERED status.

It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965. Subsequently out of the 1153.42 sq. km area of the sanctuary, an area of 258.71 sq. km. was declared a National Park.
These forests are dry deciduous forests in the semi-arid western part of India.
It also has a great diversity of avian (birds) species.
Traditionally a community called “Maldharis” have survived through the ages by having a symbiotic relationship with the lion. They are religious pastoral communities living in Gir. Their settlements are called “nesses”.

As per Forest Department data, Gir National park has registered nearly 30% increase in asiastic lions’ population. The number of lions have increased from 523 lions in 2015 to estimated 674 lions in 2020.
Forest department says that community participation, emphasis on technology, wildlife healthcare, proper habitat management and steps to minimise human-lion conflict has helped in increase of lions population.

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