Gir National Park, the refuge of Asiatic lions, is in the Indian state of Gujarat. The protected landscape, also called Sasan Gir, lies across the districts of Junagadh, Gir Somnath and Amreli in western India.
The park was established in 1965 in what had previously been the Nawab of Junagadh’s private hunting grounds. By the end of the 19th century, hunting and habitat pressures had reduced India’s Asiatic lions to roughly a dozen animals, all in the Gir Forest. Protection allowed the population to recover.
Gir is not a typical African-style grassland. Its habitat includes dry deciduous forest, thorn scrub, open woodland and seasonal waterways, supporting prey such as chital, sambar, nilgai and wild boar. The Asiatic lion is a distinct subspecies, usually recognized by its belly fold and somewhat smaller, less luxuriant mane than many African lions.
A common mix-up is to associate India’s famous lions with Madhya Pradesh or Rajasthan, which are better known for tiger reserves. Gir remains the only region in Asia where wild Asiatic lions occur.