Wildlife Sanctuaries in Gujarat: Best Time and Location

Something About Gujarat Wildlife Sanctuaries 

First, let's talk about what a refuge is. Sanctuary is a protected area that is only meant to protect and preserve animals and birds, as well as to breed or develop wildlife. Fewer human activities are allowed, such as cutting down trees, collecting a lot of forest products, and limiting private property rights, as long as they don't hurt the animals that live in the sanctuary. The Sanctuary's main goal is to protect living things and the earth as a whole. More and more wildlife species are going extinct, which means that the world needs to create and improve more wildlife preserves.

• Managed by the Forest Department of the Government of Gujarat, there are 4 National Parks and 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries in Gujarat.

Highlights of Gujarat's Wildlife Sanctuaries

The variety of plants and animals that live in Gujarat's wildlife preserves is shown in this table.

The main wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat and their inhabitants are as follows:

1. Wild Assess Sanctuary - total area of 1153.42 sq. Km. located in Kutch. The main wildlife that is resident here is Chinkara, Blue bull, Blackbuck, Wolf Fox.
2. Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary -  total area of 120.82 sq. Km. located in Nalsarovar, Ahmedabad. It's home to more than 200 types of birds that land in this lake having nesting areas to escape the harsh winter.
3. Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary -  total area of 180.66 Km located in Banaskantha. It is bestowed with several rare and endangered species of flora and fauna along with being home to leopards, Rhesus macaque, Indian civet cat, porcupine, fox, striped, hyena, wild boar, sloth bear.
4. Barda Wild Life Sanctuary - total area 192.31 sq. Km area situated near Porbandar. It has one of the most diverse floral compositions and therefore it is a potential source of remedies for many ailments. This sanctuary is home to very rare and endangered specifies Spotted Eagle and Crested Hawk-Eagle. Also, this has rich flora and fauna along with southern tropical forest, southern dry mixed deciduous forest and northern tropical thorn forest, Euphorbia scrub, dry deciduous scrub, and dry bamboo brakes.
5. Marine National Park - total area of 270 sq Km located in the Gulf of Kutch. This sanctuary has rich moist deciduous forests like those found in the dense forests of the Danes. This sanctuary comprises of many of the most threatened birds. The four-horned antelope which is the world's only antelope named the chowsingha is found here in hefty numbers. Found here is one of the largest herds of blackjacks and flamingos which nest in huge numbers in this sanctuary.
6. Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary total area of 442.9116. This place is home to endangered mammals, reptiles, and birds. The main species here is the Chinkara, well known by the name of an Indian gazelle.
7. Shoolpaneshwar Wild Life Sanctuary -  total area of 607.71 sq. Km in Narmada district, It encompasses mixed dry deciduous forest, riverine forest, all canopy, deep valleys, somber rocks, gentle streams, few pockets of moist teak forest, agricultural fields, and two water reservoirs which are a major watershed.
8. Balaram Ambaji Wild Life Sanctuary- total area of 607.71 Km situated in hills of Aravali, homing the dry deciduous forests of North Gujarat. This sanctuary supports species of lower plants namely Modad, bili, dudhi, golar, kanji, indrajav, karanj, arjun sadad, dhavado, saledi, kadaya, timru, khakhara, bor, jamun, behda, khair, desi baval, etc.
9. Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary - total area of 130.388 Km situated in Champaner Comprising of teak and mahuda trees, bamboo, and other lush vegetation, This Sanctuary is home to many kinds of wildlife which include the wild boar, leopard, nilgai, blue bull, jackal, hyena, barking deer, sloth bear, and chausingha to name a few.
10. Gaga Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary - total area of 332 hectares located in Kalyanpur Taluka. It comprises of grassland, flamingoes, great Indian bustard, lark, partridge, saline scrub,  sand grouse, kerdo, gorad, and piloo. The range of important animal species, such as nilgai, golden jackal, jungle cat, mongoose, and Indian wolf reside here.
11. Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is also known as Sasan Gir - a total area of 153.876 Km situated in Gir.  Asiatic wildcat and rusty-spotted Blackbucks, cat, chital, nilgai, Indian gray mongoose, and ruddy mongoose sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara, leopard, jungle cat, striped hyena, golden jackal, Bengal fox, and wild boar, Few mammals, porcupine, hare, mugger crocodile, Indian cobra, honey badger, tortoise and monitor lizard, Pythons, serpent eagle, etc
12. Hingolgadh Nature Reserve Wildlife Sanctuary -total area of 6.547 Km situated at Rajkot. This sanctuary is hot habitat for Chinkara, blue bull, and a very large number of resident and migratory birds. This Sanctuary is surrounded by rain-fed arid lands from all sides.
13. Lala Great Indian Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary also known as Kutch Bustard Sanctuary or Kutch Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary - total area of 2.0310 Km situated at Jakhau. This Sanctuary is specifically conserving bustard - known as the heaviest flying bird belonging to the avian family of Otididate. Also spotted are large flocks of flamingos, herons, egrets, sandpipers, and other birds
14. Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary- total area of 7506.221 Km making it the largest Wildlife Sanctuary situated at Rann of Kutch. Also known as one of the largest seasonal saline wetlands. A variety of birds and mammal life is found in this Sanctuary. It also nests a huge amount of flamingoes.
15. Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary- total area of 6.0512 Km located at Jamnagar is home to 300 plus migratory birds along with freshwater lakes, salt, and freshwater marshlands.
16. Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary - total area of 18.2214 Km situated in Mithiya that homes 11 to 12 lions and leopards, Spotted deer, and nilgai (blue bulls).
17. Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary- total area of 39.6317 Km situated at Amreli also known as Chanchai-Pania. This sanctuary is ideal for grass homing lions, leopards, and chinkaras.
18. Porbandar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary- total area of 1.09 Km situated at Porbandar. The sanctuary which nests varied bird species out of few are teals, fowls, flamingos, ibis, and curlews.
19. Purna  Wildlife Sanctuary - total area of 160.84 Km situated at North Western Ghats. This sanctuary is protecting varied wild animals like leopard, rhesus macaque, bonnet macaque, common mongoose, Indian civet cat, Indian porcupine, four-horned antelope, barking deer, sambar, chital, hyena, and jungle cat.
20. Rampara Vidi Wildlife Sanctuary- total area of 15.01 Km encompasses Wolf, jackal, hyena, common fox, hare, jungle cat, blue bull, 20 species of snakes, partridge, common peafowl, sandgrouse, ringdove, large gray babbler, purple sunbird, yellow-throated sparrow to name a few.
21. Ratanmahal  Wildlife Sanctuary - total area of 55.6521 Km situated at Dahod. This Sanctuary is the natural habitat of Sloth bears.
22. Thol Lake  Wildlife Sanctuary- total area of 6.99 Km situated at Kadi, Mehsana. It habitats 150 species of birds with common birds such as flamingoes and sarus crane.

