Asiatic Lion at Gir National Park, Gujarat, India
The Asiatic lion is surviving today - only in India - and now its range is restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in the Indian state of Gujarat. Asiatic Lion is one of the five pantherine cats native to India, along with the Bengal Tiger, Indian Leopard, Snow Leopard, and Clouded leopard. Asiatic Lion is also known as the Indian Lion or the Persian Lion.
The Lions in Gir National Park are active at twilight and by night and their diet predominantly is Chital (Axis axis), Sambar deer, Nilgai, Water Buffalo, Wild Boar… They usually hunt and kill most prey less than 100 m away from water bodies, once killed they drag carcasses into dense cover. Asiatic Lions even prey on mugger crocodiles during dry and hot months. How to reach Gir National Park?
As per WWF - Lions are the only known cat species where individuals roar together - with even young cubs joining in with their mews. The calling sequence usually lasts about 40 seconds. Prides often roar together to mark their territory - a roar can be heard from 5 miles away.
Lions have strong, compact bodies and powerful forelegs, teeth and jaws for pulling down and killing prey. Their coats are yellow-gold, and adult males have shaggy manes that range in color from blond to reddish-brown to black. The length and color of a lion's mane is likely determined by age, genetics and hormones. Young lions have light spotting on their coats that disappears as they grow. Without their coats, lion and tiger bodies are so similar that only experts can tell them apart.
