Asiatic Lion Sancturies India – Sasan Gir National Park gets 60% bonus tourists this Diwali vacation

Bollywood Megastar Amitabh Bachchan charm continued to work for the forest department at Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (GWS), the only abode to Asiatic lions in the world.

At least 60 % more tourists are booked at this sanctuary for Diwali vacations, compared to last year.

The sanctuary will open on Sunday after a three-month break for monsoon, which also coincides with the mating season for the beasts.

According to officials at GWS, the tourist flow has increased drastically as compared to the last year.

The conducive environment and the facilities provided by the department has turned out to be a major aspect attracting the tourist, officials said.

Even the Gateway hotel at Sasan Gir is completely booked, weeks after it opened.

As per Latest Chief Conservator of Forests, Junagadh, R L Meena Interviews, told to media that, “After the poaching incidents, which surfaced in 2007, we have taken several measures to change the entire perspective about Gir. The staff has been changed totally and about 400 of them are new recruits and that makes a lot of difference.

The old staff had been working as typical forest department staff whereas it needed something more than that because it was all about attracting more tourists.”

“Not only that, the local tourist guides have gained a lot of confidence in explaining about wildlife to the tourists.”

“There is no doubt that his presence has made direct impact on the tourist flow. After all, he is a superstar and people do acknowledge him.”

During 2009-10, a total of 2,06,563 persons visited the sanctuary and Devaliya Safari Park.
During 2010-11, 2,71,745 persons visited GWS and Devaliya Safari Park.

“There is an increase of 65,182 tourists in the financial year 2010-11 in comparison to 2009-10, which shows 31.55% increase in the tourist flow. During the current financial year, 1,08,996 persons have visited the sanctuary and Devaliya Safari Park. The sanctuary remained closed for tourists from June 16 to October 1.”

The tourism campaign has also benefitted the private hospitality sector, with the first large foray into the area booked full for the Diwali season.

The newly opened Gateway hotel at Sasan Gir — a part of the Taj hospitality chain with 28 rooms and a regular jeep safaris — has already been booked to capacity for the Diwali holiday season.

“We are completely sold out. It’s a mix (of foreign and domestic tourists), but a lot of domestic.”

Girnar Mountain Ropeway Project - still not starting because another clearance pending

Junagadh City Girnar Parvat project was cleared by central Environment and Forest ministry in last February, but basic works of building the ropeway have yet not started because the company Usha Breco is now waiting for one more clearance – the last of all clearances – from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) formed by the Supreme Court of India.

It’s expecting clearance for its proposal to build Girnar ropeway in three months time.

This clearance is must for starting construction activity in sanctuary area.

If someone goes to appeal against the ropeway project, the clearance process may delay.

It was in the background of the tremendous pressure on forests and the unsustainable removals and the real threat of massive destruction of wildlife habitat that the Supreme Court of India intervened and constituted Central Empowered Committee on May 9th, 2002.

The CEC presently comprises of the following six members:

Mr. P. V. Jayakrishanan, Chairman
Mr. M.K. Jiwrajka, Member
Mr. Mahendra Vyas, Member
Mr. M.K. Muthoo, Member
Mr. S.K. Patnaik, Member
Mr. P.J. Dilip Kumar, DGF & SS, Member

Asiatic Lions News 2011 – Vadodara Surat City get pure breed of them

As earlier I talked with my one of the best online friend and she is really Wildlife Lover, said that, Vadodara City Zoo which considered among the oldest in the country will for the first time be home to a pair of pure-breed Asiatic Lions. The three lions in the zoo are crossbreeds and there is not a single lioness.

With the Central Zoo Authority now giving a green signal to house the big cats, a team from Vadodara Municipal Corporation Zoo will soon head for Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh to take possession of the lion pair.

As per Latest Zoo In-charge C B Patel Interviews, he said that,

“We were contemplating on getting a pair of lions because one of the three lions has grown old and it is not advisable to keep him for public display. Talks were on with Sakkarbaug Zoo in Junagadh and we have been allowed to take possession of a pair of Asiatic lions.”

