African Lions Given Real Protections, Activists Say

By TISH KRAFT

Saturday, December 26, 2015Last Update: 8:47 PM PT

     WASHINGTON (CN) - Animal rights activists concede the United States has given meaningful protection to African lions.
     In response to the dramatic decline of wild lions, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed two lion subspecies under the Endangered Species Act, Wednesday. Panthera leo leo, which lives in India and western and central Africa, will be listed as endangered, and Panthera leo melanochaita, located in eastern and southern Africa, will be listed as threatened, the listing states.
     Also, to protect lions and other foreign and domestic wildlife from criminal activity, USFWS Director Dan Ashe issued an order to strengthen enforcement of wildlife permitting requirements, according to an USFWS statement.
     The order, which aligns with President Obama's National Strategy for Combating Wildlife Trafficking, is to ensure that violators of wildlife laws are not granted permits for future wildlife-related activities, including the import of sport-hunted trophies, it states.
     In the last 20 years, lion populations have declined by 43 percent due to habitat loss, loss of prey base, and retaliatory killing of lions by a growing human population, according to USFWS. Coupled with inadequate financial and other resources for countries to effectively manage protected areas, the impact on lions in the wild has been substantial, the statement continues.
     "The lion is one of the planet's most beloved species and an irreplaceable part of our shared global heritage," Ashe said. "If we want to ensure that healthy lion populations continue to roam the African savannas and forests of India, it's up to all of us - not just the people of Africa and India - to take action."
     In March 2011, animal protection groups petitioned the USFWS to list the African lion subspecies panthera leo leo as endangered under the ESA. In October 2014, the USFWS proposed listing the lion as threatened with a special exemption for trophy hunting under certain circumstances.
     After the highly publicized killing of Cecil the lion by an American trophy hunter in Zimbabwe this summer, animal activists called for USFWS to finalize protection for the lion, which came approximately six months later.
     Based on newly available scientific information on the genetics and taxonomy of lions, the USFWS says, the agency assessed the status of the entire lion species and changed its finding from threatened to endangered for the final rule.
     The new science resolved that the western and central populations of African lion are more genetically related to the Asiatic lion. These lions are now considered the same subspecies, Panthera leo leo (P. l. leo). There are only about 1,400 remaining; 900 in 14 African populations and 523 in India.
     In its proposal, the USFWS had said the three main threats facing African lions are habitat loss, loss of prey base, and increased human-lion conflict. Sport-hunting was not found to be a threat.
     The 2015 rule, however, includes current management of trophy hunting, along with: "arbitrary establishment of quotas and excessive harvest, lack of age-restriction implementation, fixed quotas, hunting of females, and lack of minimum hunt lengths in some countries."
     The lion subspecies listed as threatened in the same action, Panthera leo melanochaita, likely numbers between 17,000-19,000 and is found across southern and eastern Africa, the USFWS said. It determined that this subspecies is less vulnerable and is not currently in danger of extinction. However, although lion numbers in southern Africa are increasing overall, there are populations that are declining due to ongoing threats.
     With an endangered listing, imports of Panthera leo leo will generally be prohibited, except in certain cases, such as when it can be found that the import will enhance the survival of the species. To further strengthen conservation measures for the threatened Panthera leo melanochaita, the FWS is also finalizing a special rule to establish a permitting mechanism regulating the import of all Panthera leo melanochaita parts and products, including live animals and sport-hunted trophies, into the United States. The process is to ensure that imported specimens are legally obtained in range countries as part of a scientifically sound management program that benefits the subspecies in the wild.
     "Although technically lions in the south and east regions of Africa are to be listed as threatened, FWS plans to extend a rule that applies the highest protections to lions regardless of region, thereby giving the equivalent of endangered-level protections to all lions," Jeffrey Flocken, International Fund for Animal Welfare Regional Director, North America, said in a statement.
     According to Adam M. Roberts, CEO of Born Free USA and Born Free Foundation, "It has been a very long four years waiting for this decision, with each year seeing more lions slaughtered by hunters for trophies. This is a victory and we applaud USFWS for agreeing that these animals deserve significant international protection under the ESA: popularly considered one of the world's most important conservation laws. There is now hope for future generations to be able to witness the beauty of the lion in the wild."
     "The USFWS listing will significantly impede globetrotting trophy hunters' efforts to collect endangered species for their trophy room," Humane Society International said in a statement.
     "This is fantastic news for Panthera leo, whose numbers across Africa have declined precipitously in the last 75 years, and wildlife conservation efforts in general. Nearly 450,000 lions roamed vast ranges of Africa in the mid-century; today, there may be as few as 20,000. It is believed that they have declined 60 percent over the past three decades alone," said Azzedine Downes, International Fund for Animal Welfare president and CEO.
     The lion rule was published Dec. 23, 2015, and will go into effect Jan. 22, 2016.

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/12/26/african-lions-given-real-protections-activists-say.htm

Minor boy, woman killed in separate lion attacks in Gujarat

Press Trust of India  |  Rajkot  December 27, 2015 Last Updated at 16:28 IST

A six-year-old boy and a woman were killed in separate incidents of attack by lions in Gujarat's Junagadh district, a forest official said today.

"Rumalsingh and his 6-year-old son Rohit were going to attend the nature's call near Maliya Hatina town of Junagadh yesterday morning when a lion attacked the boy," Range Forest officer (RFO) J N Karangiya said.

Upon hearing Rumalsingh's cry for help, some labourers staying nearby rushed to rescue Rohit, he said, adding, "The boy was later found dead near a field."

In another incident, Hansaben Dhamecha (45) was attacked by lions while she was passing through Bhesan town in Junagadh yesterday, the RFO said.

"Hansaben sustained serious injuries and was rushed to Bhesan government hospital, where she died during treatment," he added.

Notably, Gir Forest National Park, the sole home of the Asiatic lions, is spread over Junagadh, Gir-Somnath and Amreli districts of Gujarat.

