Gir lions to roar on Rajpath this R-Day

AHMEDABAD: The Asiatic lions will roar on Rajpath during Republic Day parade on January 26. Gujarat will present the endangered Asiatic lions of Gir Wildlife Sanctuary as theme of its tableau in New Delhi.
The decision to have the tableau on Asiatic lions was taken by the Gujarat government as Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is celebrating the golden jubilee of its foun dation this year.According to the state government officials, the ministry of defence has approved `Gir Sanctuary ­ Asiatic Lions' theme for the Republic Day tableau.
It was on September 18, last year that the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary completed 50 years of conservation. A special postal stamp was also released on that day. Gir has seen the lion population growing to 523.The protected area, which was 1,265 sqkm in 1965, has now expanded to 22,000 sqkm, as the lions kept conquering back their lost territory.
Not just the Asiatic lion, the Gujarat tableau will also show youths of Siddi tribe settled in the Gir forests performing their traditional `Dhamaal' dance in their tribal attire.
According to the officials, front portion of tableau shows the Asiatic lion, while the second half will have cattle owners with Gir cows living among the lions. The tableau will also show how Gir has used wind energy to draw water and fill water ponds for the animals within the sanctuary.
Gir sanctuary is known for its diversity in vegetation and wildlife.As many as 39 species of herbivorous and carnivorous animals and 300 species of rare birds, including endangered vulture, are found in the sanctuary. Of these, the tableau will also depict some of the varieties.
From the time when many centuries back the lion kingdom used to cover almost the whole of east Asia, it was the people of peninsular Saurashtra who saved the beast from a complete annihilation. Hunted down by humans, Gir had 174 lions when it was notified as a sanctuary on September 18, 1965. In 1904, the Nawab of Junagadh, Mohabat Para III, banned the hunting. However, hunting with permission continued even after the independence and was completely banned only after the sanctuary was declared in 1965.