Among the three lions in Vadodara Zoo, two were procured from Chandigarh while one was born in the zoo.

“The significance of getting this pair is that we will for the first time have a genuine Asiatic lion. All the three lions are crossbreeds, including the one which has grown old. Now we will be able to go for captive breeding of Asiatic lions. We are waiting for the rains. A low temperature is important for the transit of the big cats.”

Sakkarbaug Zoo Junagadh City Saurashtra Kathiyavad will also supply a pure breed Asiatic lion to Surat Zoo. The only lion in Surat Zoo is a crossbreed.

As per Latest Zoo Prafful Mehta Interviews, he said that,Our proposal has reached Sakkarbaug Zoo officials and the final nod from CZA is awaited. For long we have been demanding an Asiatic lion and if everything goes well we will soon get one in the near future.

Gujarat Tourism India - increase of 1 lakh tourists and Rs 1 crore incomes in a year

Sasan Gir National Park has witnessed a huge increase in number of travelers in recent months.

Amitabh Bachchan’s hugely publicized ads for Gujarat have been beneficial to the state in many ways, from which Gir seems to be benefiting the most.

According to the figures between June 2009 to May 2010 Gir National Park and Gir interpretation center of Devalia both were visited by 5166 foreign tourists and 200800 Indian tourists; which is a total of 205966 tourists.

From which the Gir interpretation center had 213 foreign and 134005 domestic tourists while the Gir Sanctuary had 4953 foreign and 66795 domestic tourists.

But this year the number has increased by 98,861 tourists.

According to forest department officials in Sasan Gir; 239 foreign tourists and 1, 70,350 domestic tourists, totally 1, 70,589 tourists have visited Gir interpretation center and 6061 foreign tourists and 1, 28,177 domestic tourists, totally 1, 34,238 tourists had visited Gir Sanctuary between June 2010 and May 2011.

Last year Gir Interpretation center made an income of Rs 1, 20, 46,155; whereas Gir sanctuary made Rs 87, 20,000. In total the forest department made an income of Rs 2, 16, 66,840.

While this year with 98,861 more tourists, Gir sanctuary has made Rs 1, 66, 49,950; whereas Gir Sanctuary made Rs 1, 56, 91,726. In total the forest department made an income of Rs 3, 23, 41,676 which is Rs 1, 06, 74,836 more than previous year.

Apart from that the hotels and other hospitality resources near the National Park are benefiting from the increase in the number of tourists. Take an example of local car operators.

While one Gipsy car driver was getting 70-80 tourist trips of Gir sanctuary in 2009-10, in year 2010-11 the same driver got 120-150 trips.

But the real hospitality the tourists will never forget is the one offered by the small farm owners in the villages nearby, the tourists feasted on delicious Kathiyavadi Food like Bajra No Rotlo, Kadhi, Khichdi and Olo.

The Lion King has not only blessed the forest department but also the small scale cottage industry and numerous individuals who depend on them.

Sasan Gir National Park - 836 crore assistance for Lions

For the Unique Ring Road to surround Sasan Gir Sanctuary and Gir National Park which will help in minimizing the man-animal clash and human activity in the region and for Lion conservation, Gujarat State Government has demanded Rs.836.17 crore central assistance from the Government of India.

The Gujarat State Government in a formal communication wrote to the Ministry of Forest & Environment (MOEF) that, As per 2010 estimation Greater Gir area had about 411 Asiatic Lions.

The only home of Asiatic Lion – Sasan Gir - needs to be intensively protected and managed with all out efforts in conservation of them.

In spite of successful conservation efforts over last four decades registering sustained increasing population trend the Asiatic Lion is still critically endangered on account of its total population being only about 411.

Therefore the long-term attention for conservation of Asiatic Lion is required.

In the recent times poaching of large cats for international market has imposed a serious threat to lions also.

