| Gir National Park | |
|---|---|
 Family of Asiatic lions at Gir National Park | |
 Location map | |
| Location | Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Amreli Districts, Gujarat, India |
| Nearest city | Talala (Gir), Veraval |
| Coordinates | 21°08′08″N 70°47′48″E / 21.13556°N 70.79667°E |
| Area | 1,410.30 km2 (544.52 sq mi) |
| Established | 1965 |
| Visitors | 60,148 (in 2004) |
| Governing body | Forests & Environment Department |
Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Sasan Gir, is a forest, national park, and wildlife sanctuary near Talala Gir in Gujarat, India. It is located 43 km (27 mi) north-east of Somnath, 65 km (40 mi) south-east of Junagadh and 60 km (37 mi) south-west of Amreli. It was established in 1965 in the erstwhile Nawab of Junagarh's private hunting area, with a total area of 1,410.30 km2 (544.52 sq mi), of which 258.71 km2 (99.89 sq mi) is fully protected as a national park and 1,151.59 km2 (444.63 sq mi) as wildlife sanctuary.[1] It is part of the Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.[2][3]
The 14th Asiatic Lion Census 2015 was conducted in May 2015. In 2015, the population was 523 (27% up compared to previous census in 2010). The population was 411 in 2010 and 359 in 2005. The lion population in Junagadh District was 268 individuals, 44 in Gir Somnath District, 174 in Amreli District, and 37 in Bhavangar District. There are 109 males, 201 females and 213 cubs.[4] The lions can be seen by Jungle Safari which one can book online as well.
Gir National Park is closed from 16 June to 15 October every year, throughout the monsoon season.[5]
- ^ "Gir National Park & Wildlife Sanctuary". Government of Gujarat. Forests and Environment Department. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
- ^ "Khathiar-Gir dry deciduous forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ Jhala, Y. V.; Gopal, R.; Qureshi, Q., eds. (2008). Status of the Tigers, Co-predators, and Prey in India (PDF). TR 08/001. National Tiger Conservation Authority, Govt. of India, New Delhi; Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 June 2013.
- ^ "Asiatic Lion population up from 411 to 523 in five years". deshgujarat.com. 10 May 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- ^ Gaikwad, Rahi (16 June 2014). "Gir forest to be shut down till October 15". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 27 July 2022.