Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary, the last abode of the Asiatic lion, will remain closed for four months for visitors from Friday as the ‘King of Jungle’ would go on long vacation on account of mating season.
With the beginning of monsoon the sanctuary remains close from June 16 to October 15. During the period, mating season of most of the wild animals also starts and there has to be no outside disturbance during breeding season of fauna. Already pre-monsoon shower hit the sanctuary.
Apart from breeding season for wild animals, the road conditions also deteriorate inside the jungle. Sometimes it becomes unsafe for visitors to travel on such roads. There are chances of accidents too. Sometimes bridges get damage due to flooding of rivers passing through the sanctuary and questions pertaining to safety of visitors arise. Even the forest department starts maintenance work only in September as peak tourist season begins from November and continues till March end.
There are eight routes to enter inside the Gir National Park, which have been barricaded and entry of vehicles have been banned. It’s growing time for the vegetation too, which feed herbivores. According to wildlife experts the period is also the best breeding time for leopards and peacock.
Though the sanctuary would remain close for four months, an Interpretation Centre at Devalia, adjoining the national park will continue to remain open except for Wednesdays.
The Asiatic lion is found only in and around Gir forest situated in Saurashtra region. In the last census conducted in the year 2015 in an area of over 20,000 sq km in Saurashtra region, there were 523 lions, including 109 adult males, 201 adult females and 213 cubs.