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/minor-boy-woman-killed-in-separate-lion-attacks-in-gujarat-115122700357_1.html

ESA Looking To Protect Two More Groups of Lions

December 24, 2015 By Melissa Gansler

The ESA will restrict American big game hunters

(Mirror Daily, United States) – The ESA looking to protect two more groups of lions might help conservation efforts in keeping the population of the large felines from decline. Matters such as hunting the majestic animals for sport have become a bit of an issue. The Obama administration though has announced their intent on placing two more types of lions on the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

As most would likely know by now, the death of Cecil the lion has sparked uproar around the world. The feline was hunted with a bow and arrow by an U.S. dentist, even though it was a major attraction in Hwange National Park, and the subject of an Oxford study. Walter Palmer, the Minnesota man who hunted Cecil claimed that he would have not shot it had he known of the lion’s status.
However, that highlighted an important issue that led to further protection from hunters. New rules have been in the making for a while, and there’s finally a decision made. From now on, American big game hunters will not be allowed to be import lions back into the U.S. At the very least, not without a permit that states its purpose for a science-based conservation strategy.
According to director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), Dan Ashe, this might not aid protection against the host country’s laws, but it will prevent American hunters from participating. They can become an integral part of the conservation strategy. The numbers have been depleted enough.
The Humane Society stated that over 5,600 lions have brought over to the U.S. in the past 10 years by American trophy hunters. They served no other purpose but selling them for pelts or their heads displayed on walls. The group was among the first to petition the FWS for immediate protection. It arrived a little later, but it’s now in place.
Two new subspecies have been added to the ESA. The first is mostly found in the western and central countries of the African continent, with numbers as low as only 1,400 of them left. They are genetically closer to the Asiatic lion, and are now listed as ‘endangered’ on the threat of extinction. Import of this particular group will be strictly prohibited.
The second subspecies mostly roams around the southern and eastern Africa, with numbers still between 17,000 to 19,000 left. While it seems like a tremendous amount in comparison to others, this particular type of lion has seen a dramatic decline. In the 1900s, their population rounded up at about 500,000, dropped to 200,000 in the 1950s, and then plummeted to just about the 19,000 left today in the wild. They are now listed as ‘threatened’.
African lions have seen a decrease in their population due to habitat loss, unavailability of prey, and conflicts with humans over their livestock. While trophy hunting has not been a major contributor, the FWS means to prevent that from happening before it becomes an even more serious issue. It’s not a threat to their survival yet, but it could be in the future.

http://www.mirrordaily.com/esa-looking-to-protect-two-more-groups-of-lions/26272/

Meet the lion queens of Gir Wildlife Park

Published: 18:37 December 25, 2015 By Pamela Raghunath
Correspondent

Vadher is the first woman leader of Gir’s Lion Protection Team

Mumbai: Rasila Vadher, 28, a forester and leader of the rescue division of Gujarat’s Gir Lion Protection Team doesn’t hesitate to face daring situations, perhaps that’s why she has been described as the ‘lion queen’ of India.
Life in the forest guards’ residential quarters of Sasan Gir, tucked away in the dry deciduous forests of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary, is a demanding one; you are on call 24/7. And when summoned, you may have but 10-15 minutes to dash off on a mission to track and rescue a lion, or lioness, or lion cubs, or any other wildlife. “We have to quickly decide on the rescue mode — for instance, if a lion has fallen into a dry well, we would have to first tranquillise the animal before bringing it out to safety,” Vadher told Gulf News.
She is on a visit to Mumbai where she and her team, comprising the experienced forest guard M.A. Rayjada and forester Madhu Karengia, also known as the ‘lion queen’, received the Wildlife Service Award from Sanctuary Asia magazine on December 18 at the National Centre for Performing Arts.
The awards, instituted in 2000, recognise the best-in-the-field of wildlife conservation in India and highlight the immense contribution of individuals working to defend the country’s wilderness.
Never shrinking from danger, Vadher, as team leader, is at the forefront of most rescue missions. Once, she even climbed into a well to rescue a leopard. Perhaps her most unforgettable operation was when a lion was badly injured by a porcupine, she said.
“The lion looked weak and we thought it would be easy to tranquillise it, but our three attempts failed. And in the middle of this task, a lioness and her cubs came strolling nearby and my team members frantically tried to shoo them away by hitting the ground with their sticks. One stick broke, hit my head and I fainted, but recovered quickly.
“It was 6.30pm and getting dark, but I was determined to finish our job and by 11pm the animal finally walked into the cage where a ‘kill’ awaited. We were able to tranquillise it at 5.30am.”
Leading lady
Vadher, the first woman in Gujarat to head its wildlife rescue division, joined the forest department in 2007 after undergoing various physical fitness tests after which she was selected along with 48 other women who went on to become forest guards, foresters and so on.
“Our former chief minister and now Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, had initiated the induction of more women into the forest force since we found women were also among the poachers caught and it made sense to have female forest guards to handle them,” she said.
When she headed the rescue division in 2008, there were 359 lions; the population has grown to 523. The Gir sanctuary is also home to more than 500 leopards.
Vadher and her rescue team have undertaken over 800 rescue operations, and Karengia, who is in charge of protection, conservation and livelihood management, has cleared over 36 hectares of encroachment into the forest, made arrests on offences of illegal entry and unauthorised grazing. In recognition of Indian women forest guards, Discovery Channel screened a four-part series programme called The Lion Queens of India in September and October.
Announcing the awards at a press conference last Thursday, Bittu Sahgal, Founder and Editor, Sanctuary Asia, said, “These foresters and forest guards are the gatekeepers of one of India’s most successful conservation stories — the thriving well-being of the planet’s last population of Asiatic lions.”
Of various individuals who have been honoured by Sanctuary, Sahgal said: “These guardians of tomorrow are all that stand between humanity and ecological suicide. From diverse geographies and cultures, with diverse skill sets and interests, these heroes represent the conscience of a nation that is now suffering the consequences of decades of myopic development.”
The awards are supported by DSP BlackRock, an investment company, Deutsche Bank, India, and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces.

http://gulfnews.com/news/asia/india/meet-the-lion-queens-of-gir-wildlife-park-1.1643567

Obama administration to introduce new hunting laws to protect lions after outrage over Cecil

• The listings will be announced Monday and include order related to Cecil
• Order states Fish and Wildlife will deny permit to import a sport-hunted lion to anyone who was convicted or pleaded guilty to violating wildlife laws
• Dentist Walter Palmer shot Cecil dead with a bow and arrow in Zimbabwe
• He pleaded guilty in 2008 to making false statements to Fish and Wildlife about a bear he fatally shot in Wisconsin outside authorized hunting zone
• Listings will bring protection for two subspecies found in Africa and India

By Dailymail.com Reporter and Associated Press

Published: 06:58 GMT, 21 December 2015 | Updated: 09:05 GMT, 21 December 2015

The Obama administration is expected to extend Endangered Species Act protections for two breeds of lions, in response to a large decline in their numbers in Africa over the past two decades.

The listings will be announced Monday and include an order that seems to touch on circumstances surrounding the killing of a well-known lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe earlier this year. 

The order states that the Fish and Wildlife Service will deny a permit to import a sport-hunted lion to anyone who has been convicted or pleaded guilty to violating federal or state wildlife laws.

