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.
Flora: Vegetation in Gir can be looked at in four ways. The first is the Teak forest and nearly half of the protected area has this kind of a habitat. The main tree species that occupy this habitat are Khair, Sadad, Timru, Babul, Amla, Moledi, Dhavdo, Kadayo and Bahedo.
The non-Teak forests, which comprise the remaining forest consists of tree species like the Khair, Dhavdo, Sadad, Timru, Amla, Moledi, Kadayo, Salai, Simal, Khakhro, Ber and Asundro. A distinct belt of vegetation is found along the main rivers and streams. Species like the Jambu, Karanj, Umro, Vad, Kalam, Charal, Sirus and Amli are found here. These trees are mostly broad leaved and evergreen, giving the area a cool shade and the moisture content. Finally, Prosopis and Casuarina have been planted in the coastal border as part of the aforestation plan.
Fauna: 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.
Marine Sanctuary and Marine National Park : Gujarat
Pirotan's Coral Reef: Gujarat has the distinction of creating the country's first Marine National Park spread over an area of nearly 458 sq. kms in the Gulf of Kutch, 30 kms from Jamnagar. Offshore from the southern coast of the Gulf of Kutch, an archipelago of 42 islands sits like little gems in the Arabian Sea.
Here, corals create fantasies in stone and are the master builders of the Park. These are home to some of the finest coral reef formations on India's west coast, some fringed by mangrove forests. Their limestone fortresses - each one the work of a colony of countless tiny animals - come in an amazing variety of shapes and sizes, from the convoluted brain coral to corals that look like horns.
The waters of the gulf are home to The Dolphin, The Finless Porpoise And Dugong Sea Cow. In 1980, the Gulf of Kutch was declared India's first marine nature reserve, and in 1982 it became India's first marine national park.
Main Park Population: Turtles, Shrimp, Sponge, Eels, Sea Urchin Lurk among the corals and huge schools of fish create a brilliance of colours that are unknown, unseen and unimaginable. Here you can see Dolphins and Octopuses.
Dugong, a marine mammal, which resembles a seal and the rare Boralia species are found in these protected areas. The park has dense mangrove growth, which provides scores of birds with nesting and roosting sites.
Marine Life: Sea Turtles nest on the beaches. The coral reefs are a blaze of colour, home to a variety of rare life forms like the Octopus, Sea Hare and 200 species of Molluscs. Also colourful fish like the Puffer, Butterfly And Parrot; and echinoderms like the Star Fish, Brittle Star, Sand Dollar, Sea Urchin and Sea Cucumber. More than 40 species of sponges in vivid shades of green, red, pink and other colours abound.
Soft corals include the Sea Anemone, Sea Fans And Sea Pens, which resemble a bed of flowers in this brilliant underwater world. Thousands of shore birds like Crab Plovers, Terek Sandpipers, Oystercatchers and Sanderlings descend on the mud banks to feed on the array of beached marine life when the tide turns. In summer and the monsoons, more than 30 species of birds including Herons, Darters and Terns nest on the island shores and canopies of the mangrove trees.
Nalsarovar Bird sanctuary : Gujarat
Just 65 kms southwest of Ahmedabad, is the delightful bird sanctuary of Nalsarovar nestling around the Nal Lake, extending over 11,500 hectares. Established in 1969 AD, it is known to harbour over 250 species of wetland birds.
The Inhabitants & The Visitors: Nalsarovar sees winter migrants from the north that includes Rosy Pelicans, Flamingoes, White Storks, Brahminy Ducks and Herons. Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary is one of the best of its kind in India during the winter months, teeming with thousands of Cranes, Flamingoes, Pelicans, Ducks, Storks and other birds. The Jungle Cat, the Jackal and the Hare can also be seen here.
Bird Watching: A pair of binoculars and a person well versed in the local bird life will surely make it one of your best outings. Visitors are ferried in small boats to experience a sunrise or sunset while gliding gently through the silent waters. Country boats of the local people are available for bird watching on the lake.
Narayan Sarovar Chinkara Sanctury : Gujarat
A few kilometres away from the Narayan Sarovar is the Chinkara Sanctuary. It is about 210 kms. from Bhuj. This sanctuary is the home of the Chinkara or the Indian gazelle. Other animals found in this sanctuary are blue bull, spotted deer, wild boar and a rich variety of smaller wildlife.
Porbandar Bird Sanctury : Gujarat
Located in the heart of Porbandar city, this small bird sanctuary approximately 1sq km in area is home to a variety of Wildfowl, Teals, Ibis, Curlews and a sizeable number of migratory birds.
Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary : Champaner - Gujarat
The Ratan Mahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary is on the Ratanmahal Hills of the Panchmahals district, 45 kms from Baria. Apart from the sloth bear, it is also home to leopards, the blue bull (nilgai), wild boars and the Indian gazelle.
Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary : Vadodra - Gujarat
Located in the Bharuch district, the Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary stretches to an area of 608 sq kms. It boasts of abundant plant and animal life. Here you can see Leopards, Sloth Bears, Sambhars, Wild Dogs, Hyenas, Barking Deer and a variety of Birds.
Thol Wildlife Sanctuary : Mehsana – Gujarat
Thol Wildlife Sanctuary is in the Mehsana district, 40 kms from Ahmedabad. Occupying an area of approximately 7sq kms.
Fauna: It is home to a rich variety of Wildfowl, Flamingos, Grey Pelicans, Black Ibis and other Wetland Birds.
Vansda National Park : Valsad - Gujarat
A rich and old forest, predominantly covered by very tall teak trees, mango groves and gigantic creepers comprises the Vansda National Park. The forest is extremely dense and some parts are dark even during normal daytime.
Fauna: The forest is a habitat of Monkeys, Deer, a few leopards and a wide species of birds. Hyenas, Wild Boar, Sambhar, Four Horned Antelopes and a rich variety of bird and plant life are also found here. Permission is required to enter the park.
Velvadar Blackbuck National Park : Bhavnagar - Gujarat
This is the home of the Indian black buck. Velavadar in the Bhal region of Saurashtra is a unique grassland ecosystem that has attracted fame for the successful conservation of the black buck - the fastest of the Indian antelopes.
Driving through the Velavadar National Park seems like a trip through the African savannahs with similar landscapes of grasslands populated with herds of antelope. Velavadar has the greatest population of blackbuck antelope among all sanctuaries and national parks in India.
The Graceful Black Buck: Once found in open plains throughout the country and the state of Gujarat, its largest population at present occurs in Velvadar National Park. This exclusively Indian animal is perhaps the most graceful and beautiful of its kind. The fastest of the Indian antelopes, they move off in a series of leaps and bounds, when threatened and then break into a lightening run. It has ringed horns that have a spiral twist of three to four turns and are upto 70 cm long. The body's upper parts are black and the under parts and a ring around the eyes are white. The female, light brown in colour is usually hornless. The males are a deep black colour set off by an equally striking white and have long spiralling horns. They fight for supremacy during the rutting season, with the strongest males taking the most coveted territories. The females and immature males are light brown and white in colour and the former are hornless.
The Wild Population: The grey wolf breeds here and foxes, jackals and jungle cats can also be sighted. The roosting of harrier hawks at dusk is an incredible sight. More than 1,500 can be seen gathering at a single site.
The Nature Friendly Kathi Community: A word of praise would not be out of place for the Kathi community who like the Bishnoi community have protected the black buck with vigour and zeal as it is associated with their past history of valour and religious practices.
Wild Ass Sanctuary : Kutch - Gujarat
Gujarat is as famous for its large wild Ass herds as it is for its lions. To protect these rare animals, a sanctuary covering an area of over 4,953 sq. kms was created to offer protection to more than 2,100 wild Asses inhabiting this area. In the Little Rann of Kutch, the Asses are attracted by the flat green grass covered expanse known as bets (islands where coarse grasses springs up during the monsoon).
The Agile Wild Ass are capable of marathon runs at a pace of about 24 km/hrs for as long as two hours, reaching a top speed of 70 km per hour over short distances.
Flora And Fauna: The Rann of Kutch is full of dry thorny scrub and there are no large trees. The main vegetation in the region includes many species of grasses that are widely available as the source of food for the wild Asses. The most famous wildlife of the region includes the Indian Wild Ass, as well as the Chinkara, Desert Fox, Jackal, Desert Cat, Caracal, Nilgai, Wolf, Blackbuck, and Striped Hyena.
The Avian Population: The area is also well known for its birds the most notable being the flamingoes from Siberia. During winter, thousands of these magnificent pink birds can be found, particularly at Dholavira. An excursion of the Rann of Kutch can enable you to see many species of birds.
At the Little Rann, you can see numerous birds ranging from the incredibly beautifully coloured Indian Roller to the majestic stature of the Demoiselle Cranes, Numerous Falcons, Bustards And 'Saras' Cranes. Of equal joy is a chance to ride a camel decked in its finest riding apparel.
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