Chapter outline and page reference:
Introduction 175
Girnar Eco-Sensitive Zone 178
Vertebrates Recorded from Girnar 180
Fish 180
Amphibians 181
Reptiles 181
Birds 197
Mammals 252
Some Potential Animal Research Projects at Mount Girnar 271
A Brief Account of Vertebrate Wildlife of Gir Forest 273
Gir Amphibians 274
Gir Reptiles 275
Gir Birds 277
Gir Mammals 291
Chapter preview (first three pages only):
Figure 37. Monogram of Junagadh State. The head is that of a lion, an emblem of the Babi rulers of Saurashtra. The twisted rope may imply a ‘juna’ or a ring of kusha grass rope (from Thakkar 2010).
Introduction
The very scarce published records of the animals that occur at Mount Girnar reflect the limited attention Girnar natural history has received. Primarily because of the presence of the only remaining population of Asiatic lions, the Gir Forest, 20 km south of Girnar, has been the focus of a greater range of biological research. The forest area of Gir and its lions were declared as ‘protected’ in the early 1900s by the then Nawab of the princely state of Junagadh. This initiative assisted in the conservation of the lions whose population had plummeted to only 15 through slaughter for trophy hunting. Rao et al (1961, page 121) commented that: ‘…[in] a report in 1913 from Mr. Willinger, the then District Forest Officer, Junagadh State,…there were only 6 to 8 lions left in an area of 1,893 sq km (700 sq miles), Mr. Rendall, the Administrator, imposed a total ban on lion shooting. As a result of this timely protection this species was saved from total extinction just in the nick of time’.The 2005 lion census in Gir recorded a total of 359 animals.
Divyabhanusinh (2006) suggested that: ‘The Junagadh State’s efforts at conservation were arguably the earliest in the Indian Empire for protecting a species for its own sake’ as it was Nawab Mahabat Khan II who in 1879 ordered strict protection of lions in his dominions. Divyabhanusinh continued by saying that ‘In spite of several changes in administration – princely state to British administration to independence and beyond – it has a remarkable continuity of policy of protection of the lion and its habitat’, and he added that ‘Junagadh state pioneered the ‘counting’ of large fauna in the sub-continent.’
Girnar was a hunting reserve of the Junagadh State during the rule of the Babi Nawabs, where lion, leopard, sambhar, spotted deer, four-horned antelope, rusty spotted cat, jungle cat, nilgai (bluebull), wild boar and other wildlife were in plenty. Most of these animals still occur there, however in reduced numbers (Forests and Environment Department 2009). The Girnar Forest was declared as a Wildlife Sanctuary by the notification of Government on the 31st May 2008.
According to Craighead and Convis (2013): ‘Girnar Mountain in Gujarat India represents the duality of humankind’s role in nature. Although humans are an integral part of the natural world along with other species, our activities, developments, and populations have resulted in increasingly serious negative impacts on natural systems: from species extinctions to global climate change. In this part of the world for instance, gentle mountain trails have been replaced with elaborate stone staircases reaching summits crowned with marble temples. Despite a profound reverence for all life that has prevailed in this region for millennia, the relentless pressure of human population growth has removed all but a few tiny pockets of wildlife habitat; most of the endemic wildlife is critically endangered. The larger landscape of Gujarat was not planned with conservation in mind; although this small refuge, the mountainscape, indirectly was.’
In a report in 1991, on forest degradation at Girnar, the Working Plan Officer (AK Sharma), identified the following major reasons responsible for forest degradation over the previous few decades (Sharma et al 1991): demoralisation of staff, forest fire, illegal cutting of trees by organised wood cutters, non-responsive administration, connivance of staff in certain cases, edapho-climatic conditions, lack of will to protect the forest, encroachment, illegal and uncontrolled grazing, illicit distilling and mining. Forest rehabilitation had major benefits of increased water and fodder (including grass). After forest demarcation, many encroachers were removed. Similarly, the long standing problem of wood cutters (Kathiaras), numbering more than 1,000, who were entering the forests, cutting trees and bamboo and selling them in the local market, was solved by creating alternative employment opportunities and strict enforcement of laws. Simultaneously, uncontrolled and rampant grazing was also controlled, and villagers and Maldharis (local graziers) were provided with the option of cutting grass and taking it away free of cost. Dead, dry and wind-fallen wood and material available in naturally regenerated forest areas after silvicultural operations, were made available to local people to meet their fuel-wood requirements. Controls on grazing, collection of dead and dying material and grass collection eliminated the problem of forest fire. Different afforestation works, carried out in the past under community forestry and other programmes, also improved availability of fuel-wood and small timber. A large number of biogas plants, and crematoria, were also installed in peripheral villages to reduce dependence on fuel-wood (Lal 2000a,b).
From 1992 at Girnar, trees planted during reforestation were, wherever necessary, local fruit and fodder-yielding plants, predominantly Ailanthus excelsa (tree-of-heaven), Holoptelia integrifolia (kanju), Acacia senegal (gum arabic tree), Mitragyna parvifolia (kaim), Dalbergia sissoo (shisham), Ficus benghalensis (banyan), Azadirachta indica (neem), Emblica officinalis (Indian gooseberry), Acacia catechu (catechu), Pongamia pinnata (Indian beech), Gmelina arborea (white beech, gamhar), Tectona grandis (common teak), Madhuca indica (mahua), Annona squamosa (custard-apple, sugar-apple, sweetsop), Sapindus emarginatus (soap-nut tree), Terminalia tomentosa (Indian laurel), Butea monosperma (flame of the forest), Acacia nilotica (scented thorn acacia), Dendrocalamus strictus (iron bamboo), and Bambusa arundinacea (giant thorny bamboo). Essentially, seeds from local forest trees were used (Lal 2000a).
Since Girnar is the only source of water for Junagadh city and the neighbouring 39 villages, increased availability of water and reduced siltation in reservoirs ensured not only the wholehearted support of local people but also attracted them to participate in ongoing efforts. While carrying out soil and moisture conservation (SMC) work, priority was given to construction of check dams and developing permanent water holes for wildlife. Because the area is highly