Gir, in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat, is the last refuge of the Asiatic lion and the only place in the wild where these lions survive. Its dry deciduous forest, thorn scrub, grasslands and seasonal rivers stretch across roughly 1,400 square kilometres, forming a unique ecosystem carefully protected after the lion population once fell to just a few dozen animals.
Alongside its famous lions, Gir supports leopards, striped hyenas, jackals, marsh crocodiles, sambar, chital and a rich variety of birds and raptors. The sanctuary is usually open from mid-October to mid-June, with the dry pre-monsoon months offering excellent wildlife concentration around waterholes.