Lions of Sasan Gir

When I think of iconic rare or endangered species those that come to mind immediately include Giant Panda, Mountain Gorilla and the Tiger… yet the species I was seeking out in the Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is rarer than them all – the Asiatic Lion.

The Lion (Panthera leo) is a species that at one time ranged across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and beyond yet is now restricted to suitable habitats in Africa (home of the African Lion) and one remnant Asian population in the Gir Forest of Gujarat, India.

There is ongoing debate about whether we should be putting the time, effort and money (the ‘we’ being the conservation community) into trying to save a species that is on the verge of extinction. There are only 400 Asiatic Lions left in total – on Earth. Would that time, money and effort be better used elsewhere? A recent article in Conservation Biology (a well reputed scientific journal) discusses the issue.

I have not come up with my own opinion on the matter as of yet, but I am certainly  keen to learn as much as I can on the topic (and see what animals I can while here in Asia). So, just an hour or two after arriving in the village of Sasan Gir, I found myself in an open air jeep with a driver and guide bouncing my way through the forests of the wildlife sanctuary in search of Lions and whatever else I could find. I was not able to find anyone to share the cost of the safari so it was a tad on the pricey side… but not to worry... we work to live ... we don't live to work. You need to find a vehicle, a driver and a guide and also pay for any camera you have over 7.1 megapixels (that is considered a professional camera) … which brings the cost to about 4000 rupees.

It was HOT … but the wildlife is used to it and I got great views of Spotted Deer, Sambar, Nilgai and a great assortment of colourful birds (India has over 1000 bird species, and in Sasan Gir you can see a few hundred of these). If you want to see more photos of the birds and mammals of Western India click on www.facebook.com/CattTrax

Near the end of the three hour safari I was able to catch glimpses of a small group of resting Lions. Although they look very  much like the Lions I have seen and photographed in Africa, these are slightly different. The males have less of the bushy mane and in terms of behavior the Asiatic Lion is exclusively predatory which is a bit different from its African cousin which will also feast on carrion if available.


My Asiatic Lion experience was quite different than that described by a friend, Bill Schmalz, a fabulous Canadian photographer (cinematographer) who was in Sasan Gir on the 70s at a time when they would feed the Lions for the tourists so they could get "feasting photos". Bill described to me how he almost became lunch himself when filming in the park (he was stalked by a lion) and if it were not for one of the local guides he may have been a goner. Bill’s photography of the Lions in the 70s was used by National Geographic.

There are now 400 Asiatic Lions but the population was at one time much smaller. Panthera leo persica was heavily hunted in the 1700s and early 1800s which resulted in the near extinction of the species (or sub-species) reaching a low of about a dozen individuals in the 1870s. The Nawab of Junagadh set up a protection zone that is today the Sasan Gir Wildlife Sanctuary. The Asiatic Lions have been separated from their African cousins for centuries which has allowed the time for them to develop their differences (as described above).

In Sasan Gir, the Lions eat primarily Spotted Deer (Chital) and Sambar as well as Wild Boar, Nilgai (Bluebuck) and the cattle and buffalo of the resident indigenous inhabitants of the region, the Maaldhan.

What is the future of the Asiatic Lion? Hard to say.