Mumbai national park gets Asiatic lions from Junagadh

  • November 27, 2022
  • Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
  • Category: DPN Topics
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Mumbai national park gets Asiatic lions from Junagadh

Subject :Environment

In news-

  • A pair of three-year-old Asiatic lions has been brought to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park here from Sakkarbaug Zoo, Gujarat in exchange for a pair of tigers.

Asiatic lions-

  • The Asiatic Lion (also known as the Persian Lion or Indian Lion) is a member of the Panthera Leo Leo subspecies that is restricted to India.
  • Its previous habitats consisted of West Asia and the Middle East before it became extinct in these regions.
  • Today their range is restricted to the Gir National Park in Gujarat.
  • The Asiatic Lion is one of the five pantherine cats native to India.
  • The others being: the Bengal Tiger, the Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard and the Clouded Leopard.

Characteristics of the Asiatic Lion

  • The colour of the Asiatic Lion ranges from sandy or buffish grey to silvery sheen in certain lightings.
  • The males have a moderate mane growth at the top, compared to their African counterparts, as such their ears are visible.
  • The mane is scarcely present around the cheeks and throat.
  • It has a larger tail buff compared to the African lion.
  • The most striking characteristic character of the Indian lion is a longitudinal fold of skin along its belly.
Shoulder heightMales: 107 – 120 cm

Females: 80 – 107 cm

WeightMales: 160 to 190 kg

Females: 110 to 120 kg

Length2.92 m
Skull lengthMales: 330 to 340 mm

Females: 292 to 302 mm

HabitatRestricted to Gir National Park in Gujarat but former habitats included  Arabia, Palestine, present day Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Iran
Conservation statusIUCN Red list- Endangered

Wild life protection act 1972- Schedule l

CITES-  Appendix-l

About the Gir National Park-

  • The Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Junagadh district of Gujarat.
  • The Gir Forests is the only natural habitat of Asiatic lions.
  • It was declared as a sanctuary in 1965 and a national park in 1975.
  • The Gir Forests is the largest compact tract of dry deciduous forests in the semi-arid western part of India.
  • The Gir Forests forms a unique habitat for many mammals, reptiles, birds and insect species along with a rich variety of flora.
  • Gir is often linked with “Maldharis” who have survived through the ages by having symbiotic relationship with the lion.
  • Maldharis are religious pastoral communities living in Gir. Their settlements are called “nesses”.
  • Other National Parks in Gujarat
    • Black buck National Park
    • Vansda National park
    • Marine National Park
Environment Mumbai national park gets Asiatic lions from Junagadh