Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary is a 1412 sq
km hilly tract of dry deciduous forests, acacia scrub, evergreen and semi-evergreen
flora and grasslands, fed by rivers and streams. Among the many water-bodies
in the reserve is the Kamleshwar Dam, known for its large crocodile population.
Originally protected by the Nawab of Junagadh, after British viceroys
brought to his attention the plight of the lion in Asia, the sanctuary
is the jewel of Gujarat's ecological resources.
FAUNA OF GIR
According to official census figures, Gir has about 300 lions and 300
leopards, making it one of the major big-cat concentrations in India.
Sambar and spotted deer (chital), blue bull (nilgai), chousingha (the
world's only four-horned antelope), chinkara (Indian gazelle) and wild
boar thrive in Gir. Jackal, striped hyena, jungle cat, rusty-spotted cat,
langur, porcupine, black-naped Indian hare are among the other mammals
Gir has a large population of marsh crocodile or mugger, which is among
the 40 species of reptiles and amphibians recorded in the sanctuary.
The park checklist has 250 birds and about 50 other species (including
the endangered lesser florican and the saras crane) are recorded in the
grasslands along the perifery of the sanctuary. Many species like the
painted sandgrouse, grey francolin, quails, Asian paradise flycatcher,
black-naped monarch, white-browed fantail, Asian brown flycatcher, grey-headed
flycatcher, verditer flycatcher, tickell's blue flycatcher, greenish warbler,
white-eye, coppersmith barbet, common and marshal's iora, rufous treepie,
yellow-footed green pigeon have been spotted by our guests around the
lodge itself. Long-billed vulture, Indian white-backed vulture, red-headed
(king) vulture, Eurasian griffon vulture, changeable hawk-eagle, crested
serpent eagle, bonneli's eagle, greater spotted eagle, lesser spotted
eagle, tawny eagle, steppe eagle, imperial eagle, Pallas's fish eagle,
grey-headed fish eagle, osprey, peregrine falcon, laggar falcon, red-headed
falcon, oriental honey-buzzard, white-eyed buzzard and other raptors have
been seen in the sanctuary. Gir also has brown fish owl, Eurasian eagle
owl, spotted owlet. In the evening, nightjars can be seen near the lodge
The lodge can also be used as the base to visit the coastal areas from
Veraval to Diu Bird Sanctuary for shore birds.
Gir also has about 2000 species of invertebrate and the trails around
the lodge can be good for butterfly-spotting.
PEOPLE OF GIR
Gir is the home of the Maldharis, a term used for the many Hindu and Muslim
pastoral groups of the area. The Maldhars live in traditional settlements
called nesses and tend Jafrabadi buffalos, Gir cows and other livestock.
Some of them also have camels, sheep and goats. Among the best-known pastoral
groups of Gir is the Sorathi Rabari.
Siddis are a community with African origins. Believed to have come from
African countries as mercenaries, slaves and labour, the Siddis grew to
become powerful generals, some of them even became rulers. In Gir, there
are villages of the Siddis, who are well known for their dances and other
performances, and Nagarshi Pir at Jhambur nearby is a major shrine for
the Siddi community.