Scroll down for video 

The Obama administration will extend protections for two breeds of lions (one seen in Zimbabwe in 2015)

Walter Palmer of Minnesota (left) killed Cecil the lion (right) with a bow and arrow in Zimbabwe earlier this year

Walter Palmer, the Minnesota dentist who shot Cecil with a bow and arrow, had pleaded guilty in 2008 to making false statements to the Fish and Wildlife Service about a black bear fatally shot in western Wisconsin outside an authorized hunting zone.

The Fish and Wildlife Service cautioned against linking the order with Cecil's death, describing the action instead as a redoubling of efforts to ensure that violators of wildlife laws don't reap future benefits from importing wildlife and wildlife products.

The administration signaled it would protect lions in Africa long before Cecil's case caught the public's attention. 

The Fish and Wildlife Service proposed a rule in October 2014 to list the African lion as threatened. 

After Palmer was named in July as the hunter who killed Cecil, he had trouble returning to work in Septmeber

After getting feedback, the agency revised its findings and determined that two subspecies of lions live in Africa. 

One group, found primarily in western and central countries, is more genetically related to the Asiatic lion. 

Only about 1,400 remain in Africa and India. 

The agency is listing that subspecies as endangered, meaning it risks extinction.

A second subspecies, numbering between 17,000 and 19,000 and found across southern and eastern Africa, will be listed as threatened.

The Endangered Species Act requires the Fish and Wildlife Service to list species as endangered or threatened regardless of the country where they live.

'If we want to ensure that healthy lion populations continue to roam the Africa savannas and forests of India, it's up to all of us — not just the people of Africa and India — to take action,' said Dan Ashe, the agency's director.

Palmer has several other big-game kills to his name including a leopard (left) and an elk (right)

The listings will bring extra protection for both subspecies: 

A permit would be required before importing any live or sport-hunted lions. 

The bar for an import permit would be highest with the endangered group, with permits granted if importing the animal would enhance the species' survival.

The permitting process for the threatened group would require the import to come from nations that have sound conservation practices and use trophy hunting revenue to sustain lion populations and deter poaching. 

Currently, sport hunters don't need a permit from the U.S. to bring in a trophy lion.

Cecil was a major tourist attraction in Hwange National Park and was being monitored as part of a study 

Ashe said trophy hunting can and does contribute to the survival of species in the wild as part of a well-managed conservation program. 

The new permitting requirements in the US will encourage African countries to improve their lion management programs. The agency said hundreds of sport-hunted trophy lions are brought into the US each year.

The agency already has authority to deny an import permit to individuals who have violated federal and state wildlife laws. Ashe's order essentially turns that authority into a requirement.

'Importing sport-hunted trophies and other wildlife or animal parts into the United States is a privilege, not a right, a privilege that violators of wildlife laws have demonstrated they do not deserve,' Ashe said.

The agency said its investigation into the Cecil's killing is ongoing and declined to comment directly on the case.

Cecil was a major tourist attraction in Hwange National Park and was being monitored as part of an Oxford University study. 

Palmer said he shot the big cat outside the park's borders, but it didn't die immediately and was tracked down the next day.

Palmer said he would not have shot the animal if anybody in the hunting party has known of the lion's status. 

Zimbabwe officials cleared Palmer of wrongdoing in October, saying he did not break the country's hunting laws.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3368530/Obama-administration-extending-protections-lions-Cecil-outrage.html

MP turns down offer to take in aged Asiatic lions from Junagadh zoo

• Rahul Noronha
| 
• Updated: Dec 22, 2015 21:55 IST

The Van Vihar national park management has refused to accept the pair of Asiatic lions it was offered by the Junagadh zoo on the grounds that they are very old. (File photo)

The old have nowhere to go and this seems to be applicable to animals as well. The Van Vihar national park management in Bhopal has refused to accept the pair of Asiatic lions it was offered by the Junagadh zoo on the grounds that they are very old.
The transfer, agreed upon by the Junagadh zoo in Gujarat and the MP forest department, was expected to be the first such transfer of Asiatic lions from Gujarat to MP, even as Gujarat continues to stall the transfer of Asiatic lions from Gir sanctuary to Palpur Kuno in MP, as part of the plan to create a second home for the big cats.
Sources in the forest department said that a team from Van Vihar national park visited the Junagadh zoo on December 14 to see the pair of lions they had been promised. On reaching Junagadh zoo, the team was aghast to find that the male lion offered was about 15 years old, while the lioness was about 12 years old. “Both animals were unfit. In fact, the male could not even stand up and had a defective eye,” said a forest official in Bhopal.
An average lion lives up to 14 years in natural habitat, but in protected environment the animal can live up to 20 years.
Sources said the forest department would now write to the Junagadh zoo to choose another pair of lions for the transfer, failing which the transfer would be called off.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/bhopal/mp-turns-down-offer-to-take-in-aged-asiatic-lions-from-junagadh-zoo/story-2f3Z6zt9o7TIRGHH0N1mGK.html

PIL against lion safari in Ambardi

TNN | Dec 23, 2015, 02.22 PM IST
Ahmedabad: A PIL in Gujarat high court on Tuesday questioned the forest department's proposal to create a 400-hectare lion safari park in near Ambardi village of Gir sanctuary on the ground that such a move would lead to ecological imbalance in the area and would disturb the wildlife.

Petitioner, a wildlife activist Biren Pandya, sought HC's intervention on the issue and urged the court to restrain forest officials from fencing and putting up permanent structures in the reserved forest area. He has argued that such a construction would adversely affect the wildlife in the area, moreover it is against the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The petitioner contended that the park is proposed in the Ambardi reserve forest area which is a habitat of nearly 35-40 free ranging Asiatic lions. And the Chapter IV of the WP Act does not allow any such construction in the reserved forest area. 
Construction and fencing would create hurdle in movement of not only lions but also other animals that fall in Schedule I category. This will lead to destruction of wildlife in this area. Moreover, any tinkering with the natural ecology of the jungle will lead to trouble for the endangered species of birds and they might face extinction.

Besides, the petitioner has raised the issue of corridors - Ambardi-Ranigala, Vadal-Gir PA, Ambardi-Lilya - and argued that these corridors which lion uses for movement would be destroyed. Pandya in his petition stated that the forest department authorities have failed to learn lessons from the Devaliya model, which has created problems for wildlife. He has also sought HC guidelines for the foresters in this regard.


A bench of Acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and Justice VM Pancholi asked the state government to show provision in the WP Act or in any other law that permits the authorities to create such facility in forest areas. Further hearing is kept in January.

