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Jamnagar
Wildlife
This bird sanctuary is located 10 Kms from Jamnagar. In May 1981, revenue wasteland of the lake covering an area of 182.9 ha was declared as Sanctuary under section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and again in November 1981 another area of 421.96 ha was added to it. Today, the total area of the Sanctuary is 605 ha, which covers three freshwater lakes of the entire wetland complex. Area of the Marine Sanctuary (Jamnagar) constitutes the boundary of the Sanctuary towards the Gulf of Kuchh. The Sanctuary is located in the western-most part of the country and falls on the traditional route of the migratory birds. Consequently, the Sanctuary supports a variety of migratory birds including the waterfowl. This is an extremely important staging and wintering area for a wide variety of waterfowl. Almost 200 species of birds are recorded in the Sanctuary, including over 90 species of waterfowl. It is the known breeding ground of the Great Crested Grebe, which otherwise is migratory and uncommon in the State. The Sanctuary is considered an important site for ecological research and education. High conservation value of the wetland area is quickly realized from the fact that it is a unique wetland complex, representing a mosaic of several types of wetlands, including freshwater shallow lakes, inter-tidal mudflats, creeks, salt pans, saline land and mangrove scrubs. The endemic plant Cyperus dwarakensis is found near Dwarka (Kamnaar) and Tephrosea jamnagarensis is also an endemic plant to the area. Habitat diversity is unique at Khijadia Sanctuary. As stated earlier, Khijadia is a seasonal wetland adjoining coastal wetland. Dense cover of Prosopis chilensis in a portion of the lake provides shelter to some mammals and nesting sites for some birds. How to Get There
The Gaga Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary is situated on the coast of the Gulf of Kuchh, where the high tidal zone constitutes the boundary in the north. The cultivated fields and wastelands surround the Sanctuary. It covers an area of 332.87 ha of Gaga village of Kalyanpur taluka in Jamnagar district. It includes two plots of land (having different survey numbers) separated by agriculture land and wasteland in between. The Sanctuary was notified under the Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 The area has derived a high conservation value due to the rare sightings of the endangered Great Indian Bustard in the saline grassland of this area. Besides the bustard, the Sanctuary also supports different terrestrial birds and some wild mammals like wolf and jackal. Dr. Salim Ali had sighted bustard in this area in 1976, but the bird has a doubtful existence now. The area comprises of grasslands intermixed with saline scrubs. Prosopis scrubland, saline grassland and high tidal zone are the major features of this protected habitat.
How to Get There
Gujarat has the distinction of creating the country's first Marine National Park spread over an area of nearly 458sq.kms in the Gulf of Kutch, 30 km. from Jamnagar. Here corals create fantasies in stone and are the master builders of the Park. Their limestone fortresses - those found near the Pirotan Islands and the rich moist deciduous forests like those found in the dense forests of the Danes. One of the most threatened birds, the great Indian bustard finds a refuge in certain pockets of protected areas. The world's only four-horned antelope, the chowsingha is found here in healthy numbers. One of the largest herds of blackjacks grace the grasslands of Velavadar and till recently Gujarat was the place where flamingos nested in huge numbers. Dugong, a marine mammal which resembles a seal, along with the rare Borolo species have found home in the protected areas of the Marine National Park. Here one will find plants that look like animals and animals that look like plants. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among the corals and huge schools of fish create a brilliance of colors that are unknown, unseen and unimaginable to us. There are fishes which puff-up when threatened, octopuses that mimic the color and texture of the surroundings in the blink of an eyelid so as to vanish without a trace.
How to get there
Accommodation
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Khijadia
Bird Sanctuary
Gaga
Wildlife Sanctuary
Marine
National Park
At times
it seems as if every life form here is familiar with the art of
magic as each seems to trick the other for food and shelter. Above
the waters, mangrove plants with their tangled roots and densely
packed leaves prevent land based predators from penetrating but
provide scores of birds with nesting and roosting sites. There is
no doubt that life in the coral reef is like witnessing a thousand
rainbows in a kaleidoscopic way.