Gujarat is geographically quite
diverse in nature. Nowhere else is the coastline as long as it is in Gujarat.
The state also comprises of four major biogeographic zones due to which Gujarat
is rich in a quite unique form of biodiversity. Majestic grasslands, marshy
swamps, deciduous woodlands make Gujarat home to an unending variety of
wildlife. The rich wildlife that Gujarat boasts of may be attributed to its
singular ecosystem diversity and thus it is no wonder that many regions of
Gujarat are looked upon as the safest haven for the rarest species of wildlife.
For wildlife enthusiasts Gujarat has turned out to be one of the nation’s
wealthiest destinations. Today there are innumerable National Parks and Wild
Life Sanctuaries in Gujarat. The top 10 ones are listed as follows-
Gir National Park
What makes Gir National Park a
truly renowned National Park of the country is its huge population of Asiatic
Lions. Two significant landmarks are only few kilometers away from this
national park; i.e. Somnath at a distance of about 43kms and Junagadh at a
distance of about 60kms. Apart from Asiatic Lions, this National Park is an
abode of many other animals too such as ruddy mongoose, ratel, rusty spotted
cat, civets, pangolin, paradise flycatchers and many more.
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary
Khijadiya Bird Sanctuary falls
along the coastal lands in vicinity to Jamnagar. The sanctuary covers an area
of about 6sqkms and you could spot a whopping 220 bird’s species here. The major
type of birds that you come across in this sanctuary include Indian skimmer,
herons, ducks, flamingoes, great crested grebe, spoonbill, storks, purple
moorhen, darter, Pelicans, gulls, egrets, terns, ibises, jacanas, little grebe
and many more. The sanctuary also offers room to some other animals apart from
birds. Jackals, blue bulls, mongoose, jungle cat too can be spotted here.
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary
This sanctuary covers some 33287
hectares and is counted as one of Gujarat’s smallest wildlife habitat. It falls
within the district of Jamnagar and its strategic positioning on the famous
Gulf of Kutch makes it an abode of some of the country’s most endangered wildlife
species such as India Wolf, Houbara Bastard. The sanctuary houses nearly 12
mammal species, 88 bird species and 8 reptile species. You can also spot a huge
number and variety of spiders, termites, wasps, moths, butterflies and
honeybees at this sanctuary. The prime time to visit is between months
March-October.
Vansda National Park
This very popular National park
of Gujarat covers a small area of only 23 sq km but its wildlife reserves is
truly huge when compared to its limited size. At this National Park, you would
come across animals like hyena, wild boar, four horned antelope, Indian
porcupine, leopard, hanuman langur, barking deer, rhesus macaque, jungle cat,
Russle’s Viper, python, flying squirrel etc. The bird species found in this
park amount to some 155 and include birds like yellow back sunbird, Malabar
trogon, pompadour pigeon, grey hornbill, shama, forest spotted owlet, jungle
babbler, great Indian black woodpecker etc.
Wild Ass Sanctuary- Little Rann
This wildlife sanctuary covers an
area of about 5000 sq km is the largest of all Gujarat wildlife reserves. It
falls on the Little Rann of Kutch region and is a reserve for the Indian Wild
Ass, which is almost now extinct. There is no other such reserve in the entire
country and that is what makes this sanctuary unique and famous. The sanctuary
is also home to many other endangered and rare animal and bird species. Thus
along with Wild Ass, you would come across sarus crane, Dalmatian pelican,
black cobra, desert fox, falcons, hawks, houbara bastard etc here. So don't
miss to visit this beautiful & unique Ass Sanctuary of Rann for your next Gujarat Kutch trip.
Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary
This sanctuary falls just on the
Gujarat-Rajasthan border and is an abode of a huge population of sloth bear, a
quite endangered species now. Also you can come across other animals like wild
boars, blue bulls, sambars, porcupines, leopards etc here. 405 plants species, 105
bird’s species found in this sanctuary make wildlife enthusiasts and botanists
highly excited.
Barda Hills Wildlife Sanctuary
The Barda Hills Wildlife
Sanctuary is famed enough not only for its rich wildlife but also for two other
things; i.e. the rare plant species with extraordinary medicinal properties
thriving in the region and secondly for the many Gujarati ethnic tribes
inhabiting the region, namely Rabaris, Gadhvis, Maldharis and Bharvads. The
animals that you get to see in this sanctuary are Asiatic lions, leopard, wolf,
hyena, blue bull, jackal, wild boar, spotted eagles and many more. Visit
between months mid June-November to enjoy the wildlife in the sanctuary at its
best.
Kutch Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary
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This Sanctuary falls in Gujarat’s
Kutch district and serves as a reservoir of the Great Indian Bastard. This
sanctuary ranks second as a Bastard conservator sanctuary after the one that
Rajasthan has. Along with Bastard, you come across other animals and birds such
as grey francolin, sand grouses, common cranes, harriers, striped hyena, wolf,
desert cat etc here. Ideal time to visit this sanctuary is between the months
March-August.
Velavadar Blackbuck National Park
This National park in Gujarat’s
Bhavnagar district is a sprawling grassy abode of a huge population of
Blackbucks, that which makes it quite famous. The area that the park covers is
nearly 34 sq km. Wild pigs, Indian fox, Indian Wolf, Jungle Cat, Jackal, Hares
etc are some of the other animals that you get to see here. Visit between
months March-July to enjoy the best of the wildlife in the park.
Thol Lake Bird Sanctuary
Visit the Thol lake bird Sanctuary
at a distance of about 10 kms from the city of Ahmadabad only to enjoy the
interesting sight of 100+ bird species hovering and chirping over the pellucid
lake area and surrounding marshes covering some 7 sq km. You could spot birds
like spoonbills, cranes, ducks, whistling teals, herons, pelicans, flamingoes,
egrets, geese here. The ideal time to get the best view of these feathery
guests is between months February-November.
So these are the top 10 national
parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat.
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