Earlier, the HC ordered the government to put things in place with regard to permission to hospitality units and encroachment. This too happened in response to an anonymous letter, which objected to similar proposal to create an eco-tourism site in the south-eastern part of Gir sanctuary.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/PIL-against-lion-safari-in-Ambardi/articleshow/50295326.cms

7 endangered animals in India that are near extinction

7 endangered animals in India that are near extinction
Saturday, 19 December 2015 11:56 AM

To read click;

http://www.abplive.in/photos/7-endangered-animals-in-india-that-are-near-extinction-262152

At home with the lions

Written by Gopal Kateshiya
Updated: Dec 20, 2015, 13:05

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/at-home-with-the-lions/#sthash.TOg5rUdg.dpuf

Pride of Asiatic lions inside Devaliya Safari Park. The pride had started raiding nearby villages and preying on cattle and was shifted to the safari park for some time in 1996-97A photograp

Written by Gopal Kateshiya
Updated: Dec 20, 2015, 13:05

her who has documented Gir for 30 years on how its big cats have changed over the years, and the wonder of the forest.

Bhushan Pandya has been shooting and documenting the Gir National Park and Sanctuary, the last abode of Asiatic lions in the world, in Saurashtra region of Gujarat for the last three decades. In 1996, a photograph he shot of a a lioness in the backdrop of the sea provided evidence that Asiatic lions had also made the coastline of Sutrapada their home. Now 60, and nearly crippled by a road accident, the photographer still returns to his beloved forest. Excerpts from an interview:
When did you start visiting Gir forest? How did you become interested in wildlife photography?
My father died when I was 10 months old and I was brought up at my maternal grandparents’ home in Rajkot. My grandfather was a photographer. So, cameras were my toys. They started taking me to Gir for picnics when I was a schoolboy.

In 1995, the Gujarat forest department began work on a new management plan for Gir forest. I was chosen as the professional photographer who would document the activities of the department, like rescuing wild animals, classifying habitat types etc. I drove and trekked across the length and breadth of the forest for three-and-a-half years while on the job. Simultaneously, I started shooting its flora and fauna. This project helped me understand what a wonder Gir forest is. Initially, I used to shoot lions. But I realised that it was also a great bird reserve, where more than 300 avian species are found. I also clicked a lioness on the coast in Sutrapada (which is outside the Gir forest), with the sea in the background. No one had believed till then that lions could live in coastal areas; so this was a rare shot. After this project, it dawned on me that there is a lot to be documented in Gir.
Lion cubs rest on the root of a tamarind tree in Bhandargala, shot in the summer of 2011-12. How have you seen lions and its habitat change over the years?
The lion population has more than doubled since the time I started visiting Gir. Till 1987, the forest department used to hold lion shows in the tourism zone of the sanctuary by baiting them with buffalo calves. Also, maldharis (cattle-herders) then lived inside the forest and the big cats would prey on cattle, which formed 70 per cent of their diet. At the time, therefore, lion prides were bigger. But now, many maldharis have moved out and wild ungulates form 70 per cent of their kills. Spotted deer is now their main prey. But this herbivore is smaller in size and not enough for a big lion family. Therefore, the number of lions in a pride has reduced. There was once a pride with seven male lions in Janvadla. I had spotted a pride with three male lions. But nowadays, we hardly find two adult lions in a pride. This is partly due to the fact that even a lone lioness can hunt down a spotted deer and would not require the help of other family members.
Their habitat has also changed substantially. There were more open areas once, now vegetation has increased. But unwanted species such as Cassia tora and Lantena camera have also grown. Lions now live not just in 1,412 sq km of the sanctuary. They roam in the vast expanse of 22,000 sq km in Saurashtra, in revenue areas and waste lands.
Tell us about a few series of photographs you clicked in Gir.
Though the lion is a great predator, its encounters with crocodiles are rare. But in 1993-94, Rohit Vyas (fellow wildlife photographer) and I spotted a pride of seven lions with a kill of a buffalo on the bank of river Hiran in the Valodara area of Gir forest. We also saw a young crocodile lying dead in the mud near the kill. A forest officer, who had passed by the spot before us, told us that he had not seen the crocodile. Which means the encounter had taken place minutes before we reached there. After the pride went away, we inspected the carcass: it seemed as if the crocodile had been killed in one bite and thrust in the mud by a lioness. After sometime, the lioness returned, took the dead crocodile in her jaws and dragged it across the river to a hillock, where we believed her cubs were.
Cubs and lionesses drink water from an artificial water point, a photo clicked in 1997-98 after months of patience. But my photo of 11 cubs and two lionesses in one frame really tested my patience. I was told there was a pride of 15 near the Devaliya interpretation zone. I pursued that pride of 11 cubs and four lionesses for four months. I shot the pride hundreds of times but never managed to capture them in one frame. But one evening, as we were about to return home, one of the two lionesses rose and started walking towards the nearby waterhole. I sensed that the cubs might follow her. Usually, cubs go running to waterholes in small groups, drink water and run away. But that day, all of them came together.
What draws you to Gir even now?
Initially, it was the lion. It is such a majestic species that one just can’t have enough of it. But once I started thinking about why lions live here, I looked at the forest in its entirety and understood its richness. Now, I don’t complain even if I don’t sight a lion on nine days of a 10-day trip. I feel happy just to be there and breathe in the atmosphere. Despite the 2013 accident having affected my movement, I could not keep myself from visiting Gir in December last year and go there once in a while. It’s like going on a pilgrimage to nature.

http://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/at-home-with-the-lions/

A big roar for Gir’s eco warriors

At The Sanctuary Wildlife Awards 2015 held yesterday, several environmentalists from different walks of life were acknowledged for their work.

Rasila Vadher and Madhu Karangia, female forest guards from Gir forest (known as Lion Queens) and forest guard Mahadev Rayjada. Pic/Suresh KK
Held at the Press Club of Mumbai last evening, this diarist was glad to spot Rasila Vadher. The young ranger’s bravery was applause-worthy during an earlier interview.
The forest guard came into popular view when a TV series documented the rescue work of the female forest guards inside Gir’s treacherous forests. Vadher and other guards have been a part of over 900 rescue operations, which involved her come face to face with pythons and lions. Roar!

http://www.mid-day.com/articles/mumbai-diary-friday-dossier/16783186

Goa's 'green couple' get Sanctuary magazine's lifetime award

Last Updated: Thursday, December 17, 2015 - 19:35

Mumbai: The husband-wife duo of Claude and Norma Alvares, founders of the Goa Foundation which first raised the issue of sand mining in Goa's beaches in 1987, have been named for this year's Lifetime Service Award by Sanctuary magazine.

