H2_W3_008

Date: January 2012

Location: Gir National Park, Gujarat

Did you know?

The Asiatic Lion, today survives in the wild only in India. Since the turn of the 20th century, its range has been restricted to Gir National Park and the surrounding areas in the Indian state of Gujarat. Historically, it inhabited much of southwest Asia to northern India. In June 2020, an estimation exercise counted 674 Asiatic lions in the Gir forest region, an increase of 29% over the 2015 census figure.

About the picture

A pride of lions was warming themselves up in the winter sun in January 2012. Winters in Gir can get cold. Suddenly a lioness along with her two cubs got up and stepped into the light, which is when I clicked this pic right as all three of them looked at me.

Fun Fact

Neolithic cave paintings of lions were found in Bhimbetka rock caves in Madhya Pradesh, which are at least 30,000 years old.