Now women too are taking care of lions in Gir forest

Chief conservator of forests (wildlife) of Junagadh circle D T Vasavada told ETV Bharat in a special interview that the number of women guards has been increasing in the Gir forest for the past some time. There are about 70 women employees ranging from beat guards, forester, range forest officers and deputy conservator of forest in the Gir circle.

Junagadh: Facing all odds, about 70 women forest department employees are performing their duty of taking care of the Gir forest and its lions.

For a group of women forest guards working in India's Gir sanctuary, the only home to Asiatic lions, protecting and rescuing big cats is all in a day's work, the ETV Bharat visited Gir forest to experience their hardwork.

Chief conservator of forests (wildlife) of Junagadh circle D T Vasavada told ETV Bharat in a special interview that the number of women employees has been increasing in the Gir forest for the past some time.

The women's unit was set up in 2007 when then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi - now India's prime minister - ordered a 33% quota for women in Gir.

There are about 70 women employees ranging from beat guards, forester, range forest officers and deputy conservator of forest in the Gir circle.

These women are protecting and rescuing wild animals, their male colleagues weren't too enthused about having a woman in their midst.

So far, working in forest department used to be the exclusive domain of men in a patriarchal system. However, in the last five to seven years, there has been a significant increase of women in the forest department.

As a beat guard, range forest officer and deputy conservator, these women are looking after the wellbeing of forest and the wildlife, including lions.