Ashok Kumar, one of the pioneers of the fightback against wildlife crimes in India and chairman emeritus of the Wildlife Trust of India, Noida, has been named the 'Sanctuary Legend', a new category in this year's list of Sanctuary Wildlife Awards.
The Wildlife Service Awards will go to five personalities -- Varad Giri, a scientist with the National Centre for Biological Sciences in Bengaluru for his contribution to understand and classify little known species, including discovering new species of snakes, geckos, frogs and cecilians.
Then there is Nandini Velho, who organised the first Arunachal Pradesh Bird Festival and helped draft the Pakke Tiger Reserve Conservation Plan, besides other contributions in the field.
Param Jit Singh, a trained geologist and forest officer from Uttarakhand, has overseen the notification of many critical biodiversity habitats like Nandhaur Wildlife Sanctuary, Naina Devi
Bird Conservation Centre, Pawalgarh Conservation Reserve and Jhilmil Conservation Reserve, besides pioneering a 24x7 forest helpline 'Van Mitra' and an automatic 'cloud centre' to enable citizens to report wildlife crimes.
Yash Veer Bhatnagar, director of the Snow Leopard Trust's India Programme who is mostly in icy, high-altitude wilderness, conducted one of the first long-term studies on the Asiatic Ibexm and organised a path-breaking scientific exploration of Ladakh.
The 'Gir Lion Protection Team' is the fifth awardee comprising foresters and forest guards protecting the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park in Gujarat, the last habitat of the Asiatic lion.
The teammates include 'Lion Queen of India' forester Rasila Vadher, who leads the department's rescue division, forest guard M.A. Rayjada and forester Madhu Karengia who cleared 36 hectares of encroachments in the lion forests.
The awards, instituted in 2000, will be given on December 18 in Mumbai, said Sanctuary magazine founder-editor Bittu Sahgal.
Besides, there will be three Young Naturalist Awards to Viral Joshi of Gujarat, Sailaja Nayak and Virendra Singh Panwar of Garhwal, a Green Teacher Award to Anurag Kumar of Lucknow, two Wind Under the Wings Awards to Jayan Menon and Malayala Manorama of Kerala and Anahita Mukherji and Times of India, Mumbai.
The Special Maharashtra Wildlife Service Awards will be given to Uttar Sawant of Pench Tiger Reserve, Umesh Verma of Melghat Tiger Reserve, N. Vasudevan, chief conservator of forests, Mangroves Cell, Mumbai, Purnima Upadhyay of Khoj Foundation and Gram Sabha of Payvihir village, and Kailash Hudme, Laxman Aware and Govinda Luche of Gothangaon, near Umred-Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary.
The winners of the Sanctuary Asia's Wildlife Photography Awards 2015 shall also be felicitated on the occasion.
IANS

First Published: Thursday, December 17, 2015 - 19:35

http://zeenews.india.com/news/eco-news/goas-green-couple-get-sanctuary-magazines-lifetime-award_1835668.html

Lion electrocuted at farm, farmer arrested

TNN | Dec 16, 2015, 07.11 AM IST
RAJKOT/AHMEDABAD: A four-year-old Asiatic lion died after being electrocuted in a farm in Nitali village near Tulsishyam in Amreli district.

The carcass was found near the adjoining Nana Kothariya village and the post-mortem confirmed that it died due to electrocution two days ago.
The forest department has arrested the farmer, Ravji Patel, who had put up electric fencing to protect his crops from wild boars and blue bulls (nil gai). "Patel has confessed that he put up the fencing," said R Nala, deputy conservator of forests, Gir-West division.


This is the second incident of lion death by electrocution. On September 12, a seven-year-old lioness was electrocuted near Amarapur village in Maliya-Hatina taluka of Junagadh district.

In all, at least eight lions have died unnatural deaths, either mostly by falling into open wells, in Amreli, Junagadh and Gir-Somnath districts, since January 10.

There are 523 lions in Saurashtra spread over Bhavnagar, Junagadh, Amreli and Gir-Somnath districts.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/rajkot/Lion-electrocuted-at-farm-farmer-arrested/articleshow/50195556.cms

'More study needed for lion translocation'

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Dec 16, 2015, 12.54 PM IST
AHMEDABAD: The central government has accepted Gujarat's demand for conducting more studies on behaviour of local people and the habitat at Kuno-Palpur in Madhya Pradesh before Gir lions can be translocated to the sanctuary.

Union minister for environment and forests Prakash Javadekar on Tuesday refused to give any time frame for translocation of lions to Kuno-Palpur.The minister informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply to the question raised by Madhya Pradesh MPs Kamal Nath and Jyotiraditya Scindia and Uttar Pradesh MP Jagdambika Pal.

In a written reply, Javdvekar said the Madhya Pradesh government also needs to enlarge its sanctuary from the present 350 sq km to 700 sq km.

The 12-member expert committee formed by the Gujarat Government after the Supreme Court judgment April 2013 ordering translocation had stated that the translocation should be done as per the fresh guidelines issued by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The Union government stated that the entire translocation project encompasses action for 25 years. The shifting of a few Asiatic lions from Gir National Park area to Palpur-Kuno Wildlife Sanctuary in M P is a longterm affair starting from preparation of the translocation area in MP for receiving the lions, selection of animals in Gujarat for translocation and process for translocation.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/More-study-needed-for-lion-translocation/articleshow/50200588.cms

Photographer Bhushan Pandya to be honoured at Sanctuary Wildlife Awards

Written by Express News Service
Rajkot Published:Dec 15, 2015, 19:59

Pandya has partially recovered from the spinal-chord injury and started visiting Gir again around a year ago.

Wildlife photographer and conservationist Bhushan Pandya has been selected for 2015 spotlight honour by nature and conservation portal Sanctuary Asia.
In recognition of his conservation efforts through his lens, Sanctuary Asia will shine the spotlight on Pandya at Sanctuary Wildlife Awards ceremony to be held in Mumbai on Friday. The senior lensman, who will be seated in the auditorium for the awards ceremony, will come under the spotlight while telling the story of his wildlife conservation efforts to the audience.

“During the ceremony, we will also shine a spotlight on individuals who are in their own way making the country a better place for our children. The idea is to let the audience know that it does not matter who they are and where they come from. Each one of them too can make a difference. We are delighted that you have consented to allow us to shine a spotlight on you to showcase your work,” Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia stated in a letter to Pandya.
Sexagenarian Pandya, who is based in Rajkot has been shooting and recording Gir forest in Gujarat, the only natural habitat of endangered Asiatic lions in the world for the last three decades. He has also photographed a number of other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and Africa. He is also a member of state wildlife board of Gujarat.
Appreciating Pandya’s spirit even after near-fatal car accident two years ago, the letter further reads: “The car crash left you paralysed for months. But your spirit, the same one that quietly and with no trace of ego shares wildlife images and knowledge with anyone who asks, never wavered. Through the traumatic weeks of recovery, you have reiterated your commitment to wild India.”
Pandya has partially recovered from the spinal-chord injury and started visiting Gir again around a year ago.

http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/photographer-bhushan-pandya-to-be-honoured-at-sanctuary-wildlife-awards/

Wildlife photographer and conservationist Bhushan Pandya has been selected for 2015 spotlight honour by nature and conservation portal Sanctuary Asia.
In recognition of his conservation efforts through his lens, Sanctuary Asia will shine the spotlight on Pandya at Sanctuary Wildlife Awards ceremony to be held in Mumbai on Friday. The senior lensman, who will be seated in the auditorium for the awards ceremony, will come under the spotlight while telling the story of his wildlife conservation efforts to the audience.

“During the ceremony, we will also shine a spotlight on individuals who are in their own way making the country a better place for our children. The idea is to let the audience know that it does not matter who they are and where they come from. Each one of them too can make a difference. We are delighted that you have consented to allow us to shine a spotlight on you to showcase your work,” Bittu Sahgal, editor of Sanctuary Asia stated in a letter to Pandya.
Sexagenarian Pandya, who is based in Rajkot has been shooting and recording Gir forest in Gujarat, the only natural habitat of endangered Asiatic lions in the world for the last three decades. He has also photographed a number of other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in India and Africa. He is also a member of state wildlife board of Gujarat.
Appreciating Pandya’s spirit even after near-fatal car accident two years ago, the letter further reads: “The car crash left you paralysed for months. But your spirit, the same one that quietly and with no trace of ego shares wildlife images and knowledge with anyone who asks, never wavered. Through the traumatic weeks of recovery, you have reiterated your commitment to wild India.”
Pandya has partially recovered from the spinal-chord injury and started visiting Gir again around a year ago.
- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/photographer-bhushan-pandya-to-be-honoured-at-sanctuary-wildlife-awards/#sthash.RKbg6gRJ.dpuf

Haryana finally gets a pair of lions

Ajay Sura | TNN | Dec 13, 2015, 08.49 AM IST
CHANDIGARH: The pride of Gujarat will soon roar in a zoo of Haryana too. Following the clearance from the Union government and the Central Zoo Authority (CZA), the state wildlife department is getting a pair of the big cats from Gujarat's Gir forest - home to the world's last remaining population of Asiatic lions. The lion are expected to arrive in the state this week.
Principal chief conservator of forests and chief wildlife warden of Haryana Amrinder Kaur confirmed to TOI that a team of state wildlife department had already left for Gujarat to get a pair (male and female) of lions, which would be kept at the Pipli mini zoo in Kurukshetra. Stating that the animals would reach in next 4-5 days, Kaur said both lions would be kept in safe enclosures inside the zoo for which special arrangements had been made.

It is for the first time that Asiatic lions are being brought in the state's zoo. Earlier, the Pipli zoo had a tiger, but as of now there are no big cats in the zoo to attract animal lovers.

Spread over 27 acres of land along the National Highway-1 in Kurukshetra, Pipli zoo is one of the three maintained zoos of the state wildlife department. The other two are in Rohtak and Bhiwani. Meanwhile, Pipli zoo has made all preparations to provide a state-of-the-art new home for the duo.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/Haryana-finally-gets-a-pair-of-lions/articleshow/50157277.cms

Taj Group's resort in Gir gets SC relief

TNN | Dec 11, 2015, 07.13 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: The Supreme Court has stayed the Gujarat high court's order by which the Taj Group's luxury resort which falls in the Gir sanctuary , the last abode of the Asiatic lion, was sealed.

With the stay on the HC order, Hotel Taj Gateway can now start functioning, at least till the final decision by the apex court on the issue. This hotel was closed during a sealing drive carried out in March-April at the high court's instance because most hospitality units around Gir sanctuary were functioning in gross violation of the eco-tourism policy . The HC refused to un-seal it when the hotel management approached it on April 13. They hence moved the apex court. Experts believe the SC's intervention and relief to the luxury resort run by Indian Hotels Company Ltd has paved the way for other hospitality units facing action for violation of norms to also seek redress. They may approach the high court citing the SC order and claim relief by requesting the court to direct authorities to remove the seals on numerous rooms in guest houses across three districts. When the HC was intimated about the apex court's order, the division bench of Acting Chief Justice Jayant Patel and V M Pancholi asked additional advocate general Prakash Jani to find out whether the proceedings should be stalled till the SC reaches a final conclusion in this case. The HC has deferred proceedings till next month. In this case, the Centre gave land to the state government in 1971. This particular plot was leased to Gujarat tourism. The hotel group got a 20-year lease in 1994 and the hotel was constructed. The lease was renewed last year. However, the mandatory permission from the National Board of Wildlife was not obtained and hence the forest department did not issue an NOC to operate the hotel inside the sanctuary.

Gir lion safari permits go 100% online

Himanshu Kaushik | TNN | Dec 8, 2015, 07.16 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: From now on, all permits for lion safari in Gir Sanctuary will have to be obtained online. Forest department authorities took the step after they found touts selling permits to visitors, and that many bonafide visitors faced issues. Principal chief conservator of forest, SC Pant, said permits for Gir Forest tours will be issued totally online, and those who wish to visit the sanctuary without obtaining online permits will have to be content with visiting Devaliya Interpretation Zone.


The decision to go online was taken after forest department found rampant misuse of permits by beat guards and even taxi drivers.

Officials said during Diwali vacation, taxi drivers and beat guards were found jamming the queue for permits, and later found selling permits to guests at high rates. The raids to catch touts was conducted when Pant was in Sinh Sadan.

"This was the demand of the tourism department ever since online permits began to be issued. The step would increase the chance of visitors from outside Gujarat to obtain permits," said an officer.

Deputy conservator of forest, Sandeep Kumar, said that "In order to prevent any mischief, we have decided that each visitor will have to submit identity proof. For example, if one person was applying for permits of six people, he would have to submit ID proof for each person. A maximum of six persons can tour on a single permit. The department will give refunds in cases of cancellation."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Gir-lion-safari-permits-go-100-online/articleshow/50084843.cms

London Zoo to open new safari lodge within lion enclosure.

Guests will be able to stay overnight in one of nine cabins and enjoy exclusive early morning and evening tours of the facility

An aerial artist impression of the Gir Lion Lodge Photo: ZSL London Zoo

By Victoria Ward

9:14AM GMT 03 Dec 2015

London Zoo is to open a guest lodge inside its new lion enclosure which will allow guests to spend a night "within roaring distance" of the animals.

The opportunity to take a brief safari in the middle of Central London will cost almost £400 per couple per night.

The £5.7million redevelopment of the lion enclosure will include nine cabins, each featuring a private veranda, just a stone's throw from the animals' new 2,500 sq metres (27,000 sq ft) enclosure.

