Gir National Park

The Gir National Park in Junagadh, Gujarat is famous for the Asiatic lion- 'Panthera leo persica'. The Gir National Park and Lion Sanctuary was established in 1965 and occupies an area of 3,386 square kilometers.

The Gir National Park of Gujarat is an important National Park of Gujarat that is the home to Asiatic lion and numerous animal species.

The Gir National Park comprises of mixed deciduous forest including teak, Acacia and Banyan trees, scrub and grassland, dry deciduous forest and some marshland.

The Gir National Park of Gujarat is the home to the largest leopard populations of India.

The Gir National Park of Gujarat and its Lion Sanctuary is collectively known as the Gir Protected Area.

Today, the Gir National Park in Gujarat is a haven to about 300 Asiatic lions. Besides lions and leopards, the Gir National Park in Junagadh is the home to varied species of mammals like :

• Four horned Antelope
• Deer
• Hyenas
• Crocodiles
• Jackals
• Birds
• Nilgai
• Chinkara

• Sambhar
• Black Bucks
• Wild Boar
• Indian Flying Foe
• Grey Musk Shrew
• Indian Hare
• Pale Hedgehog
• Small Indian Mangoose
• Small Indian Civet
• Indian Pangolin
• Indian Porcupine
• Ratel
• Indian Fox
• Jackal.

The Gir National Park at Gujarat also has three smaller wildcats such as the Jungle Cat, Desert Cat and the Rusty Spotted Cat. The forests of the Gir National Park has a rich variety of bird life. There are more than 300 species of birds found in the Gir National Park of Gujarat. The most common among them are the peafowls.

The major attraction of the Gir National Park at Gujarat is the "lion shows". It is organized by the Gir National Park authorities in the Dewaliya area. Here you will get the sure-shot way of seeing the magnificent big cats of the park.

Last Updated on : 30 September 2011