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.

Unforgettable Journey For Asiatic Lions Junagadh District Gujarat India

In India, Cities like Rajkot, Jamnagar, Amreli, and Bhavnagar are famous for their tourist attractions. But Here I want to share about one another city from Gujarat State is Junagadh-Saurashtra.

Junagadh, one of the well-known city for its history background, lots of tourist attraction places like Girnar Mountains, Temples, Uperkot, and Sakkarbaug Zoo etc.

So if I am talk about Gir National Park which is also known as Sasan Gir locally lies in western Gujarat, established in 1965. It serves as a reserve forest for preserving the Asiatic lion. The vast terrain—forests, grasslands, rivers and swamps—supports the full Animal Planet menagerie including the antelope, leopard, deer, hyena, jackal and crocodile. The watering holes dotting the region attract myriad bird species—and these areas are jewels in Gujarat’s richly studded safari crown.

There were only a total of 15 tigers when the rehabilitation started. In 2001, the population grew to 338. In April of 2005 the numbers increased to 359. Visit national parks, especially the lions of Gir National Park to learn more about wildlife preservation. Bring along your children so that they can appreciate the beauty of nature at an early age. Teach and educate them about the importance of preserving nature.

Now if I am talk about Girnar Parvat at Junagadh City which is famous all over in Gujarat for Girnar Lili Parikrma which was lastly held at 29th October-2009 for 5 days.

The Parikrama was commence from Girnar Taleti, night halt at Jinabava Madhi, Marvella and Bordevi and return to the starting point on the fifth day.

Authorities like Junagadh Municipal Corporation, health care department, state transport, forest, water supply, police, in addition to social and religious organizations, are on the job of helping about one million pilgrims expected this year.

Mine Personal Touring experience at Junagadh City said that, “There are lots of trustable services available like “Various Nationalize Banks in different areas in city easily available. Rental Car, Bikes are also very cheap. E-commerce cousulting services, Food Zone, Restaurants with Various Menu available.””

May be after few years, with the help of Gujarat Tourism Department, sure Junagadh City can become main historical tourism hub in Gujarat.

Kesar Mangoes Keri Productions Junagadh District News Saurashtra Gujarat India

“Kesar Mangoes (Keri) ripen in December” farmers, scientists baffled.

There is a brighter side to everything, and the saying also applies to global warming.

Even as global warming is being debated hotly in Copenhagen, mango farmers like Chandubhai Ghesadiya are smiling in mid winter as a fully ripe crop of the famous Kesar mango (Keri) in December has come as a pleasant surprise for farmers in Junagadh State.

"It's a miracle. I have never seen this before. For the first time in 2009, I have seen this occurrence," says mango farmer Chandubhai Ghesadiya.

Chandubhai's fellow farmer Vipul Akbari is equally puzzled.

"Original mangoes normally ripen in May or June," points out another mango farmer Vipulbhai Akbari.

Kesar mangos are grown over 1, 10,000 acres in Gujarat and the annual production is in excess of 12,000 metric tonnes. But the mango is extremely sensitive to climate changes and their ripening in December is a dangerous trend.

Agriculture research scientists are now looking at possible ways to make the Kesar variety more resistant to climate changes.

"There is a need for new research for mango. It's a challenge for the scientist community. We have started research for a resistant variety to global warming," Research Scientist in Junagadh Agricultural University says Dr RR Viradiya.

For the moment though, farmers like Chandubhai are happy, as the off-season mangoes are selling at Rs 1700 for a box of 10 kilos, 10 times the normal price.

Asiatic Lions Junagadh City Sakkarbaug Zoo News Saurashtra Gujarat India

Lioness' honeymoon has authorities on tenterhooks.

It's a ‘tale' of two honeymoons.

One of a lioness that never happened for curious reasons and that of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (DNH) authorities, which is about to end.

The authorities had great hopes when they set up Vasna Lion Safari seven years ago on 60 acre of land at Vasona village in DNH. Now, they are caught on the horns of a dilemma.

Neither have they enough lions to call it a safari, nor can they close the highly ambitious project. Two Asiatic lions -- Kush, Dharma and two lionesses -- Sonal and Silky -- were brought to the safari from Gir with the hope that their numbers would increase through breeding.

However, the lions were unable to procreate and died. Lioness Silky, too, died, leaving Sonal alone in the wilderness, which have dashed the authorities plan of having a thriving safari.

The authorities, however, are not willing to give up that easily. "We have decided to bring one more lion from Junagadh City Sakkarbaug Zoo," assistant conservator of forests (wildlife), DNH, Dilipsinh Mangrola said.