The décor inside the Gir Lion Lodge will be inspired by the guest houses in Sasan Gir on the edge of the Indian forest.

An artist impression of the Gir Lion Lodge veranda  Photo: ZSL London Zoo

Safety measures will ensure there is no direct contact between humans and animals but guests will be treated to an evening tour of the enclosure and an exclusive morning tour to see the animals before the zoo, in London's Regent's Park, opens to visitors.
Each lodge can accommodate two adults. On family nights, a maximum of four people are welcome, including up to three children aged between five and 13.
Tickets go on sale on Saturday and the first overnight stays begin in May next year.

"London Zoo is a magical place at night - we wanted people of all ages to have a chance to enjoy that magic, and immerse themselves in a fantastic experience unlike any other, sleeping near to our magnificent Asiatic lions."

Emma Taylor of London Zoo

The lion enclosure, home to Lucifer, the 12-year- old, 30-stone male of the pride, and lionesses, six-year-old Ruby and four-year-old twins Heidi and Indi, closed last year for a major refurbishment.
Land of the Lions will reopen next spring, and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for a breeding group of endangered Asiatic lions, of which only 400 remain in the wild.
It has been inspired by the landscape of the Gir Forest and will be five times the size of the previous enclosure
Asiatic lions will sleep for up to 16 hours-a-day, and visitors will be able to see them enjoying their cat-naps in their custom-built "lion hotel".
Heidi, Asiatic lioness at ZSL London Zoo  Photo: ZSL London Zoo
• Cecil the lion: legal hunting can help conservation, says Rory Stewart
The enclosure will feature a bustling Indian "village" to enable guests to experience the vibrant culture of the lion’s native home, before they reach the lions' den, featuring an Indian train station, a conservation centre for rangers and an abandoned ancient fort.
The enclosure will enable the big cats to claim areas as their own, which they do by scent marking and vocalisations – a mighty roar which can be heard from miles away.
• The 2015 ZSL London Zoo annual weigh-in, in pictures
Emma Taylor, head of product development, told the Daily Mail: "London Zoo is a magical place at night - we wanted people of all ages to have a chance to enjoy that magic, and immerse themselves in a fantastic experience unlike any other, sleeping near to our magnificent Asiatic lions.
An artist impression of Gir Lion Lodge interior  Photo: ZSL London Zoo
"It's hard to believe you're in the heart of the capital when you're surrounded by the noises of the wild.
"Staying overnight at the Gir Lion Lodge will give guests the chance to explore the zoo on a hosted tour, while helping to fund our work for wildlife around the world."
Reports of drunken visitors at the zoo's "lates" events last year raused questions about whether the zoo was focusing too much on profits rather than conservation.
Vistors were said to have disturbed the animals by throwing beer at tigers or trying to get in pens with animals.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/12030553/London-Zoo-to-open-new-safari-lodge-within-lion-enclosure.html

Would you pay £387 to spend the night with the lions of London Zoo? Attraction due to open guest lodge within new enclosure

• £5.7million development will increase size of lions' lair by five times
• Project will include wooden lodges which families can rent out overnight
• Costing nearly £400, guests will be 'within a whisker' of the Asiatic lions
• Nine private cabins will have interior décor inspired by the Indian forest

By Colin Fernandez for the Daily Mail

Published: 23:57 GMT, 2 December 2015 | Updated: 00:57 GMT, 3 December 2015

Forget exotic safaris or jungle trails – soon a sleepover with a pride of lions will be just a train journey away.

London Zoo is building a guest lodge inside its new enclosure which is to open in spring next year.

But waking up to the roars of Asiatic lions doesn't come cheap – at almost £400 a couple for one night.

The £5.7million redevelopment of the lion enclosure will give the animals 2,500 sq metres (27,000 sq ft) of space to roam in – more than five times the area they currently have.

London Zoo is building a guest lodge inside its new enclosure which is to open in spring next year. But waking up to the roars of Asiatic lions doesn't come cheap – at almost £400 a couple for one night

Starting in the spring, visitors will be able to stay overnight within the enclosure.

Safety measures will ensure the lions are kept well away from the lodge, but the zoo promises guests will be 'within a whisker' of the Asiatic lions.

However, the cost of an overnight stay in 'the Land of the Lions' will make a significant dent in your pocket – starting at £378 for a couple.

But this is still cheaper than flying to the Gir Forest in India, the home of London Zoo's lions and where only around 400 Asiatic lions remain in the wild.

Accommodation is limited to just nine private cabins, with décor inspired by the guest houses in Sasan Gir on the edge of the Indian forest.

The zoo promises guests a sumptuous meal as well as an evening tour with guests 'a whisker away' from the lions.

Come on in:Starting in the spring, visitors will be able to stay overnight within the enclosure. Safety measures will ensure the lions are kept well away from the lodge, but the zoo promises guests will be 'within a whisker' of the Asiatic lions

Tickets go on sale on Saturday and the first overnight stays begin in May next year.

In the morning guests will be treated to breakfast and an exclusive morning tour to see the animals before the zoo opens to visitors.

The new enclosure will also house project to breed more of the endangered lions to help their survival.

The zoo's lionesses, five-year-old Ruby and three-year-old twins Heidi and Indi, were moved to Whipsnade Zoo's 600-acre site in Bedfordshire, while the new enclosure is being built.

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Meanwhile Lucifer, the 12-year-old, 30-stone male of the pride is living at Paignton Zoo.

It is the first time in living memory that London Zoo has been without lions.

Emma Taylor, head of product development at the zoo, said: 'ZSL London Zoo is a magical place at night – we wanted people of all ages to have a chance to enjoy that magic, and immerse themselves in a fantastic experience unlike any other, sleeping near to our magnificent Asiatic lions.

'It's hard to believe you're in the heart of the capital when you're surrounded by the noises of the wild.

'Staying overnight at the Gir Lion Lodge in London's most unique destination will give guests the chance to explore the Zoo on a hosted tour, while helping to fund our work for wildlife around the world.'

As well as the lodge, the zoo is recreating the 'hustle and bustle' of a modern Indian village within the enclosure – which will include an Indian train station, a conservation centre for rangers and an abandoned ancient fort.

The zoo recently appealed for props that might help the recreation, including 'old, well-used bikes', vintage weighing scales, old benches and Indian decorations such as plastic garlands.

There have been lions at London Zoo since 1832, with the first ones brought in from a menagerie at the Tower of London. Records show that lions have been kept at the Tower since 1210.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3343633/Would-pay-387-spend-night-lions-London-Zoo-Attraction-open-guest-lodge-new-enclosure.html#ixzz3vn9kYw9G
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Leopard corners students in Gujarat school

Children of a school in a village in Gujarat's Una District had to stay huddled in their classroom for four hours after a leopard entered the school from the adjacent Gir Forest.

