WILDLIFE OF GUJARAT (INDIA)

Gujarat is a state rich in heritage of wildlife. The state has a rich variety of wildlife consisting of about 40 species of mammals and 425 species of birds. The Asiatic lion has long been celebrated as The Lord of Beasts. The Indian Lion is another name for Asiatic Lion. In ancient society it was considered as a symbol of human power and sovereignity. As population began to grew and began cultivating or settling more and more of its forest and scrublands, the Asiatic lion was squeezed nearly out of existence.

GIR NATIONAL PARK
The Gir wildlife sanctuary and national park, collectively referred to as the Gir Protected Area (PA), is located in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat in western India. The Gir national park is a heaven to about 300 Asiatic lions. The Lion, Panther Leo, inhabits the forest of Gir in the Saurashtra peninsula, attracting sixty thousand visitors to this sanctuary of Gujarat every year. Gir today is the only place in the world, outside Africa, where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The Asiatic lion is slightly smaller than its African cousin, nevertheless, a large male lion of the Gir is quite a sight to behold. The best way to observe the big cats is, of course, in their natural surroundings, at dawn and dusk, when they are on the prowl. Wildlife viewing in the Girs is best done, by driving around the forest.

Location : 64 Kms from Junagadh and 32 kms from Verawal

Area : 1412 sq km protected area of which 259 sq km is National Park and 1153 sq km is sanctuary

Best Time to visit : December till mid June(closed during monsoon period)

Climate : Hot and arid summers and mildly cold winters.

Prominent Fauna : Asiatic lion, leopard, chital, nilgai, chinkara, antelope, wild boar, crocodile, wild ass, paradise flycatcher, back headed cuckoo, pied woodpecker, bonnelli's eagle, crested serpent eagle, painted sandgroose, bush quail, flamingo, grey partridges.

MARINE NATIONAL PARK
Gujarat is India's first state to create a marine national park. This area is famous for corals and fish and the only place where Black Cornalia can be seen. The corals creates beautiful structures in amazing variety of shapes and sizes. There are plants that look like animals and animals that look like plants. It seems as if every life form here performs magic tricking to get food and shelter. Octopuses mimic the colour and texture of the surroundings in the blink of an eyelid so as to vanish without a trace. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among the corals and huge schools of fish create a brilliance of colours. The area is also full of Borlia species which are quite rare. Culture of ports is being done in this area which is a source of foreign exchange in the country.

Location : 30 Kms from Jamnagar

Area : 457.92 sq.km of which 162.89 sq.km is National Park and 295.03 sq.km is sanctuary

Best Time to visit : December till May

Prominent Fauna : Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin, gobies, dolphins, dugang, boralia etc.

WILD ASS SANCTUARY
This is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India. The entire Little Rann of Kutch known as the "Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary" is a featureless expanse of flat land - the sea bed - dotted with islands known as "Baits" which form the core for the flora and fauna. Asses are great runners and there is no match in speed and stamina in the entire animal kingdom. Camel and Jeep safaris in and across the Rann with tented camps can be arranged.

Location : 65 km from Surendranagar, Little Rann of Kutch

Area : 4953.70 sq.km

Prominent Fauna : Indian wild ass, panther, Black buck, Chinkaras, Blue bull, Jackals, wild boar, Ghudkhur and rare birds Houbara Bustard, Falcons, Larks.

RATANMAHAL AND JESSORE SLOTH BEAR SANCTUARY
Ratanmahal bear sanctuary located on the Gujarat-Madhya Pradesh border is the only exclusive sloth bear sanctuary in Gujarat. The River Panam criss-crosses beautiful small hamlets on the foothills of this sanctuary; lush green and thick woods full of natural goodness. Jessore sanctuary is about 45 km from Palanpur spread on area of about 180 sq km. Besides sloth bear other animals found here are leopard, blue bull, wildboar, porcupine etc.

Location : About 60 kms from Dahod or Piplod or 45 km from Baria Taluka

Area : 56 sq.km

Prominent Fauna : Sloth bears, panthers, large size monkeys, langoors, jackals, antelopes, hyenas, jungle cats, foxes, honey badgers, hare, porcupines

NALSAROVAR BIRD SANCTUARY
The sanctuary is known to harbour more than 250 species of birds. It mainly comprises a lake and marshes where you can see flamingos, pelicans, ducks, geese, cranes, storks, ibises, spoonbills, wading birds, kingfishers, swallows, fishing eagles, osprey, harriers and falcons in great numbers. The lake islands are inhabited by migrating Bhardwad shepherds while the banks are home to the Padhars who are excellent folk dancers, artisans and boatmen.

Location : 54 km from Ahmedabad.

Area : 11,500 hectares

Prominent Fauna : Water birds, mostly migratory during winter months such as flamingos Phoenicopterus ruber roseus , pelicans Pelecanus philippensis , storks, ducks, egrets, herons

VELVADAR BLACKBUCK NATIONAL PARK
The Velvadar is famous for its conservation of blackbucks. Blackbucks are exclusively Indian animals and perhaps the most beautiful and graceful animal of its kind. It has ringed horns that have a spiral twist of three to four turns and are up to 70 cm long. The body's upper parts are black and the underparts & the ring around the eyes are white. The light brown female is usually hornless.

Location : In the Bhal region of Saurashtra, 65 kms from Bhavnagar

Area : 35 sq kms.

Prominent Fauna : Blackbucks, wolf, jackals, hare, harriers, floricans