"We have sent many requests to Central Zoo Authority (CZA) to grant permission to bring more Asiatic Lions from Junagadh to DNH. But there has been no positive response," said deputy conservator of forests, DNH B Chaudhry.

The authorities want to bring a lion to the safari at the earliest because of CZA guidelines, which say a lone animal is not allowed in a safari for public display.

Mangrola has suggested that in the mean time, Sonal be taken for mating with an Asiatic lion in Gir. If it happens, it will end the authorities honeymoon with the proposed safari, but will kick off a bright and long-awaited one for Sonal.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Hill Ropeway Project News Gujarat India

Ramesh to visit Mount Girnar to take stock of ropeway project.

With the environmental panel’s nod, the ropeway project at Mount Girnar in Junagadh now awaits the green signal from the Wildlife Panel, appointed by the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment — following objections by the National Board of Wildlife.

Union Minister for Forest and Environment Jairam Ramesh is likely to visit Junagadh to take stock of the situation before the Wildlife Panel takes its decision. The minister’s visit will focus on the project’s impact on the vulture population in the region, given its importance as a roosting and nesting centre.

He is scheduled to conduct a survey of the site. S K Nanda, state Principal Secretary, Forest and Environment, said: “The minister is likely to visit on December 5. He will check if the project threatens the birds.”

Over 7 hectares of forest area has been diverted for the project at an investment of Rs 89.31 crore, which has raised many eyebrows. Ropeway service cabins by Usha Breco Limited, each with a capacity of eight passengers, will pass over 1,700 meters of forest land. The ropeway, with a capacity of 1,000 passengers per hour, will start from the Girnar foothills and terminate near the Ambaji Temple at the top of mountain. Though the company and the Forest Department have carried out compensatory afforestation on 7 hectares in Toraniya plot, environmental groups have expressed apprehension over the damage to ecology.

According to the Gir Nature Club, vulture is a Schedule-I bird and the project will cause disturbance. Planned in 1968, the project has been delayed for various reasons.

After a foundation stone was laid by Chief Minister Narendra Modi in 2007, the National Board for Wildlife had deferred its decision to approve the state government project in spite of the strong representation by the state in its favor. Home to the Asiatic lions, Girnar forest is spread across 1,800 square kilometer.

It includes Mount Girnar, which is an important pilgrimage place, especially for the Jain community. Earlier, a section of Jains was against the project as the ropeway service would commercialize an important religious site.

Sutrapada Taluka Village Coast Junagadh District News Saurashtra Gujarat India

Whale shark saved off Sutrapada Coast Junagadh District.

A whale shark weighing five tones was rescued from off the Sutrapada coast in Junagadh district and released in the sea unscathed in a joint mission by the forest officials and local nature club members on Tuesday.

Dinesh Goswami, president of the Nature's Club told TOI, "We received a message about the whale shark being caught in the net in the morning and rushed there along with forest officials."

The animal was saved by cutting as many as 15 nets of Ratnasagar boat owned by Bhaidas Jadav. "It was at least 25-feet-long shark, a male and weighed five tones. It took us three hours to de-tangle the nets and let it go. However, the animal was not injured at all," said Goswami who was accompanied by Jignesh Gohil in the mission.

Assistant conservator of forests PH Babariya said, "We received a call from Goswami and rushed a team of forest officials to the spot. They left in three boats and got out the animal safely."

Incidentally, this is the second incidence of whale shark rescue in this season. Earlier, one had been saved on November 23 from the same region. Nature club has been involved in saving 112 of these animals.

The cause of saving this endangered species, which come to the Gujarat coast, has been ongoing since the past few years. The cause of "Save the Whale Shark" had been taken up by religious guru Morari Bapu along with the forest department.

Bapu had administered a pledge to his followers to consider the whale, which comes to the Indian coast to give birth, as their daughter who has come home for child birth and guard them.

The whale shark, which migrates in winters from Africa to Gujarat coast, was placed under schedule I of wildlife (Protection) Act in 2001.Over 171 sharks have been saved off the Gujarat coast since 2005.

Gir National Park Sasan Forest Jungle Asiatic Lions Junagadh Gujarat India

IBM to help create 'Little Africa' in Gujarat.

In a bid to provide employment to youth of the African-origin Sidi community settled in Saurashtra, Gujarat government has planned to create a ‘Little Africa’ on the fringes of Gir forest by developing a theme-based resort.

The resort to be developed on 25 acres of land would be promoted by global giant IBM. The tribal development department of the state government has entered into a tie-up with IBM India for the project.