“The Government of Gujarat is taking utmost possible steps. Considering the need for additional resources and contribution of Government of India, the Government of Gujarat has submitted a proposal of “THE LONG TERM CONSERVATION OF ASIATIC LIONS IN BRHUHAD GIR.”

The project cost was Rs.262.36 Crore with Government of India’s share Rs.236.17 Crores and Government of Gujarat share of Rs. 26.19 Crore.

The cost included the cost of relocation and rehabilitation of resident people and Gir Maldharis.

The proposal includes strengthening protection, habitat development, and wild life health care and mitigating man-wild animal conflict situation, use of modern technology, eco development works, public awareness, eco tourism, wrote the state Government to the MOEF.

The MOEF has provided only Rs.120.46 lakh as financial and technical assistance to the State Government for protection and conservation of Asiatic Lions in Gir forest in last four years.
Gir National Park and sanctuary area is 1412.13 Sq. Km.

Six State Highways and some minor roads pass through the Sanctuary and used by the local people.

Existing Highways passing though the sanctuary affect movement of animals and Forest cover, increase Wildlife mortality with the volume of traffic and increase possibility of poaching. To reduce this traffic a project of “Garland/Ring road” around Gir forest has been proposed.

The State Government wrote to the MOEF that, “The proposed garland/ring road is estimated to be a length of 269 Km. The estimated cost of project is about Rs.600.00 Crores.

The said project has been duly recommended by State Board of Wild life and is sent to Union Government on 2-06-2009 for consideration.

The ring road proposed 14 over passes and 16 under passes on specific migratory path locations for safe passages to wild life while crossing Highways and immunize the protected area from traffic playing through human interference.’’

Sasan Gir National Park – Closed doors on tourists this monsoon

As I read before few days ago, Sasan Gir National Park - located at Sasan in Junagadh district, is only home to pure Asiatic lions and attracts a large number of Indian as well as foreign tourists closed for tourists during the monsoon season owing to the breeding of wild cats and conservation efforts being undertaken at the sanctuary.

As per online Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary Divisional Forest Officer Sandeep Kumar Interviews, he said that, “Its (Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary) closing is being done to provide some privacy to wild animals like lions, leopards and birds like peacocks etc during their mating season as the four months of monsoon period are considered the best for their breeding season.”

“Since we supervise the conservation efforts, we want to prevent any disturbance in the conservation activities, which could also be caused by the tourists. So we close the sanctuary,” Kumar said, adding that the park would be closed from June 16 and will reopen only in October after the monsoon season is over.

As per the 2010 census, the total number of lions in Gir sanctuary has risen to 411 from 359 in 2005. With a total area of 1,412 sq km (about 258 sq km for the national park and 1153 sq km for the sanctuary), the park is considered as safe haven for the lions and other species.

“It is also a natural habitat for leopards and antelopes like sambar, spotted deer, blue bull, black buck, and wild boar, jackal, hyena, langoors, porcupine, bear and crocodiles and over 250 species of birds.”

The officer also added that the roads in the park are kachcha and get damaged during monsoon. They need to be repaired before allowing tourists to visit (the park) after its closure period is over, he said.

“Not only that we have to monitor the movement of wild animals during rains and in case of heavy rain in the area, we have to chalk out a rescue plan and taking them to safer places.”

In addition, if big cats fall sick, we have to make arrangements for their treatment and that is why the closure of the park during monsoon season is required.

Girnar Ropeway Project - design will be made in Austria

After finally getting the Centre's nod, the Girnar Mountain Ropeway Project is going global. With the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) giving a green signal to the original plan, the ropeway project will now be designed in the European country Austria.

While Usha Breco Limited(UBL) will be handling the construction of Girnar Parvat Ropeway, its technical partner company Doppelmayr will be designing the project.

Marred by a series of controversies, the project had been stalled for the past 16 years due to environment concerns. Now after all kind of clearances from the government, construction work on the project will take off in next six months.

