Saving the Gir lions
With the declaration of the Gir area as a sanctuary in 1965, the Gir lions got a new lease on life.
Gir is the single largest tract of the forest in the Saurashtra region of the Gujarat state and has become most closely associated with the Asiatic lion-Panther Leo persica. The lion entered India approximately 6000 years ago from Persia –and today they are found only in Gir. The last lion found outside Gir was shot, according to records, in 1884.
Gir has shrunk from 3070 sq km in 1880 to 1884 sq km 1999 who or what was responsible? –a) cutting down of trees b) limestone quarries c) granite mining d) development of tourism.
A growing number of townships –all these posed a threat to the lion (and leopard) population –because their habitat was being systematically destroyed 9degraded).
During periods of drought- or when young males set up new prides, some lions move out of the area. Imagine ow frightening it must be to suddenly find lions wandering into your farmland or peering in through your windows!
To live happily, neighbors above to be friendly. If they are constantly staling from each other, there are bound to be fights. There fore, if lions and human beings have to live together, they must learn to respect each other. What we could call a proper `animal-human equation’ has to be built up.
What do animals need to live? Shelter, food, water –exactly like us, but we need clothes too!
In 1972 when food becomes scarce the lions turned to livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, etc.). But after 1965, there was a gradual improvement in (nilgai) and cinkara (four –horned antelope) grew –so the lions who had started killing domesticated animals now had lots of wild animals to feed on and stopped `visiting’ the villages.
The number of lions also grew. At the last census there were 30e lions counted and an `extended Gir’ has become necessary for their survival.
What does this man? It means that newer areas where lions could live happily have to be developed and the lion `relocated’ there.
The lion has always been a symbol of courage and valor (bravery). That is why Rajputs and Sikhs add `Singh’ to their names!
To see a whole pride of lions stretched out in the afternoon enjoying a nap one would not imagine how fast they can move when they are chasing a prey. All the adults in the pride hunt- the lionesses are very good at planning how to attack together. But, because they hunt so openly and are so sure of their own strength, they too are easy to kill also.
The lion is a little smaller in size than the tiger. While lions weigh between 180- to 225 kg-tigers can weight up to 290 kg! Amazingly lions can climb the lower branches of trees.
Will the lions stay where they are taken-will they wander away into places where people are? Will they continue to grow in number-only time will tell!
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