Gir reopens, over 100 lion cubs, online permits fully booked for 90 days

Junagadh

Like ever year, after four months long monsoon break, Gir jungle is going to reopen again tomorrow for visitors.

There are online permits and offline permits for visitors who wish to travel in jungle. So far as online permits are concerned, the are all sold for first 90 days. The only option available for tourists is offline permit for which they will form queues.

The forest was closed for visitors on 15 June. Every year, the jungle is closed for visitors during four months of monsoon starting from 15 June to avoid disturbance to lions in breeding season, and also because of the reason that mitti roads of jungle are not motorable during rains.

The visitors will see over 100 cubs of lions in this season. Forest department issues 90 permits/day to visitors. During holidays it is increased to 150.

PTI report:
With several new Asiatic lion cubs being sighted in Gujarat’s Gir wildlife sanctuary, the forest officials are expecting more tourists to the national park which opens tomorrow after being closed for four months.

“We have sighted about 100 Asiatic lion cubs in the sanctuary during the four-month closure period which is likely to attract more tourists, including foreigners, to the place,” Gir National Park’s Deputy Conservator of Forests Sandeep Kumar told PTI over phone today.

This is the first time foresters have seen a substantial jump in the cub count, he said.

Gir sanctuary is the sole home of Asiatic lions and is considered to be one of the most important protected areas in Asia due to its supported species.

It remains mandatorily shut for four months during the monsoon period.

“The four months’ closure from June 15 to October 15 this year was part of the management plan since it was mating season for the wild animals. The chances of visitors sighting the cubs have increased as many of the little ones are in the tourist zone of the forest,” he said.

“As per the 14th lion census conducted in the wildlife sanctuary in May this year, there are 523 Asiatic lions in Gir forest, other protected areas and revenue areas in Junagadh, Gir Somnath, Amreli and Bhavnagar districts of Saurashtra region of Gujarat. It means the population has increased by 112 as compared to 411 counted in 2010,” Kumar said.

“We have seen an increase in the number of cubs with each passing year. It is possible only because of the cooperation that the forest department gets from villagers and patrolling staff. People immediately inform us if they see an injured cub in the area. This helps reduce mortality,” the forest official said.

Taking advantage of the lean season, the forest management conducted special rescue and protection drive during the monsoon time.

“During monsoon, there were chances of animals being infested by maggots, if they sustain injury. We divided our staff into teams and gave them maps. They conducted special drives in the forest, checking on the health status of the animals, giving them treatment when needed,” he said.

“While we do this for all animals, our main focus was on the Asiatic lions. We also checked for cubs who might have strayed,” Kumar added.

– DeshGujarat