About 38 cabins will play on the rope which can carry 1000 people per hour. As per Latest Deepak Kaplish Interviews, who is project incharge, Usha Breco Limited said that, "Design of the Girnar ropeway will be made in Austria and it will be one of India's state of-the-art works of design. We will send our engineer to Austria and discuss the location and undertake the paperwork of ropeway design."

The Girnar Parvat Ropeway project will cost about Rs 100 crore and will be completed in two and half years after the work on the ropeway building begins. This means that Saurashtra and Gujarat will have to wait at least three more years before the project commissions.

Usha Breco Limited (UBL) was established in the year 1969 as a joint venture between Usha Martin Industries Limited, India then the largest wire rope manufacturers in Asia and now the second largest in the world and British Ropeway Engineering Co. Ltd. (BRECO), U.K.

Meanwhile, Doppelmayr Group has production facilities and sales and service locations in over 33 countries of the world and has built more than 14,100 installations in over 83 countries till date. Doppelmayr Italia GmbH was awarded the contract for the construction of the new ropeway on the Mont Blanc.

This is the biggest order so far for the South Tyrolean Company which has its headquarters in Lana. The total order value is of EUR 105 million and now the group will provide its service to the Girnar ropeway as well.

Asiatic Lions India – Sasan Gir National Park Wildlife News Junagadh Gujarat

The tiger population is diminishing despite herculean conservation efforts, but Asiatic Lions seem to be enjoying a revival in Gujarat’s Gir Forest.

Though the exact numbers will be known only when the Lion census (scheduled to start next month) gets over, there is expected to be a 20% increase over the population recorded in the previous census. During the 2005 census, 359 lions were found in Gir.

After the projected increase of 20%, 425 are expected to be found. If the census reflects and proves this trend, lion conservation in Gujarat will become the biggest and most successful conservation success stories in the world. The increase in the lion population has happened despite the paltry sums being allocated for lion conservation by the Centre.

Chief conservator of forest MM Sharma, who’s currently in Junagadh wildlife circle, told DNA that the Centre gave around Rs70 lakh for lion conservation in 2009 even though it spent hundreds of crores on tigers. “Just one Mumbai-based trust has donated Rs81 lakh this year,” Sharma said. The success, acknowledged and appreciated in the conservators’ community, has been attributed mainly to the local people — the residents of 1,500 villages in the Junagadh Districts and Bhavnagar Districts.

“Gujarat deserves a pat on the back for the lovely upkeep of lions. However, it must be kept in mind that this story would have been completely different if the lions had been in any other state,” said Yadvendra Jhala, faculty at the Wildlife Institute of India, who was part of the tiger census. “People here are mostly vegetarian, so the lions’ prey-base is not poached upon. The king of the jungle survives even out of the forest area.”

While the growth in numbers is being celebrated, there are three big challenges. Because of the increasing numbers and increasing human pressure in its periphery, the lion’s habitat is shrinking at its fastest rate. This will make it very difficult for the animals to move freely and multiply. Besides, the politicization over the ‘ownership’ of lions has made the issue of shifting some lions to safer habitats very complicated. This means lions face the biggest threats from natural calamity or disease.

The conservation is successful because lions now roam over 8,000 sq km in Saurashtra. “There is no retaliatory killing even if lions kill livestock. Villagers are proud to have them here.”

Somnath Temple Junagadh District News Samachar Gujarat India

Security has been tightened at the famous Somnath Temple at Veraval Taluka in Junagadh district following intelligence reports of the temple being a soft target for a terror attack, police said on Saturday.

The state home department has decided to increase the security cover at the temple by deploying another company of the Gujarat State Reserve Police following reports from the intelligence bureau that the temple is a soft target for terrorists, a senior police official said.

Thereby, the number of security personnel keeping a watch on the temple has increased to 165 from 90, following the addition of 75 more jawans, the official said.

