English language news articles from year 2007 plus find out everything about Asiatic Lion and Gir Forest. Latest News, Useful Articles, Links, Photos, Video Clips and Gujarati News of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary (Geer / Gir Forest - Home of Critically Endangered Species Asiatic Lion; Gir Lion; Panthera Leo Persica ; Indian Lion (Local Name 'SAVAJ' / 'SINH' / 'VANRAJ') located in South-Western Gujarat, State of INDIA), Big Cats, Wildlife, Conservation and Environment.
Junagadh,
Nov 11 (UNI) One more leopard has been caught by forest department on
Monday from the areas in Visavadar taluka of Junagadh district in
Gujarat where several incidents of attacks by such beasts on human
beings had taken place in recent times.
With this a total of 8 leopards have so far been nabbed from
Visavadar taluka in last 11 days. Earlier on November 9, two leopards
were caught.
CCF D T Vasavada said that one leopard was caught and caged from
village Ravni Kuba last night from where another one was caught on
November 9. Ravni Kuba is the village where the most recent human injury
in leopard attack had taken place.
He said that since October 31, a total of eight leopards have been
caught from separate places in Visavadar taluka where a large number of
such beasts live in Gir forests, which otherwise was famous as the sole
natural abode of Asiatic lions.
Junagadh,
Nov 9 (UNI) A lion cub, rescued from West Gir forests, in sick
condition died on Saturday at the animal care centre in Jamvala in Gir
Somnath district in Gujarat. Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF)
Junagadh D T Vasavada said that a male lion cub, aged around two to
three months, was rescued from the Ghatvad round of the forests in
Harmadiya beat on Friday by the forest department staff. It died of anemia at the animal care centre where it was kept for treatment, he informed. UNI RAJ JTS 2050
The
zoo’s keepers have put forward a list of possible names for Edinburgh
locals to choose from, in the wish that Edinburgh locals engage with the
endangered species.
The cubs, two boys and a girl, were born to mum Roberta and Dad Jayendra on August 15.
At
first they were very shy of human visitors, and refused to come
outside, preferring to remain in the sanctuary of the indoor section of
their enclosure, closed to visitors to give the new family some privacy.
They are even beginning to come further down towards the viewing area where visitors to the enclosure stand.
The cubs passed their 10-week health check from keepers, and now at 12 weeks it is time for them to be named.
Keepers have put forward three options for Edinburgh locals to choose from.
The lion cubs to be named by Edinburgh Evening News readers. Picture: Laura Moore\RZSS.
All the names are Gujarati, from the Gir forest in Gujarat, western India, where Asiatic lions are found.
The first option is to call the girl Mitaali (graceful or beautiful) and the boys Keshari (lion, saffron) and Kushanu (fire).
The second is to call the girl Sikara (brave one), and the boys Manushri (King of Earth) and Kunwar (prince).
The final option is for the girl to be named Shafali (beautiful flower) and the boys Trusanu (ancient king) and Chandu (moon).
The
cubs were born to ‘affectionate and protective’ mum Roberta, who came
to Edinburgh Zoo from Magdeburg Zoo in Germany in 2014, and dad
Jayendra, who arrived from Bristol Zoo in 2012.
Both are part of the European endangered species program.
The
wild population of Asiatic lions is estimated to be only around 350,
with the endangered species at risk from poaching, loss of habitat and
declining numbers of prey.
Asiatic lions are generally smaller than African lions, and males do not have such a large mane.
Vote for your favourite option for the lion cubs’ names in our online poll at www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com.
The poll will close at 5pm on Monday 11 November, and results will be announced in the paper the following day.
, Ahmedabad Mirror | Updated: Nov 4, 2019, 06:16 IST
Gir and Statue of Unity are top tourist destinations in the State
The places saw 60 per cent more rush than usual Over 1.5 lakh tourists visited the Statue of Unity and over 60,000 visited Gir during the Diwali week. Officials confirm tourists have been thronging to the two most happening tourist destinations in the state.
Sasan Gir has been a favourite destination because it is the only natural abode of Asiatic lions. Besides, one of the important pilgrim places, Somnath, is also located nearby.
According to DCF Sasan, Mohan Ram, "There have been more tourists to
the park this year compared to last year. However, we have not been
able to calculate exact numbers as we are still busy in dealing with the
heavy rush."
Tourists are now returning from Gir, Somnath and Diu following
weather predictions in the wake of Cyclone Maha. The cyclone is expected
to make a landfall in Gujarat this week. According to sources, more
than 60,000 tourists have visited Sasan Gir, Devaliya Park and Amabardi
and surrounding areas during Diwali holidays. With increasing lion
population, the scope of sighting lions has also improved. The forest
department has developed a safari park in Ambardi near Dhari so that
tourist can see lions in their natural habitat in a short span of time.
There, however, exists a limit on the permits for lion safari - the
forest department issues about 180 permits every day. The permit is
issued to a car which shall accommodate not more than six people.
To meet the demand of tourists keen on spotting lions in their
natural habitat, the forest department developed the Ambardi park
similar to existing Devaliya park. Tourists can buy a ticket and visit
these parks, open from sunrise to sunset, in a forest department
vehicle.
The new tourist destination that has been attracting lakhs of
tourists this year, according to the state government, is Kevadiya. Over
1.5 lakh tourists visited Statue of Unity and other attractions in
Kevadiya in a week.
There are over 28 attractions at SOU site. Talking about the rush
and arrangements made for the tourists, Rajiv Gupta, MD of Sardar
Sarovar Nigam Limited and Additional Chief Secretary of Forests told
Mirror, "There was heavy rush of over 1.5 lakh visitors. We arranged
additional buses for eco-tours and toilets to address increased demand
of the tourists."
