The Gir is known all over the world as the last home of the Asiatic lion. The lion was once widely distributed in Asia Minor and Arabia through Persia to India.

In the Indian sub-continent, its range extended over northern India, as far as east up to Bihar, with the Narmada river marking the southern limit.

Before the close of the last century, the Asiatic lion had become extinct from its range except Gir.

The probable years of its extermination region-wise were Bihar 1840, Delhi 1834, Bhavalpur 1842, Eastern Vindhyas & Bundelkhand 1865, Central India & Rajasthan 1870 and Western Aravallis 1880.