Gir National Park lies in Gujarat, in western India, and is the only natural habitat of the Asiatic lion. A sanctuary was established in 1965 and the national park was declared a decade later, protecting an area of dry deciduous forest, scrub and grassland. The lions were hunted nearly to extinction by the early 20th century, when only a few dozen survived, and the Nawab of Junagadh protected them. Their numbers have since risen to several hundred, and they now also live in the villages and farmland around the park. The Maldhari pastoralists live inside the park. The plan to relocate some lions to create a second population has been debated for years. Other wildlife includes leopards, hyenas and crocodiles.
Before and after
- 1965Founding of United Nations Development Programme
- 1965Publication of Dune
- 1965Construction of Lake Volta
- 1965Founding of International Council on Monuments and Sites
- 1965Establishment of Gir National Park
- 1965Identification of Angelman syndrome
- 1965Creation of Multics
- 1965Plate tectonics
- 4 January 1965Death of T. S. Eliot
More in Earth & climate
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 20th century.