Sasan Gir National Park

Located in southern Gujarat, Gir Forest National Park - widely known as Sasan Gir – is a thick, forested landscape and last refuge of the Asiatic lion. The sanctuary was established in 1965, and covers an area of around 1,412 sq km. Much of this is dense forest, almost entirely undeveloped and with a fraction of visitors compared to parks in Rajasthan and central India. Since gaining protected status the area has developed a stable and varied eco system, now home to 606 different plant species, 2000 species of insects and 36 species of mammals and over 300 species of birds. Most importantly, its population of lions – the last corner of Asia in which they are found – has risen from a shocking 20 up to a healthy 500.