Social Science

1. The Greenfingers School ,Akluj
Subject Enrichment Activity
Name -Saad Rajwali Mulani
Grade -10
Subject - Social Science
Topic - Wild Animals (Endangered)
Teacher -Mr. George. P. S Sir

2. What is Endangered
mean?
An endangered species is a type of organism
that is threatened by extinction. Species
become endangered for two main reasons: loss
of habitat and loss of genetic variation.

3. Asiatic Lion
The lion, which once
roamed across
southwest Asia but is
now restricted to the
1,400 square kilometre
(545 square mile) .
Gir sanctuary in Gujarat state, was listed as
critically endangered in 2000, with its population
under threat due to hunting and human
encroachment on its habitat.

4. Male and Female Lions Preserved in Gir
National Park.

5. In the late 1960s only about 180
Asiatic lions were thought to
survive but an improvement in
numbers prompted
conservationists to raise their
assessment to endangered in
2008.
About Conservation

6. Science Behind
The first scientific description of the Asiatic lion
was published in 1826 by the Austrian zoologist
Johann N. Meyer who named it Felis leo persicus.
Until the 19th century, it occurred in Saudi Arabia
eastern Turkey, Iran, Mesopotamia, and from east
of the Indus River to Bengal and Narmada River in
Central India.Since the turn of the 20th century, it
is restricted to the Gir Forest National Park and
surrounding areas.

7. Fossil remains of Panthera spelaea excavated in the
Cromer Stage indicate that it represented a genetically
isolated and highly distinct lineage, not closely related to
Asiatic lions.Fossil lion remains were found in Pleistocene
deposits in West Bengal.A fossil carnassial excavated in the
Batadomba Cave indicates that Panthera leo sinhaleyus
inhabited Sri Lanka during the late Pleistocene, and is
thought to have become extinct around 39,000 years ago.
Deraniyagala described this lion in 1939 that was distinct
from today's lion.
Evolution

8. Lion phylogeography
Results of a phylogeographic analysis based on
mtDNA sequences of lions from across the
global range, including now extinct populations
like Barbary lions, indicates that Sub-Saharan
African lions are phylogenetically basal to all
modern lions. These findings support an African
origin of modern lion evolution with a probable
centre in East and Southern Africa.

9. It is likely that lions migrated from there to
West Africa, eastern North Africa and via
the periphery of the Arabian Peninsula into
Turkey, southern Europe and northern India
during the last 20,000 years. The Sahara,
tropical rainforest and the Great Rift Valley
are natural barriers to lion dispersal.

10. Protecting the remaining Gir lions is
crucial to enable the population to grow
and ensure the survival of this
irreplaceable species. ZSL is working with
partners in India, including the Wildlife
Institute of India and Gujarat Forest
Department to safeguard Asiatic lions.
Conservation

13. Visitors visiting Gir National Park to see Asiatic Lion's

14. As ,We all are the
future of our
country conserve
not only wild life
but also other
resources.