The western Indian state of Gujarat is famous for the lions of Gir. It is the last home of the Asiatic lions in Asia. It is also the world’s only natural habitat of wild lions outside of Africa. 9.7% of the total geographical area of the state is under forest cover. There are four national parks and 21 sanctuaries in Gujarat. Here is a list of the four national parks of the state:
Blackbuck National Park
This national park is located in Velavadar in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar District. It was founded in 1976. The park stretches across an area of 34.08 square km from the coasts of the Gulf of Khambhat on the south of the park. In the past, the area was a hunting ground of the Maharaja (king) of Bhavnagar princely state who would hunt blackbucks with his hunting cheetahs. Agricultural lands and wastelands border the Blackbuck National Park at the northern side.
Today, the national park’s large herds of antelope attract tourists from across the globe. The flat land and dry grasses create an ideal environment for antelopes to thrive. A number of conservation programs help protect the fauna of the park. There are programs to conserve the blackbuck, lesser florican bird, and the wolf. The lesser florican is an endangered and endemic species of India. The largest population of the bird is hosted here. Blackbucks, wolves, and striped hyena sightings have grown in recent years.
Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Famous for its population of Asian lions, the Gir Forest National Park, also known as the Sasan Gir, is located near Talala Gir in the west Indian state of Gujarat. The national park encompasses an area of 258 square km and is surrounded by a 1,153 square km large wildlife sanctuary. The national park is part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
The Gir National Park is Asia’s only protected area where wild Asiatic lions roam free. Hence, it is one of the continent’s most important wildlife habitats. During the British Raj in India, the Nawab of Junagarh who owned the land as his own private hunting ground would invite the British colonists to accompany him on lion trophy hunting expeditions. However, soon the lion population dropped so drastically that it raised an alarm. Only about a dozen lions were left by the end of the 19th century. For a short period in the pre-independence era and then after India’s independence, Gir’s lion population was gradually brought back to stable levels. It is one of the successful conservation stories of the 20th century. The 14th Asiatic Lion Census 2015 counted the number of lions in Gir to be 523.
Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch
This national park encompasses a large area in southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district. It was established in 1982 and has an area of 162.89 square km. Several islands are part of this marine national park. Most of these 42 islands of the park are surrounded by coral reefs. 70 species of sponges, 10 soft coral species, and 44 hard coral species are found here. Other marine fauna of the Marine National Park includes jellyfish, sea anemones, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, pufferfishes, seahorses, several species of endangered sea turtles, etc. Even blue whales, sei whales, and other species of whales, and also dolphins have been observed in the waters here.
Vansda National Park
This national park is located in the Vansda tehsil of the Navsari District of Gujarat. With an area of 24 square km, it is quite small in size. It is located on the banks of the Ambika River. The Vansda National Park was founded in 1979. The park has a deciduous forest with “Katas” bamboo groves. The park hosts a wide variety of fauna including the Indian leopard, Hanuman langur, Indian porcupine, venomous snakes, barking deer, wild boar, endangered great Indian squirrel, and more.
Blackbuck National Park
This national park is located in Velavadar in Gujarat’s Bhavnagar District. It was founded in 1976. The park stretches across an area of 34.08 square km from the coasts of the Gulf of Khambhat on the south of the park. In the past, the area was a hunting ground of the Maharaja (king) of Bhavnagar princely state who would hunt blackbucks with his hunting cheetahs. Agricultural lands and wastelands border the Blackbuck National Park at the northern side.
Today, the national park’s large herds of antelope attract tourists from across the globe. The flat land and dry grasses create an ideal environment for antelopes to thrive. A number of conservation programs help protect the fauna of the park. There are programs to conserve the blackbuck, lesser florican bird, and the wolf. The lesser florican is an endangered and endemic species of India. The largest population of the bird is hosted here. Blackbucks, wolves, and striped hyena sightings have grown in recent years.
Gir Forest National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary
Famous for its population of Asian lions, the Gir Forest National Park, also known as the Sasan Gir, is located near Talala Gir in the west Indian state of Gujarat. The national park encompasses an area of 258 square km and is surrounded by a 1,153 square km large wildlife sanctuary. The national park is part of the Kathiawar-Gir dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
The Gir National Park is Asia’s only protected area where wild Asiatic lions roam free. Hence, it is one of the continent’s most important wildlife habitats. During the British Raj in India, the Nawab of Junagarh who owned the land as his own private hunting ground would invite the British colonists to accompany him on lion trophy hunting expeditions. However, soon the lion population dropped so drastically that it raised an alarm. Only about a dozen lions were left by the end of the 19th century. For a short period in the pre-independence era and then after India’s independence, Gir’s lion population was gradually brought back to stable levels. It is one of the successful conservation stories of the 20th century. The 14th Asiatic Lion Census 2015 counted the number of lions in Gir to be 523.
Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch
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This national park encompasses a large area in southern shores of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat’s Devbhumi Dwarka district. It was established in 1982 and has an area of 162.89 square km. Several islands are part of this marine national park. Most of these 42 islands of the park are surrounded by coral reefs. 70 species of sponges, 10 soft coral species, and 44 hard coral species are found here. Other marine fauna of the Marine National Park includes jellyfish, sea anemones, crabs, shrimps, lobsters, pufferfishes, seahorses, several species of endangered sea turtles, etc. Even blue whales, sei whales, and other species of whales, and also dolphins have been observed in the waters here.
Vansda National Park
This national park is located in the Vansda tehsil of the Navsari District of Gujarat. With an area of 24 square km, it is quite small in size. It is located on the banks of the Ambika River. The Vansda National Park was founded in 1979. The park has a deciduous forest with “Katas” bamboo groves. The park hosts a wide variety of fauna including the Indian leopard, Hanuman langur, Indian porcupine, venomous snakes, barking deer, wild boar, endangered great Indian squirrel, and more.
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