Average 6.10% year on year growth in Herbivores population in Gir

Junagadh, 28 May, 2014

Figures of a two-day annual census of herbivores in Gir forest and national park are out. There has been on an average 6.10% growth in population of herbivores.

The total number of herbivores was found 1,32,503 which includes 63,306 Chittal, 4,403 Sabar, 3,436 Nil Gay, 756 Chaushinga, 1,164 Chinkara, 6,225 Kaliyar and 23,326 monkeys.

The growth in one year has been 7,623. The counting was held in the beginning period of the month of May on 5th and 6th through road count method covering 19 routes involving over 200 employees of forest department.

According to Dr. Sandeep Kumar(Deputy Conservator of Forest, Wild-life circle) last year there were 1,24,880 herbivores, while this year there’s addition of 7,623 and total figure is 1,32,503.

He said, the national bird peacock has witnessed growth of 2,463. The total number of peacocks is now 29,888.

While population of Chaushinga has come down by 54 compared to last year, population of Chinkara has increased by 79.08%.

Lions prey on ungulates and a healthy population of the latter in Gir forests is cited to be one of the reasons why the big cats have survived there. Greater Gir, spread across Junagadh, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts of Gujarat, is the only habitat of sub-species of Asiatic lions.