Lion Ecosystem : Gir is a unique success story for revival of Asiatic Lion, their number was reduced to about a dozen a century ago. The pride of jungle is at ease in number as also health, prey-predator balance is well maintained, and the park is managed at its best by the forest department of Gujarat. Lions were present in most part of India during late mediaeval time. Today it is the lone surviving population in the wild here. The Maldharis, traditional graziers, live within and around this park, and are accepted as an integral part of the Lion-ecosystem; we can visit their tiny dwellings in course of the Lion safaris.

The habitat is diverse - the rivers supporting a long length of evergreen belt, while surrounding areas are covered with forest -- tropical thorn, dry deciduous and open scrub grass land. Being open, it hosts more than three hundred species of birds. We use open jeeps for the morning and afternoon safaris, like in tiger parks in this country, to move into the park to observe birds and wild life. Remarkable species are :
 

Black Ibis	Dusky Eagle Owl

Interesting : Black Ibis, Woolly-necked Stork, Rock Bush Quail, Painted Sand Grouse, Crested Tree Swift, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Cuckoo Shrike, Asian Paradise-Flycatcher, Pygmy Woodpecker, Black Headed Oriole, Indian Pitta, Parakeets, Mynas, Doves, Pigeons, Babblers, Warblers among others. The prominent raptors observed include : Eagles (Crested Serpent, and Bonelli's), Owls (Brown Fish and Dusky Eagle, Spotted Owlet).

We are not allowed to get down from the jeep while inside the park, the usual norm in most parks in India. Bird watching has to continue while driving and stopping. At the dam embankment of course, we are welcome to walk around to log in the aquatic species. A walk around the resort is generally rewarding - you follow the country trails to discover several terrestrial and arboreal species. Walking by the river is possible. We need to stay for two nights.