Gir Forest Lion:
If a Wild Animal Could Speak

Commended Entry: "If a Wild Animal Could Speak" by Riyaarth Saraogi from India

This article was submitted in the Kids World Travel Guide Essay Competition 2023 in the Junior Category 8 - 11 years.

Girl Forest Lion:
If a Wild Animal Could Speak

Have you heard about the Gir Forest in Gujarat? If you have then you must have heard about me.

Yes, I am the one and only Asiatic lion, both dangerous and endangered. I am the most majestic big cat in the world found only in India’s Gir Forest. My grandparents had told me that long ago our species were found in many parts of the world like North Africa along the Mediterranean, Asia Minor and perhaps even in parts of Europe. But due negligence, poaching and hunting we are now endangered.

According to my parents in the year 2001 only 327 of us were left in the entire world. Can you imagine that? However, the selfish human race realized what they were doing to us and started taking steps to protect us. Luckily, I am born in the protected areas where hunting is banned. I have heard from my grandparents that my forefathers were born in the open forests of India.

Here in India, we lions are considered sacred as Goddess Durga rides on us, but still when the kings were out hunting, they preferred to kill a lion and often succeeded too. Then came the poachers who would use latest equipment to hunt us for our skin, claws, teeth, and bones. Our home is one of the most famous Safaris. Every year thousands of people come to visit Gir and take Safari Tours.

We find humans very intruding when they come into our habitat. When the human children see any animal in the safari, they often scream in excitement which scares my cubs. But the forest officers here are nice and take good care of our needs. Even after their constant reminders and strict warnings some humans click pictures with flash mode. Once a man on safari jeep was clicking pictures with flash on which scared my youngest cub and out of panic he started running here and there and roared loudly. That made the humans even more excited and in no time several jeeps surrounded my territory.

That day I told my cubs never to roar upon seeing a jeep but to ignore it. I am thankful that authorities are trying their best to save us. The efforts are showing good results. In the year 2020 our total count increased to 674. Now I live a better life with my huge family.

Recently I heard that the Indian government has got some cheetahs from south Africa to reestablish the cheetah population in India. I wondered why aren’t other countries taking this step? May be Africa can take some of us there and try to re-establish lion habitat in Africa.

Congratulations on your essay "If a Wild Animal Could Speak", Riyaarth. Thought-provoking!

Fortunately, there are now increasing numbers of Asiatic lions in the only lion habitat of this species in Gir Forest. However, the stress tourism poses to these majestic animals occur in many popular national parks is so important to be pointed out! Well done!

Can Asiatic lions really survive in Africa? Here are some interesting insights: