Two kilometres from the Kutch district is a natural, scenic and special wildlife sanctuary, famous for housing animals as well as sustaining the ecology. Considered to be one of its kinds, the Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary in Gujarat attracts thousands of visitors seeking pleasures of nature. It serves as habitat for variety of animals, of which Indian Gazelle or Chinkara and the Cheetah, are particularly well known in this sanctuary. It is a favourite haunt of many wildlife enthusiasts and animal lovers. Exemplifying one more area of interest in Gujarat, the Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary is worth a visit during the tour itineraries planned in this state.

Location

Between Kori Creek in the northwest and the mangrove forest lying in the west, the Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary is found in the district of Lakhpat taluka of Kutch District in Gujarat. It is about 115 kms from Bhuj and 515 kms from Ahmadabad. Bus station nearest to the sanctuary is at Dayapur about 15 kms away. Bhuj is the district headquarters of Kutch.

Geography

Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary, also known as Narayan Sarovar Chinkara Sanctuary, have a unique geography and hence a different ecology system than any other sanctuary. The zone in which the sanctuary is found is semi arid but another part inside the sanctuary is wetland. Desert vegetation is markedly present in the region, while the forest category is included under scrub and semi-deciduous area. Towards the west of Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary is the mangrove forest, while the northwest is bounded by Kori Creek. Towards the seashore, there is a flatter topography, but the north-western part has undulating hills. Manijal Hill is the highest point inside the sanctuary which spreads currently over an area of about 444.23 sq kms. Two rivers, Kali and Kapurasi, flow through this sanctuary but get dried very quickly in seasons other than monsoon season.

Forested Region

A major area of the forest in Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary comprises of natural desert thorn forests and mix of grasslands where there are portions of savannah, tropical euphorbia scrub forest, Rann saline scrub and Salvadora scrub forest. This kind of forest distribution makes the sanctuary devoid of tall and thick trees. There are about 257 species of flowering plants, while a number of desert plants are also found.

History Facts

Notification for the establishment of a wildlife sanctuary at Lakhpat taluka was given in April 1981, which extended over an area of about 765 sq kms. But, due to the denotificaton order by state government, there was reduction in the sanctuary limits to about 444 sq kms in 1995. With various interests of mining in the region under the sanctuary, this limitation was imposed, but still Chinkara species are present.

Fauna in The Sanctuary

Birds of special mention in the Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary are the bustards. All the three kinds of bustards, Houbara, Great Indian and Lesser Florican varieties are seen in this sanctuary. Besides, there is the Black Partridge along with 184 other species of birds, 18 species of herpetofauna and 19 species of Raptors. Some birds are migratory, while a few ones known as specialists are seen very less in the sanctuary.

Major sighting of animals in Narayan Sarovar Wildlife Sanctuary is of Chinkara or Indian Gazelle. There are also other kinds of deer, as well as various wild animals. Cheetah in India is seen in this sanctuary. This one, along with the Banni Grasslands in Kutch, has been designated by Wildlife Institute of India as the places for sighting of Cheetahs. Further studies and efforts are being put in to develop this sanctuary as a breeding ground and conservation sanctuary for Asiatic and African Cheetah.

Even though the surrounding areas of the Narayan Sarovar Wildlife sanctuary have been taken up by mines and industries, the inside of the sanctuary is being protected by the Government of Gujarat with active participation by wildlife conservationists and non-governmental organisations. Various ecological programmes and awareness drives are being conducted to showcase the potential beauty of this place to the outsiders. Tourism development is a good way of doing so and this will encourage plenty of funds as well as attention towards further development of this unique ecological system in Gujarat.