 The Asiatic Lion other name for India lion has been known in India for centuries. The wild population of Asiatic Lion is found in Gir Forest National Park, the wild in India in the protected wildlife park, in Gujrat state of India. The national emblem of India, the Ashoka Pillar also has three beautifully carved curling manes and expressions, snarling Asiatic Lions. These Asiatic Lions have the skills of the sculptors of Mauryan times because of the accurate depiction testifies they have. The awareness of this magnificient animal is often called “The King of Beasts”.
The Zoological name of Asiatic Lions is Panthera leo.
The estimated population of these Asiatic Lions is around 300 in the wild. There are over 50 in captivity, including zoos and animal parks such as Bannerghatta National Park near Bangalore, where big cats rescued from zoos are rehabilitated. There one can hardly see the pure bred of Asiatic Lions but they are the mixed bred of African and Asiatic Lions. They are found in open forests or grasslands. Usually they are seen on the ground but occasionally one can see them climbing on trees.
A normal fully grown lion can be of 9 feet long in addition to a tail of around another 3 feet with a dark tuft of fur at the end and a height of say 4 feet. It can weight approximately 200 Kg also known as the second largest of the “Big Cats”, the tiger. Male lions can have different color orange-yellow to dark brown. Males Lions are characterized by their long hair along the top and sides of neck, which can sometimes be black in color. Lioness are usually sandy and tawny in color, they are smaller in size as compared to Lions but are ferocious.
Asiatic Lions are carnivores and hunt for the animals for their food which includes various species of deer, antelope and wild cattle or buffalo.
Asiatic Lions live in large groups or "prides" of around 15 members which include the related lioness, their cubs and a few males. In these prides the lionesses do the hunting and the males defend the pride's territory. By roaring and scent marking Lions create their territorial boundaries and Lionesses usually stalk their prey, until they manage to approach nearby and then attack the prey with a bite to the neck and kill them.
When the young male lions are of 3 years of age they are expelled from the pride to form a new pride. Many male lions prefer to remain solitary and they don't join any pride. Young female lioness have their own choices to stay in the same pride or join the other pride.
 People have a thinking that Lions are Lions also called as the King of the jungle are only found in African continent. Around 10,000 years ago when human population started increasing, there was a requirement for more land to live for which the trees and forests were cut and cleared. Due to the fact the number of lions left on the earth is very less in rest of the world. A subspecies that split from African lions perhaps 100,000 years ago which is African Lions, are only found in the Gir wildlife Sanctaury of Gujarat.
The whole coverage area of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is about 560-square-mile (1,450-sq-kms) where the residing Asiatic lion population is a little over 300. Compared to African lions Asiatic lions are shorter in size and even they have shorter manes and a long fold of skin on their underside.
In 300 BC king Ashoka had depicted lion on his rock pillars and today India's National Emblem is based on the lions featured Ashoka Pillar. Lions were spread in west, north and central part of India including Rajasthan, Gujrat, Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
In Gir sanctury along with the lions lives more than 2000 Maldhari tribals and their live stock make up a third of the lion's diet. Even after frequently getting attacked by lions to find their food in village the villagers still consider lion as the lord of the beasts. Even though the state government has tried many times to convince people here to leave the sanctuary but people are very reluctant to leave.
In a recent survey in Gir wildlife sanctuary it has been observed that the population of lions has increased which is becoming dangerous to the surrounded farms and factories. And so now the wildlife organization has planned to shift some of Gir's lions to Kuno Wildlife sanctuary which is about 500 miles away from Gir Wildlife sanctuary. But And as we have increasing population of India so to find other suitable homes for the endangered species like lion is difficult.
|
