The only home of Asiatic lions in India, Gir is a forest like no other as it teaches you valuable lessons in living ecologically.
The turnaround of lion numbers from a few dozens to close to 700 is as amazing as it is intriguing as it is a result of the ecosystem here that has made this possible.
Sasan Gir or the Gir National Park is about 65 km from Junagadh and was once the hunting ground of the Nawabs of the region. Incidentally it was the Nawab of Junagadh that put restrictions on the entry into the jungle to save them from poaching as the dwindling numbers concerned him. Later, the Government declared the place as a sanctuary in 1965 and this has bolstered the population of the lions.
It was on my trip to Aramness Gir, that I had the opportunity to meet the locals as well as understand how this conservation story is playing out.
Read the full story that first appeared in The New Indian Express dated Nov 10, 2024 here:
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