Top 10 Wildlife Parks and Sanctuaries of Gujarat

Introduction
The perfect complexion of deserts, grasslands, deciduous forests, wetlands and marine locations of Gujarat
has been one of the most preferred places for wildlife exploration. It is a paradise for nature lovers and wildlife devotee. The uniqueness of the state is that it is a home to numerous habitats which varies from rare to common wildlife. It is truly a dream destination for those who love to experience nature and its belongings. There are four National Parks and twenty two wildlife sanctuaries. Among the entire the top five wildlife sanctuaries are as follows.

National Parks

Gir National Park
 Gir National Park is also called as Sasan Gir National Park is located at a distance of 43 kilometres north east of Somnath and 60 kilometres south west of Amreli. The National Park covers an area of about 258.71 square kilometres. Both the rare and common collection of flora and fauna captivate thousands of nature lovers all through the weekend. Gir National Park comprises of 300 species of birds, 32 species of mammals, 26 species of reptiles and thousands of other insects.

Faunas: Asiatic lions spotted wild cats, ratel, ruddy mongoose, bulbul, leopard, wild boar, Langur, jackal porcupine, sambar, fox, pangolin, hyena, leopard, paradise fly catcher and civets. Flora: Khair, Dudhlo, Teak, modad, timru, dhav, desi baval, ber, saledi and sadad.

Marine National Park
 Situated on the southern shore of Gulf of Kachchh in Jamnagar district, Gujarat. It covers an area of 458 square kilometres. Blessed with the great diversity of habitats, Marine National Park features large numbers of sponges and numerous reptiles, mammals and flora and faunas.
Mammals: Black Naped Hare, dugong, gangetic dolphin and Jungle cat. Reptiles: Common monitor, Green sea turtle, leather back turtle. Birds: imperial eagle, black shouldered kite, white tailed eagle, steppe eagle, Montagu’s harrier, Laggar falcon, common kestrel, Indian courser, godwit, caspain tern, pelican, flamingo, southern grey shrike and many more.

Blackbuck National Park

 Blackbuck National Park is nestled at a distance of about 46 kilometres from Bhavnagar headquarter city. The Park is spread over 34.52 square kilometres and the natural habitats living in here along with the amazing views are eye soothing. The park is a tropical grassland and has four dissimilar surroundings which are are shrub land, Saline land, grass land and high tidal lands. It is a home to 187 species of birds and other species of animals.

Birds: Duck, crane, stork, eagle, pelican, partridge, ands grouse, Lark and florican. Reptiles: Common cobra, Krait, Sand Boa, Rat Snake and Saw scaled Vipers. Mammals: wolf, wild cat, Nilgai, Jackal India fox, wild boar, porcupine, hare and rodent.

Vansda national Park
 Vansda National Park is addressed at a distance of 65 kilometres east of Chikhali town on the national Highway 08.  It is spread over 23.99 square kilometres and lies in the Valsad district of South Gujarat. This National park is a great place to visit as it is well maintained and protected by the government of Gujarat. One can find more than 250 species of plant life in here and many species of birds and wild animals.
Birds: Pea fowls, sun birds, leaf birds, Shama, Malabar Torgon, Great black Wood keeper, Paradise Fly catcher, Racket Tailed Drongo, grey hornbill, shama and Emrald Dove. Wild animals: Giant Squirrels, python, leopards, jungle cat, spotted deer, Pangolin, four horned antelope, macaques, hyenas, mongooses, barking deer and civets.

Wild Ass Sanctuary: Beautifully located in the Rann of Kutch, Wild Ass Sanctuary is the largest sanctuary covering an area of 4954.71 square kilometres. Being the largest sanctuary of India it offers abundant species of reptiles, carnivorous, birds and plants. The word wild Ass is related to the donkeys, horse, and zebra which is the only place in India where Asiatic wild Ass can be spotted.

Wild mammals: Blackbuck, India Wild Ass, wolf, Indian fox, desert cat, Hyena, Chinkara, Nilgai, Caracal, Indian desert Gerbil, Mongoose and Pangolin. Reptiles: Black Cobra, Sand Boa, Yellow Monitor and Spiny tailed Lizard. Birds: Steppe eagle, Imperial eagle, Bustard, Lagger Falcon, Short cared owl, lesser Flamingo, White Stork, Great White Pelican, Crane, Gadwall and tufted Duck.

Barda Wildlife Sanctuary
Spread over an area of 192.5 sq km, Barda Wildlife Sanctuary is located just 15 Kms from the coast of Porbandar district. Relatively small, the sanctuary has distinguished characteristics and houses various species of flora and fauna. The area has 650 different species of flora which is highly important for medicinal purpose. Earlier the sanctuary was home to various species of animals, but at present animals has extinct from this sanctuary.

Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary
Located very close to Sanand Village, 64 kms west of Ahmedabad, Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary is a popular bird sanctuary with almost 210 different species of birds. During winter time, various species of birds including migratory birds like Greater Flamingos, Pelicans, Purple Moorhen, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks, etc visit here. Between November and February, this sanctuary becomes heaven for bird watchers as indigenous and migratory birds come here in this sanctuary to spend time.

Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary
Located in the soothing ambiance of the emerald green Aravali hills, Jessore Sloth Bear is home to rare species of flora and fauna, mainly a home to endangered sloth bear. It is an important centre that has typical and great ecological significance that cautions between desert eco-system and the dry deciduous type of eco-system.

Purna Wildlife Sanctuary
Declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1990, Purna Wildlife Sanctuary which is located in the tribal district of Dangs has a thick forest cover in the whole of Gujarat. It has dense forest cover of tall teak as well as flourishing flora like salai, kadaya, killai, haldu, sisham, etc.

Porbandar Bird Sanctuary
Located in the western part of the state, Porbandar Bird Sanctuary which was declared as a bird sanctuary in the year 1988 portrays the perfect example of co-existence of man and birdlife. The sanctuary is home to various species of bird life like ibis, cranes, red shanks, Indian roller, gulls, pelicans, ducks and geese, cormorants, etc. If you have love for nature and bird watching, Porbandar is the perfect place for you.

Well there are many other wildlife parks and sanctuaries in Gujarat and those would be covered in my next article. But whatever are mentioned here, they are the top notch one which are worth to visit during your Gujarat tour or on you wildlife tour of Gujarat.


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