Description

The Asiatic Lion once ranged from Syria through Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and much of northern and central India as far south as the Narmada River. By the end of the 19th century, hunting and habitat loss had confined it to its present refuge in the forests of Gir in Gujarat. Down to an all time low of 12 individuals, the Lions in Gir have made a impressive comeback and their numbers have stabilized to around 250-300 today.

Differentiated from its African cousin by a scantier and lighter mane and a prominent belly fold, the Asiatic Lion lives in prides which can vary from 5 to 20+ members. There is far less interaction between males and females than in the African species. Unlike the African savannah, the habitat of the Asiatic Lion is wooded. The main prey species are Chital, Sambar, Nilgai and domestic livestock.

Efforts are currently on to try create a viable population at another location.

Lions originated in Central Europe and paleontological evidence suggests that they are a later separation from the ancestral Panthera stock than the morphologically similar tiger. Lions became extinct in Europe in historical times by which time they had colonised much of Africa and large tracts of Western and southwestern Asia.

To the inexpert eye, the Asiatic and African races are identical. But there are a couple of distinguishing features. The Asiatic Lion, unlike its African cousin, has a scantier mane and so the ears are visible. The colour of the mane is generally lighter than the African and rarely black. Both sexes of the Asiatic Lion have a very prominent belly fold.

Based on 200 years of hunting records, P. Joslin (1973) has determined that the Asiatic Lion once ranged from Syria through Iran, Iraq, Pakistan and much of northern and central India as far south as the Narmada River. The river valleys of the Tigris and Euphrates of modern day Iraq and the neighbouring coastal areas of Iran, once supported healthy populations. The last sighting of Lions in Iran was in 1942.

The Lion migrated into the sub-continent through the north western passes and colonised much of present day Pakistan and the modern Indian provinces of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Its abundance and wide distribution is attested to by the fact that it became an iconic embodiment of power and wisdom. The great 4th Century Emperor Ashoka placed the 4 Lions on the capital of his pillar edicts symbolically roaring out the message of Dharma in the cardinal directions. The Four Lions remain the national emblem of India.

But the misfortune of the Indian Lion was that its range coincided with the most fertile and populous tracts of the country. Inevitably it emerged as the loser from this confrontation and by the end of the 19th century, it had been driven to its present refuge in the forests of Gir in Gujarat.

In 1880, the population of Gir Lions was at its lowest ebb. With an estimated 12 individuals, the Asiatic Lion teetered on the brink of extinction. Gir lay within the territories of the erstwhile princely state of Junagadh. Its ruler, the Nawab of Junagadh, recognised the importance of saving the Lions and from 1900 imposed a ban on hunting them. It was touch and go but by 1920 the Lions had recovered to about 50 individuals and by 1936 the number had increased dramatically to 250 animals. Although a few Lions remained in Iran until 1942 the Lions of Gir were effectively, the sole remaining representatives of the Asiatic subspecies and to the Nawab and his advisors must go the credit for their salvation.

The Gujarat Forest Department of Post independence India followed the Nawab's policy of protecting the Lions and their habitat. The 1995 count came to 304 Lions.

Indeed, from the forest of Gir, they have extended their range into the coastal forests and areas surrounding Gir as well as the forests of Girnar and Mitiala.

• Threats to the habitat. Mining, agriculture, human habitations, industrialisation.
  
• Danger of the entire population (and thereby extinction of the species in the wild) being wiped out should there be an epidemic or a natural disaster.
  
• 4 large temples located within the Protected Area attract about 80000 devotees annually creating several problems such as firewood extraction, noise pollution, dumping of garbage and encroachment.
  
• 3 highways cut through the Protected Area and carry considerable volume of traffic and provide easy access.
  
• Railway line passing through the western and southern portions of the forest has an average 6 trains passing through it everyday and Lions are quite often run over by trains.
  
• While livestock grazing by Maldharis does not pose such a huge problem, illegal entry of livestock from adjoining villages is a matter of concern.
  
• Occasional poisoning of livestock carcasses killed by Lions.
  
• Illegal fuel wood, timber and Minor Forest Produce collection.
  
• The practice of the Maldharis collecting the livestock dung along with top soil and selling it as fertilizer, results in loss of valuable nutrients.