Little known to the outside world, there are around 400 wild lions remaining in India. This beautiful, rare, and highly endangered animal, the Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica) is a subspecies of the African Lion.
Centered in the Gir (pronounced “gear”) Forest National Park, the lions’ small population roams the surrounding countryside of the western Indian state of Gujarat.
Tragically, these spectacular lions are being seriously injured and killed by falling into unbarricaded, open-pit wells in the region.
The Lions of Gir Foundation, in conjunction with our sister organization in India, the Wildlife Conservation Trust, is working closely with the Indian Government to erect barricades around the estimated 9,500+ open-pit wells in the region.
Click here to learn more about the Asiatic Lions of the Gir Forest……
All photos copyright 2012 by Steve Mandel.