Gir National Park to remain closed for monsoon

The Gir National Park, which is popular for being housing more than 500 Asiatic lions, will remain closed for the next four months. Both domestic and international tourists will have to wait till October 15 to plan a trip to this sanctuary. The four month break period will last throughout the monsoon season, i.e., from June 16 to October 15.
Referring to this development, Naval Aparnathi, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) informed that the park remains closed during this period every year, as it is the breeding season for lions and other wildlife. Also, the roads become patchy and muddy during monsoon seasons and is considered unsafe for driving vehicles. The national park, located in Junagadh district, is the only home for Asiatic lions in the world. This is the very reason that pulls tourists in huge numbers every year, and makes the open jeep safari a main attractions of this place. As per the records, the number of tourists visiting this sanctuary has been increasing year after year. During these four months of monsoon break, various maintenance works will also be carried out in the sanctuary, including the necessary repair work in forest area. In addition, forest officials are also responsible for performing rescue work of neonatal cubs and keep an eye on them.
Reportedly, in May 2015, the total number of lions in the Gir forest stood at 523, which was around 27 percent more than their number in 2010, which at that time stood at 411.