Once distributed across Asia Minor and Arabia, lions colonised India centuries ago. In the north they roamed as far as Saharanpur, Moradabad and Ludhiana, to the east in Bihar and south to the Narmada valley. But habitat destruction and vigorous hunting almost wiped the species off the face of the earth. The last lion to be killed in Gujarat was in 1870, but in Central India, where they were unprotected, they were hunted till 1884. Forced into this tiny, forested western corner of the country, around 300 lions now share their fragile home with villagers, cattle and India's robust industrial ambitions.

If you decide to spend time in one of the Maldhari nesses you might just see lions in a very different light! These herders know their animals and do not generally hurt them, but they understandably keep watch and drive them away from their areas, fearing the loss of their valuable livestock. In recent years the population of wild ungulates has risen and therefore attacks on domestic stock has come down.

At midday, lions prefer resting under the shade or near a waterhole. They tend to hunt at dusk. Driving is not permitted at night, but if you sit out in the open you are very likely to hear the awesome roaring of males, particularly in October or November, which is their mating season. Gir is also a great place to see leopards , or panthers as they are also called. Much smaller than lions, they are more agile, climb trees and therefore manage to keep out of the way of the heavier, more powerful cats. Sambar , chital (now abundant), nilgai (the largest Indian antelope), four horned antelope and chinkara are the deer prey species seen all over the park. Other prey species include langur and wild boar . Porcupine , hare and jackal are also found in Gir.

Carnivores such as wildcats, jackals , foxes , hyaenas and ratels are found in the park, each occupying their own very special niche.

There are 25 species of reptiles in Gir, the most visible of which are the marsh crocodile , which can be seen in the rivers and the Kamleshwar dam reservoir. It is also possible to sight Monitor lizards , Pythons , cobras , the fish-eating keelbacks and whipsnakes are some of the other snakes that inhabit the park.

If you decide to spend time in one of the Maldhari nesses you might just see lions in a very different light! These herders know their animals and do not generally hurt them, but they understandably keep watch and drive them away from their areas, fearing the loss of their valuable livestock. In recent years the population of wild ungulates has risen and therefore attacks on domestic stock has come down. At midday, lions prefer resting under the shade or near a waterhole. They tend to hunt at dusk. Driving is not permitted at night, but if you sit out in the open you are very likely to hear the awesome roaring of males, particularly in October or November, which is their mating season. Gir is also a great place to see leopards, or panthers as they are also called. Much smaller than lions, they are more agile, climb trees and therefore manage to keep out of the way of the heavier, more powerful cats. Sambar, chital (now abundant), nilgai (the largest Indian antelope), four horned antelope and chinkara are the deer prey species seen all over the park. Other prey species include langur and wild boar. Porcupine, hare and jackal are also found in Gir.

Carnivores such as wildcats, jackals, foxes, hyaenas and ratels are found in the park, each occupying their own very special niche.

There are 25 species of reptiles in Gir, the most visible of which are the marsh crocodile, which can be seen in the rivers and the Kamleshwar dam reservoir. It is also possible to sight Monitor lizards. Pythons, cobras, the fish-eating keelbacks and whipsnakes are some of the other snakes that inhabit the park.