Sakkarbaug Zoo Junagadh City News Samachar Gujarat India

After tiding over recent crisis of the illness of imported South African cheetahs, the forest department-run Sakkarbaug Zoo authorities in Junagadh City are now planning to welcome a pair of Hippopotamus.

Recently, much to the relief of wildlife lovers and zoo medico team, four cheetahs, which had fallen severely ill last month, were certified as fully recovered. The beasts, which were removed from public view after they had suffered infection, were put back for public view.

Sakkarbaug Zoo superintendent VJ Rana said, "The cheetahs have recovered and have been brought to the sections where visitors can see them since March 1." Sakkarbaug Zoo is the only zoo in country to own the world's fastest animal. The cheetahs were brought from Singapore under an animal exchange programme. The zoo is now planning to bring a female hippo from Kanpur Zoo under another animal exchange programme.

"We have already brought a male hippo and within the next fortnight will bring the female one to the zoo. In exchange, we have provided Kanpur Zoo with a tiger. The zoo is also going to house four pairs of foreign birds from Baroda Zoo in exchange of which we will give them a tiger, bear and Thamin deer," Rana added.

Junagadh History Saurashtra Gujarat India

For hundreds of years now, this lion-faced state has been a natural abode of the jungle king. Lions were hunted in large numbers in northern and western India in 19th century. Gir Jungle was their last refuge because the Gujaratis protected them.

It is on sound scientific counts that Gujarat is resisting Centre’s move to shift lions from Gir to Kuno Palpur in Madhya Pradesh. While the Nawab of Junagadh City was among the first to bring in regulations to protect lions in the 19th century, the idea first came from Ashoka the Great in 257 B.C.

Ashoka’s rock edict at Girnar Mountain talks about preservation over 2000 years back. If Gujarat had also killed the Asiatic Lions, the emblem of India would not have been those magestic four Asiatic lions, standing back to back. The symbol is taken from Sarnath, Ashoka capital. It’s a great work of art and a symbol of India’s pride, made possible only because Saurashtra protected the prides of lions in a corner of the peninsula.

After Gujarat was born in 1960, the government formed a lion Gir sanctuary in 1965. In 1975, Gujarat government conceived a special project for the protection of Gir Wildlife Forest area and declared it a national park.

But only with the support of local people, the number of lions has gone up. According to the 1968 census, there were 177 lions, which went up to 350-360 in 2005.

The Gujarat government formed a committee to tackle the menace of lion poaching and a Rs 40 crore five-year plan was chalked in 2007-08. Gujarat Inc too has pitched in with financial support.

Asiatic Lions Sasan Gir National Park Wildlife Junagadh District News

Here it’s really good news for all natural lovers especially from Gujarati of Garva Gujarat that, proposal of Union minister for forest and environment Jairam Ramesh's offer for tigers in lieu of lions likely to reject by Narendra Modi Gujarat Government.

Main reason was behind that the neighboring state Madhya Pradesh would walk away with all its tourists who come to Gujarat to see the Asiatic lions in and around Gir National Park.

Every year Gir Forest and Devalia national park visited by Over one lakh domestic and international visitors. Retired wildlife official GA Patel said that "Gujarat will have to strongly oppose the transfer on technical grounds.

The state has a strong point as tiger and lions cannot stay together". Sanat Chauhan, another wildlife veteran, said, "Tourism in Gujarat would be affected as MP just wants to create a small lion safari which would be a big draw." Madhya Pradesh already has tigers in Kanha, Bandhavgarh and other sanctuaries.

If Gujarat Government accept this offer than as per mine opinion as one Kathiyavadi from Saurashtra, we surely have lost!!

Buddhist Pilgrimage Gujarat Heritage Tourism Saurashtra News India

Gujarat to be projected as Buddhist pilgrimage destination.

After being stashed away for more than 50 years since its excavation, the stone casket containing the mortal remains of Lord Gautam Buddha would become the mascot for the state government, which now wants to popularize Gujarat as a major Buddhist pilgrimage destination. The remains were excavated from Dev Ni Mori Buddhist stupas by archaeologist B Subbarao.

