Gandhinagar: ‘We will further cover 3,000 open wells (with parapet walls) for conservation of Gir Lions,’ said Parimal Nathwani, Rajya Sabha member and leading name in Gujarat’s corporate and industrial arena. Nathwani also made announcement to build a hospital with Intensive Care Unit (ICU) facility and appointment of special doctors there in the service of Gir Lions. Nathwani said this in a documentary video ‘Gir Lion – My First Love’ which is based on his three-decades of experiences with Lions. The documentary was released today on Nathwani’s Youtube channel. He made related announcement on his twitter handle.

‘It is rightly said Lions call you to them. My love for Gir lions is well known to all. Have been visiting Gir, the only abode of the Asiatic Lions since 35 years now and each visit, every moment spent with the King of the Jungle has been mesmerizing and refreshing. On Wildlife Week that begins today, sharing a documentary prepared on my experiences of over 3 decades. Hope you enjoy it and the call of the Gir Lion reaches you too,’ Nathwani said while releasing the documentary video.

The documentary shares highlights of Nathwani’s efforts for conservation of Gir Lions. He mentions the impact of railways passing through Gir sanctuary, right from the era of movements of coal fueled trains.

Nathwani can be heard appreciating the Prime Minister Narendrabhai Modi’s efforts for lion conservation and increasing number of new facilities related to it.

‘My first love is Gir. I have been coming here always and get back after getting recharged. Whenever I would leave my routine works and come here, I would feel like I am in haven’, Nathwani can be heard saying in documentary adding that, ‘I had not much money of facilities those days. I have come here by bus, by taxi, I have stayed at Gir Sadan for Rs. 10 per day room rent and Rs. 5 per meal. I would wash my cloths by myself and go for press.’

Nathwani recalls that the members of tracker party such as Mohanbhai Dodiy and Limbachiyabhai would accompany him during his earliest visits to Gir Jungle. ‘I would feel like I live with my family. They would do their routine work as members of tracker party and I would get opportunity to watch the lions sitting with them.’

Nathwani has written a book on Gir Lions and developed an area showcasing Gir Lion sanctuary at Sardar Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad as well. He has regularly raised the issues pertaining to Gir Lions in parliament as a member of upper house. DeshGujarat