Despite government functions at SoU sites, the tourist rush had not
abated; it has been increasing with every passing day, said sources.
They said the rush at both the sites was over 60 per cent higher during
Diwali than usual non-festive days.
https://ahmedabadmirror.indiatimes.com/ahmedabad/others/1-5l-tourists-visit-statue-of-unity-60000-visit-gir/articleshow/71882746.cms
Bharatdas Darshandas was probably the only person for whose single vote an entire polling station would be set up. 02/Nov/2019
New Delhi:
The priest of the Bangangeshwar Mahadev temple in Gir forest, for whom
the Election Commission used to set up a polling station inside the
woods, passed away in a hospital in Rajkot, Gujarat on Friday. Bharatdas
Darshandas had been ailing for some time and died of renal
complications four days after he was hospitalised. He was 69.
Ahead of almost every election for the past two decades, Darshandas
would be written about by the media. He was probably the only person for
whose single vote an entire polling station would be set up.
In view of the law demanding that no voter should be required to walk
more than two kilometres, the EC used to deploy a five-six person
polling team for Darshandas in every election. The polling station used
to be set up deep inside the Gir forest for him. The area fell under the
Una sssembly constituency.
Incidentally, the Gir forest national park is the largest habitat of
the Asiatic lion and was, as per the 2015 census, home to 523 of them.
To enable Darshandas to
cast his vote during the Lok Sabha elections this year, the EC had set
up a polling station at Banej, a forest outpost near the temple. The
temple is an old Shiva pilgrimage site.
While the EC would facilitate the priest’s vote since the other
nearest station was about 20 km away, Darshandas, who usually donned
dark sunglasses and a saffron sarong, would oblige by always turning up
to vote.
The curious case of Darshandas, and the arrangements made for him,
also found a mention in an episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s
monthly radio talk show Mann Ki Baat.
The news of Darshandas’s death was broken by his brother, Haridas, who is the head of the Jamadgnni Ashram in Gir Somnath.
Haridas stated that Darshandas had been ailing for the last five years and underwent treatment in several hospitals.
He said that Darshandas was a diabetic and recently both his kidneys
failed. He was admitted to Christ Hospital on Monday but had to be put
on ventilator on Thursday night as his situation deteriorated. He
breathed his last at around 3 pm on Friday.
Wildlife santuaries to visit in the
country. Read more to know about the top five Wildlife sanctuaries to
visit in India and details on the sanctuaries
Written By
Pooja Dhar | Mumbai
|
Updated On:
You
are bound to be enthralled travelling in a country like India. From
rugged cold mountains, temperate dry flatlands, rainy river plains to
dry hot deserts, damp, soggy marshes and lilting alpine meadows, you
will find it all in India. It is no wonder then that flora and fauna
have adaptations and variations here. From the Snow Leopards of the far
North to the inspiring Bengal Tigers of the Sundarbans, there is
something of interest for every wildlife enthusiast. Here are five of
India’s best wildlife sanctuaries. Take a look.
Five wildlife sanctuaries to visit in India
Sundarbans National Park
West Bengal
Sundarban is the largest tidal mangrove forest in the world. The
Sundarbans cover 10,000 sq kms in the delta of the Bay of Bengal,
between India and Bangladesh. With its overhanging vegetation and green
pallid waters, one gets the feeling of floating down an Amazonian river.
The Sundarbans is home to the famous Royal Bengal Tiger (about 500 of
them). It is also well known for its Crocodile and Snake population. In
some cases, you may even see the Gangetic River Dolphin swimming down
the river with you.
Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Gujarat
Gir is the only place in the world where you can find the Asian Lion
in its natural habitat. You can also hope to spot Sloth Bears, Striped
Hyenas, Golden Jackals, Four Horned Antelopes, Leopards, Nilgai,
Crocodiles and even the very rare Blackbuck in these forests. Gir is a
highly protected reserve, as efforts are ongoing to save the Asiatic
Lion, only 411 of which remain. Tourists are only allowed on designated
routes, and their movements are monitored.
Also Read | Feds Propose Opening Biggest National Forest To Logging
Kanha National park
Madhya Pradesh
The lush Sal and Bamboo forests, grassy meadows and ravines of Kanha
were the inspiration behind Rudyard Kipling's beautiful novel The Jungle Book.
Open grassy meadows have sprung up in place of villages that were
evacuated to make way for the animals that now inhabit the sanctuary.
There are many different species of grass recorded at Kanha, some of
which are important for the survival of the majestic Barasingha, with
its giant antlers. The park has a significant population of Bengal
Tigers, Panthers, Sloths, Hyenas, Peacocks, Mongoose, Jungle Fowls and
Langurs.
Also Read | Madhya Pradesh: 5 Things To Do And Explore In The Beautiful State
Jim Corbett National park
Uttarakhand
Jim Corbett National Park is situated in the foothills of the
Himalayas. It is a haven for wildlife lovers in India and covers an
impressive area of about 1318 sq. kms. The most talked-about of
Corbett's denizens are the Bengal Tiger and the Asiatic Elephant. Less
talked about but more easily seen are the Wild elephant, Langur Monkey,
Rhesus Macaque, Peacock, and several types of deer including Chital,
Sambars, Hog Deer and Barking Deer.
Ranthambore National park
Rajasthan
People say that one of the country's largest old Banyan trees is
growing somewhere in this park. Apart from the Royal Bengal Tiger, you
can hope to spot animals like Leopards, Wild Boars, Peacocks, Chital,
Sambhars, Hyenas, and Sloth Bears. Jeep and open mini-bus safaris are
organised and the rides through the undulating terrain of the park are
exhilarating. People usually take more than one ride because it's not
very easy to spot a tiger in one go here.
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