By: ANI | December 2, 2015 10:04 PM

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Children of a school in a village in Gujarat’s Una District had to stay huddled in their classroom for four hours after a leopard entered the school from the adjacent Gir Forest.
Forest Department officials were called in as soon as the leopard was sighted, and it took them over four hours to first tranquilise the animal and take it to the nearest animal care centre.
The rise in the population of leopards and their shrinking habitat, forces these animals to move into villages in search of food.
The presence of the leopard created panic for some time.
The leopard was eventually released into the wild after a medical check up.

http://www.financialexpress.com/article/india-news/leopard-corners-students-in-gujarat-school/173540/

10 wildlife destinations in India you must visit this winter.

We bring you a list of 10 national parks from different parts of the country that you must visit this winter.

Samonway Duttagupta

November 30, 2015 | UPDATED 14:10 IST

A +A -

The time has arrived when we can safely say that the winters are here. In a country which has wide patches of green spread across various parts of the map, one just can't afford to miss out on a trip to the wildlife havens during the winters. A dirt track leading into the mystic depths of a forest is always inviting to a traveller who loves the wide range of flora and fauna available in most of the national parks in India. We bring you a list of the ones that you must visit this winter.
Bandhavgarh National Park

A Bengal tiger at the Bandhavgarh National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/JP Bennett/Creative Commons

 Located in Madhya Pradesh, the Bandhavgarh National Park is known for its high density of Bengal tigers. Those who have travelled to this place say that a safari through this jungle can assure you of a glimpse of the big cat. This is mainly due to a high concentration of tigers within a relatively smaller core area, measuring 435 sq km. That aside, the park boasts of nearly 40 species of mammals that include deer, wild boar, sambar, Indian bison, barking deer and langur, around 250 species of birds and several reptiles.
Kanha National Park

A Bengal tiger at the Kanha National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Ashish Gautam/Creative Commons

 Considered as one of the most beautiful forests in India, Kanha has over 1,000 species of flowering plants. The forest is counted among those in India with maximum sightings of the Bengal tiger. While swamp deer is counted among the most commonly seen animals here, the jungle is home to numerous other species including leopard, black buck, nilgai, hyena, and a host of various migratory birds.
Panna National Park

An enchanting vista at the Panna National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Brian Gratwicke/Creative Commons

 Located not too far from Khajuraho, a major tourist attraction in Madhya Pradesh, the Panna National Park serves as a perfect stopover when you visit the region. Spread across an area of 543 sq km, the forest is home to a relatively smaller number of tigers, but are visible to most of the tourists. Wolf, sloth bear, spotted deer and sambars are the most commonly seen species in this jungle. The national park is also home to more than 200 species of birds including the bar-headed goose, honey buzzard, king vulture and blossom-headed parakeet.
Pench National Park

The memerising depths of Pench National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Ankur P/Creative Commons

 This is the forest which acted as an inspiration for Rudyard Kipling's famous work, The Jungle Book. Spread across Seoni and Chhindwara districts of Madhya Pradesh, the forest derives its name from the Pench river which flows through the park, almost dividing it into two halves. The Bengal tiger has major prominence in this park, amounting to a total of 25 as per a census done in 2011. Apart from this, the forest boasts of 38 other species of mammals, 13 species of reptiles and three species of amphibians. Fox, jungle cat, spotted deer, striped hyena, four-horned antelope and Indian bison are the most commonly seen animals.
Keoladeo National Park

A bird at the Keoladeo National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Vipul Mathur/Creative Commons

 Formerly known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, the Keoladeo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to over 366 species of birds. Popular among photographers and ornithologists, the park is famous for a wide range of migratory birds that are visible during the winter months. A boat ride in the park can bring travellers closest to some really beautiful birds. Apart from birds, the park also has 379 floral species, 50 species of fish, 13 species of snakes, five species of lizards, seven amphibian species and seven species of turtles.
Jim Corbett National Park

A herd of elephants at the Jim Corbett National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/wribs/Creative Commons

 A hot favourite among Delhiites for a weekend getaway, the Jim Corbett National Park spreads across a wide area of 1,300 sq km, having a fine balance of dense vegetation and rolling grasslands. Among a wide range of animals that include sloth bears, langurs, rhesus macaques, peacocks, otters, gharials and several species of deer, the forest is home to around 200 tigers and 300 wild elephants.
Ranthambore National Park

A breathtaking view at the Ranthambore National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Anil R/Creative Commons

 Located 130 km from Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan draws a large number of wildlife photographers from different parts of the world. The forest area, once serving as hunting grounds for the Maharajas of Jaipur, is spread across an area of 392 sq km. While tigers can be easily spotted in this place, other majorly seen animals include leopard, nilgai, hyena, sloth bear, southern plains gray langur, rhesus macaque and spotted deer, among others.
Bandipur National Park

Golden jackal at the Bandipur National Park. Picture courtesy: Wikimedia/vaidyanathan/Creative Commons

 Located in Karnataka, the Bandipur National Park covers an area of 880 sq km and is known to have a natural beauty that is unparalleled. Once the private game reserve of Mysore's Maharaja, the forest is home to about 100 species of animals, that include a good number of tigers, majestic elephants, leopards, gaur (Indian bison), spotted deer, sloth bears, langurs, and sambars. This place also makes bird watchers happy with its impressive 350-odd species of birds.
Kaziranga National Park

One-horned rhino at the Kaziranga National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Diganta Talukdar/Creative Commons

 A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Kaziranga National Park showcases the earthy beauty that the state of Assam is known for. The forest shelters world's highest number of one-horned rhinos with a population close to 1,800. Other prominent animals include a high density of tigers, a huge number of elephants with a population of around 2,000, and other varied species of animals such as swamp deer, water buffaloes and leopards, among others. When it comes to birds, the jungle boasts a good number of both resident and migratory species.

Gir National Park

Asiatic lion at the Gir National Park. Picture courtesy: Flickr/Harvey Barrison/Creative Commons

Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only place in India where you can catch a glimpse of the Asiatic lion. Once serving as the hunting grounds for the Nawabs of Junagadh, the forest area of Gir spreads across an area of 1,412 sq km. The forest is home to 38 species of mammals, around 300 species of birds, 37 species of reptiles and more than 2,000 species of insects. Apart from lions, the most commonly seen animals in the forest include leopards, striped hyenas, golden jackals, desert cats, cobras and four-horned antelopes, among others.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/wildlife-destinations-in-india-you-must-this-winter-bandhavgarh-national-park-bandipur-kaziranga-gir-jim-corbett-tiger-india-wildlife-forest/1/534640.html