New Delhi, Jul 11 (IANS): 'The Pride Kingdom', giving a stunning insider account of lions' lives in Gir (Gujarat), filmed for the first time ever in a 12-episode series, was released by wildlife enthusiast and Rajya Sabha MP, Parimal Nathwani.
"It's fascinating to see how the only two identical twin Asiatic lions, the Bhuriya Brothers, the protagonists of the story, go about taking control of their territory," said a statement from Nathwani's office on Monday.
The series, produced by Nathwani and filmed in Gujarat's Gir forest in a span of few weeks, beautifully captures myriads of moods of this majestic animal and also the dread in both a leopard and other animals in one episode, demonstrating how the lion is the ruler of the jungle.
Capturing the untold stories of the Asiatic Lions and their only abode Gir, it films the uncommon occurrence in the history of any wildlife species or the jungle, and also discusses the behaviour of lions and their interaction with humans.
"It emphasises the raising of the young cubs and the training given to them to hunt by the queen of Gir. Additionally, it demonstrates how the lioness puts her life in danger to defend her cubs, serving as the ideal mother and role model. It also highlights the unique 'Lion Hospital', a facility built with cutting-edge amenities to care for the majestic animal," it said.
Talking about the documentary, Nathwani, Director (Corporate Affairs) at Reliance Industries Limited, said, "I have been visiting Gir for more than 35 years on regular basis. What attracts me is the royal nature of Asiatic Lions. Gir is the only abode of Asiatic Lions globally. Though thousands of tourists visit Gir every year, it has still not got enough attention at national and international levels. The aim of this documentary is to tell the untold stories of Asiatic Lions in Gir."
Nathwani said he tried to discover the wonders of nature and wildlife, and this series shows how the Gir Jungle is the ideal habitat for lions. He has been taking up various issues to protect the lions of the Gir forest with the help of forest officials, trackers, maldharis, and the people of the area.
The Central government has already approved a Rs 1,000 crore fund for Project Lion, to be allotted by December 2022. During his visit to Gir National Park in May 2022, Union Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Bhupendra Yadav had asked the Gujarat State Forest Department officials to prepare a road map that can sustain Lions' habitat for next 25 years.
The series will be available on different platforms like Jio, YouTube, etc, the statement said.