A three-day international seminar on Buddhist heritage would be held in Vadodara MS University campus from January 15. The event would see several Buddhist scholars from all around the world including, 1,500 religious preachers, academicians and His Holiness Dalai Lama converge at varsity.

South East Asian countries, certain European and South American countries which have over the last few years shown interest in investments in the state would be the prime focus. These include Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Germany, USA, Canada, and Bangladesh.

Several religious and political leaders would be in Vadodara at the inaugural session of the international seminar. The list includes a ministerial representative from Bhutan, Lonopyo Pashi Zimba; spiritual leaders like, Oozing Trina Lee; Uttrakhand CM Ramesh Pokhariyal; patron of Maha Buddha society in India, BK Modi; Swami Dayanand Saraswati, and vice-chancellor of MS University Mrinalidevi Puar.

Gujarat Tourism Development Minister Jaynarayan Vyas, said, "The international seminar would be a platform for the state where scholars from around the world would appreciate the Buddhist past of Gujarat. In fact, Gujarat was a centre for both Hinayana and Mahayana forms of Buddhism. The accounts of Chinese travellers Huen Tsang and I Tsing have references to Buddhist monasteries in the state."

The main motive of the international event would be promoting documentation of Buddhist artifacts in the state. The excavations of Buddhist sites in recent years in Vadnagar, Sana caves, Khambalida, Siyot caves, Junagadh City Khapra kodia monastery and Talaja caves would be put on display along with Dev Ni Mori site along river Meshvo.

Somnath Mandir Veraval City Junagadh District Gujarat India

Eight Mandirs in Gujarat to be decorated by colorful lighting.

The government of Gujarat has taken a decision to decorate eight Hindu Mandir in state with colorful lighting during Diwali and also to continue this decoration across the year to boost the tourism.

State Tourism minister Jaynarayan Vyas today took this decision in a meeting attended by district collectors of Banaskantha, Sabarkantha, Mehsana, Godhra, Surendranagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh and Kheda districts.

While Ambaji Mandir will be decorated with solar powered light, Dwarka Mandir will be decorated with power saving system at a cost of Rs.14 lakh.

Junagadh district’s Somnath Mandir, Sabarkantha district’s Shamlaji Mandir, Kheda’s Dakor Mandir, Mehsana’s Bahucharaji, Surendranagar’s Chotila Mandir, Pavagadh’s Mahakali Mandir will also be decorated with colorful light according to shape of the respective Mandir.

Junagadh City District Tourism News

Gujarat will lead in tourism in next five years

Tourism Minister Jay Narain Vyas today claimed that pro tourism policies of the state will make Gujarat a leading state in the country in next five years. He said that massive investment was being made in infrastructure and tourism circuit development which will take Gujarat to the top position.

Vyas was talking at launch ceremony of newly formed Gurjarat Tourism Development Society. The organization has been set up by people with passion for tourism with sole objective to promote tourism in Gujarat and among Gujaratis.

He said that it was a fact that Gujarat was not among first five states in the country in the field of tourism. It was not because of any problem but because of the fact that after its formation in 1960, Gujarat had to concentrate on other priorities. But tourism is Gujarat’s priority now, he said.

Giving details of the steps the government had been taking, he said that the budget of tourism department which was less than Rs 50 crore has now been Rs 160 crore. In addition to this there were scheme for the development of tourist destinations with budget of billions of rupees. For instance, he said that for Junagadh area along there was a scheme of Rs 600 crore.

Tourism offers more employment than other industries, he said. An investment of Rs ten lakh in agriculture generates employment for 59, in industry for 45 people but tourism gives employment to 89.

Talking about circuit tourism, he said that it existed in India for hundreds of years. Chaar Dham yatra and such pilgrimages were the best examples. But, Indian never looked at them from business point of view. Change in the approach would make circuit tourism very paying, according to Vyas.