Asiatic Lions: The Pride of Gujarat's Gir

Studies have established that the lions of Central and Western Africa and the Asiatic Lion belong to the same subspecies, Panthera leo leo.

Africa Connection

The last surviving population of free-ranging Asiatic Lions is restricted to the Gir forest and surrounding areas of Gujarat.

Pride of Gir

Asiatic lions have returned from the brink of extinction and are doing well now in terms of population. They are also extrended their range beyond the Gir forest.

Return from Brink

The lionesses band together to defend resources such as prey, water and refuge for raising their cubs. Prides are joined for defined periods by coalitions, during which the males of a coalition sire all cubs of a pride.

Prides

Asian lions are polygynous, meaning that a male can mate with more than one female. There’s no mating season for the Asian lions; they mate at any time of year.

Mating Rites

These lions spend about 20 hours a day resting and sleeping. The rest of the day male lions spend patrolling their territories.

Sleeping Patterns

The closest relatives of lions are tigers: without fur, these two look almost the same, and only an expert can distinguish them from one another.

Tiger Connection