Deceased
Ram
Also known as Ram of Gir · The Most Photographed Lion of Gir
c. 2001 – November 2016
Born in Gir forest, Gujarat, India
Ram was an Asiatic lion of the Gir forest in Gujarat, western India, and with his brother Shyam one half of the most famous pair of lions in Gir. Forest officials described him as beautiful and flamboyant, and called him their most photographed lion.
The Asiatic lion survives in the wild only in and around the Gir forest of Gujarat, India, where fewer than twenty may have remained around the start of the 20th century and more than five hundred lived by 2015. Asiatic males have smaller manes than most African lions and a fold of skin along the belly.
Together, Ram and Shyam ruled a territory in Gir for many years and fathered many cubs; at one point, a former forest officer told the BBC, their pride had about two dozen cubs. Ram was found dead in November 2016, at about 15, an old age for a wild lion. A post-mortem found he had died of natural causes, and he was cremated in the presence of government and village officials.
Profile
Identity
- Name
- RamThe name he is best known by
- Nicknames
- Information not available
- Origin of the name
- Given by Gir forest staff; also the title of a Bollywood film, Ram aur Shyam
- Sex
- Male
- Distinguishing features
- Asiatic lion; described as beautiful and flamboyant
- Weight
- Information not availableFor reference, adult male Asiatic lions usually weigh 160–190 kg
Birth & Family
- Born
- c. 2001He was about 15 at death
- Birthplace
- Gir forest, Gujarat, India
- Birth pride
- Information not available
- Father
- Information not available
- Mother
- Information not available
- Siblings
- Shyam (brother)
Reign
- Pride king
- Yes, with his brother Shyam
- Prides ruled
- A pride in the Gir forestAt one point with about two dozen cubs
- Pride size
- Information not available
- Reign
- Many years, until 2016
- Ruled with
- His brother Shyam
- Coalition
- Ram and Shyam
- Home range
- Gir forest, Gujarat, India
- Territory size
- Information not available
Death
- Died
- November 2016
- Age at death
- About 15
- Cause of death
- Natural causes; old ageConfirmed by post-mortem
- Place of death
- Gir forest, Gujarat, India
- Burial
- CrematedIn the presence of government and village officials
Names & Meanings
Given by forest staff. Ram and Shyam are popular Indian names, and Ram aur Shyam is a hit Bollywood film.
Family & Lineage
Life Story
- c. 2001
Born in the Gir forest.
- 2000s – 2016
Ruled a territory in Gir with his brother Shyam.
- 2015
Cubs were still being born in Ram and Shyam’s pride.
- November 2016
Found dead of old age; cremated by forest officials.
Legend & Truth
Lions are cremated in Gir
In Gir, forest officials cremate dead lions after a post-mortem, partly to keep their bones and claws out of illegal trade.
Photographs
Film
Animation
Sources
- BBC News — Famous Indian lion Ram dies of old age in Gir forest (via WildFact)
- WildFact forum — Ram and Shyam
Where sources disagree, the most widely reported figure is shown, with other reports noted beneath it.