Asiatic Lion

I started with Lion because this is my favorite animal . so lets's start it!!!!!!

 Here You definitely get all information about animals of the world.

We first  start with  history .

HISTORY OF ASIATIC LIONS

The Gir is known all over the world as the last home of the Asiatic lion. The lion was once widely distributed in Asia Minor and Arabia through Persia to India.

Before the close of the last century, the Asiatic lion had become extinct from its range except Gir. The probable years of its extermination region-wise were Bihar 1840, Delhi 1834, Bhavalpur 1842, Eastern Vindhyas & Bundelkhand 1865, Central India & Rajasthan 1870 and Western Aravallis 1880. The last animal surviving in the wild outside Saurashtra was reported in 1884.

By the end of the last century, the then Nawab of Junagadh indicated the number of lion to be a dozen in the Gir. Lions struggled to survive during one of the most severe famines between the years 1901 to 1905 as they killed many human beings and domestic cattle. The Nawab of Junagadh provided adequate protection to the animals and population of lion increased between the years 1904 to 1911. After the death of the Nawab, about 12 to 13 lions used to be shot annually. From the year 1911 onwards, shooting was rigidly controlled by the British Administration and during the year 1913, the Chief Forest Officer of Junagadh reported that there were not more than 20 animals in the Gir Forests.

Population estimates of lion given before 1936 were only estimations based on personal knowledge and the first organized census was conducted in 1936 which showed a population of 287 lions. The results of estimate of lions in the Gir Forests during the previous censuses are as follows:

The onslaught of human pressure resulted into shrinkage of the Lion’s habitat and now what remains with us is the Gir as the last refuge of the endangered mammal.

Wildlife conservation programme for the Asiatic Lion was started by the forest Department from September 1965 with the declaration of 1265.01 sq. km area as sanctuary which was expanded up to 1412.1 sq. km till date. With implementation of wildlife management and Gir Development Scheme, population of lions increased gradually from 177 in 1968 to 359 in 2005. Similarly, herbivore population of major animals (Cheetal, Sambar, Nilgai, Wild boar, Four horned Antelope, Chinkara etc.) has also increased from abut 38221 in 1995 to 49965 in 2005.

POPULATION OF ASIATIC LIONS

PHOTO

Biology and behavior

Asiatic lions are similar to African forms, though they have less swollen tympanic bullae, shorter postorbital constriction, and usually have divided infraorbital foramen. The colour ranges from reddish-brown to a highly mottled black to sandy cinnamon grey.

Their size corresponds to that of central African lions. In adult males, the maximum skull length is 330–340 mm, while that of females is 266–277 mm. They reach a weight of 160–190 kg. (n=4) for the males and 110–120 kg. (n=2) for the females.The scientific record for the longest male is of 292 cm, while the maximum height to the shoulders reported is of 107 cm. The Captain Smee hunted a male of 268 cm long, which weight 222.3 kg, excluding the entrails.The largest known wild male, in the hunting records, was exactly 3 m (9.9 ft) in length.

Asiatic lions are highly social animals, living in units called prides. Their lion prides are smaller than those of African lions, with an average of only two females, whereas an African pride has an average of four to six. The Asiatic males are less social and only associate with the pride when mating or on a large kill. It has been suggested that this may be because their prey animals are smaller than those in Africa, requiring fewer hunters to tackle them. Asiatic lions prey predominantly on deer (sambar & chital), antelope (nilgai), gazelle (chinkara), wild boar, water buffalo and livestock.