When is the best time to visit Gujarat's wildlife parks?

• Kutch's Wild Ass Sanctuary is open from November to March, when the weather is nice and you can see a lot of wildlife.
• From November to February, the Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary in Ahmedabad is a great place for migrating birds.
• The Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary in Banaskantha is open from October to April, when the weather is nice for sightseeing.
• Barda Wildlife Sanctuary in Porbandar is open from November to March, when the weather is nice and the scenery is beautiful.
• Marine National Park, Gulf of Kutch: from October to March (to see sea life and birds).
• Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary in Kutch: November through February (cool weather and lots of wildlife).
• Narmada's Shoolpaneshwar Wildlife Sanctuary is open from October to February, which is a great time to explore the forests.
• From November to March (nice weather), Balaram Ambaji Wildlife Sanctuary in the Aravalli Hills is open.
• From October to March, you can see wildlife at the Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary in Champaner.
• Gaga From November to February is the best time to visit the Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Kalyanpur to watch birds.
• From December to March, the Gir Wildlife Sanctuary is the best place to see Asiatic lions and go on adventure.
• Hingolgadh Nature Reserve in Rajkot is open from November to February for both resident and migrating birds.
• The Lala Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Jakhau is open from November to January, which is the best time to see bustards.
• Rann of Kutch's Kachchh Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is open from November to March, when it's dry and easy to get to.
• The Khijadiya Wildlife Sanctuary in Jamnagar is open from November to March, when birds are migrating.
• October through March is a good time to visit Mitiyala Wildlife Sanctuary in Mithiya.
• From November to February, you can see lions and leopards at Paniya Wildlife Sanctuary in Amreli.
• From November to February, you can watch birds at Porbandar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Porbandar.
• From October to February, the Purna Wildlife Sanctuary in the North Western Ghats has a cool environment that is great for exploring.
• From November to March, Rampara Vidi Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajkot is a good place to see wildlife.
• From November to February, the Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary in Dahod is a great place for sloth bears.
• The Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary in Mehsana is open from November to February, which is the best time for migrating birds.
• During these months, the weather is most pleasant and there are the most chances to see wildlife.