National Parks in Gujarat

Gujarat is home to 4 national parks.

Table of Contents

Blackbuck (Velavadar) National Park

Location: Velavadar, Bhavnagar District, Gujarat, India; Bhal region of Saurashtra.
Earlier Status: Formerly a “vidi” (traditional grassland) owned by the Maharaja of the princely state of Bhavnagar.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1972 for protection of blackbuck.
National Park: Established in 1976 as Blackbuck National Park; Also known as Velavadar National Park.
Area: ~34 sq.km.
River: Parvalia River, Alang River.
Plants: Dry grasslands (dominant), shrubs, thorny bushes.
Animals: Blackbuck, wolf, hyena, lesser florican, Indian cobra.

Location: Junagadh District, Gujarat, India; southwestern Saurashtra, foothills of the Girnar Range.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Notified in 1965.
National Park: Declared in 1975; Also known as Sasan Gir.
Area: ~1,412 sq.km (545 sq miles).
Hills: Gir Range, Kankai Mata Hills, Tulsi Shyam Hill.
River: Hiran, Machhundri, Shingada, Godavari, Datardi, Raval, Shetrunji.
Dam: Kamleshwar Dam (on Hiran River).
Tribe: Maldhari community.
Plants: Teak, dhak, banyan, neem, tendu, amla, kadam.
Animals: Asiatic lion, leopard, sambar, striped hyena, white-backed vulture, long-billed vulture, star tortoise, soft-shelled turtle.
Special Notes: Last natural habitat of the Asiatic lion in India; crocodile breeding centre present.

Location: Gulf of Kutch, Jamnagar District, Gujarat; southern shore of the Gulf along India’s west coast.
Marine Sanctuary: Notified in 1980 (Okha–Jodiya stretch, ~270 sq.km).
National Park: Core area declared in 1982; India’s first Marine National Park.
Area: ~162.89 sq.km; includes 42 islands and surrounding waters.
River: Sang River.
Plants: Mangroves, coral reefs, saline grasslands, algae, seagrass.
Animals: Dugong, dolphins, whales, sea turtles, seahorse, octopus, pearl oyster, jellyfish, fish.
Special Notes: Known for endangered dugong; park is also habitat of the Kharai camel.

Location: Vansda Tehsil, Navsari District, Gujarat, India.
Reserved Forest: Notified in 1942 under the British Forest Act.
Wildlife Sanctuary: Declared in 1959 under the Wildlife Protection Act.
National Park: Upgraded in 1979; also known as Bansda National Park.
Area: ~24.32 sq.km.
River: Ambika River.
Tribe: Predominantly inhabited by the Dangi tribe.
Plants: Teak, bamboo, kakad, haldu, sisam, kusum, behda.
Animals: Leopard, wild boar, four-horned antelope, barking deer, hyena, forest spotted owlet.