Till recently there were 130  settlements of a unique clan of graziers called Maldharis who lived cheek by jowl with the lions together with their famous 'Gir cattle', buffaloes and goats. They are an intrinsic part of the history of Gir and most naturalists through the ages have acknowledged that few people know the lions better than the Maldharis. In fact most elderly Maldharis will tell you that they used to look upon the lions as their protectors as roving gangs of bandits would give their habitations the go by, for fear of the lions. Over the years, however, the Maldhari community has had to suffer many hardships and their children now most often opt for life away from the rigors of the forest.