“The Rs 10-crore project, excluding the cost of land, would be fully funded by the Gujarat government. IBM will provide expertise to select a private partner to run the resort. It will also provide consultancy to market this ‘Little Africa’ across the world to lure maximum tourists,” said Per Yorgansen, project manager, IBM Denmark, who is in Ahmedabad for IBM’s Corporate Service Corps (CSC) program.

Pallavi Shukla, senior consultant to the state government for the project, said that development work would start by March 2010 and the resort would be functional in three years.

“Around 200 Sidi youth will get direct employment. Besides, there would be plenty of indirect employment opportunities as a ‘gram haat’ to display Sidi handicraft will be set up. Every evening there would be cultural events featuring Sidi ‘Dhamal’ dance troupe, which is very popular,” said Shukla.

The resort would be a replica of a typical Sidi village. Even interiors of all the 30 rooms would have an African touch. A museum would display various facets of Sidi life in and around Gir Jungle Forest, especially their interface with the Asiatic Lions.

The Sidi community came to India from East Africa as slaves around 500 years ago. Their population is currently 10,000 in Gujarat, concentrated mainly on the periphery of the Gir forest in Junagadh district

Sasan Gir National Park Forest Jungle Asiatic Lions Junagadh News Gujarat India

Gir Asiatic lions at Sasan Gir National Park, Talala Junagadh District to wear a chip under their skin.

The Gujarat government has decided to install microchips under the skin of the lions in the Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the only abode of the Asiatic lions, to track their movements.

The decision was taken following a series of lion killings, both natural and accidental, an official spokesperson said on Wednesday.

The spokesperson said a control tower would also be set up in the sanctuary with global positioning system. The State has sanctioned Rs.40 crore for the project.

Girnar Lili Parikrama Shivratri Mela Junagadh City News Gujarat India

Girnar Parikrama draws thousands in Rajkot City.

Junagadh City, one of the most important Historical Places in Gujarat, draws the attention of thousands of travelers from across the state during Shivratri Mela, Girnar parikrama and Girnar climbing competition. Like every year, this year too, a large number of people across the state have come to the city for performing the 36-km 'Lili Parikrama' (spiritual walk) around the Girnar Parvat.

The parikrama, as usual, began on Thursday night, the day of Tulsi Vivah, also known as Dev Diwali, from the foot of the mountain, where the pilgrims spent the night. On Friday morning, the parikrama was started from Dudheshwar Mahadev temple.

They would spend the night at the Saint Jinabava's hut(Jinabava ni Madhi). The next day they would reach Malvela, the place surrounded by high climbers located in the midst of Girnar forest.

The next morning, they leave for southern forest and reach to Bordevi, temple of Goddess Ambika. On Tuesday morning, the pilgrims would return to Bhavnath Mandir Taleti at the foot of the mountain.

Authorities like Junagadh Municipal Corporation, health department, state transport, forest, water supply, police, in addition to social and religious organizations, are on the job of helping about one million pilgrims expected this year.

The event also attracts a large number of youngsters cutting across religious lines and regions. According to a popular belief, the Pandavas, after winning the war at Kurukshetra, did the 'parikrama' to seek God's blessings.

Though the event began on Thursday, about 68,000 piece-loving people had already completed their journey to avoid heavy traffic, sources said.

Girnar Mountain Parvat Temples Ropeway Project Junagadh News Gujarat India

Girnar Ropeway Project to temple put on hold to "save" vultures.

The Center has put on hold the proposed parvat ropeway project to Gujarat's religious shrine atop Mount Girnar citing threat to the nesting of endangered vultures in the region.

The Standing Committee of National Board for Wildlife chaired by union environment minister Jairam Ramesh at a recent meeting has asked a team of conservationists to visit the site and study the impact of the proposed project before deciding its fate.

"Girnar wildlife sanctuary is the only known colony of long-billed vultures in Gujarat. If the ropeway passes through the trees housing vulture nests, it will be a disaster," Asad Rehmani, a prominent conservationist from Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) and committee member, said.

He said 121 vultures (long-billed and white-beaked species vultures) were counted in the region in 2005 which have declined to 79, according to the 2007 census.

He said the environment impact assessment report submitted by a private firm Usha Breco Ltd seeking to construct the ropeway was not factually correct with particular reference to faunal diversity of the area.

The committee also observed the project seeking diversion of around seven hectares of Girnar forest land was yet to get environmental clearance.

However, the Gujarat Wildlife Department, strongly arguing in favor of the project, said it would only ease the pressure on the wildlife created by visiting devotees who currently pass through the jungle to reach the holy shrine atop Girnar Parvat, Junagadh City.