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Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary

Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary established in Bhatia taluka of the Jamnagar district of Gujarat in 1988. What makes it unique is that it is located in an arid zone with very scarce natural resources, an yet it is a leading sanctuary providing a safe habitat to a multitude of animals, birds and even insects.

Wild Life

This sanctuary provides a safe haven to animal species, like the blue bull, the jackal, the jungle cat, the mongoose, and the wolf. In addition to these, there is a wide variety of insect life, which thrives in abundance here. Butterflies, moths, honeybee, wasps, spiders and termites are some of them. The land here is rich in vegetation with the thriving greenery of grass and shrubs forming an exclusive home for the indigenous and migratory birds. Bird species like the flamingo, the Great Indian Bustard, the lark, the partridge, and the sand grouse have come to make this their home. The sanctuary has very high conservation significance as the Great Indian Buster; an endangered species being sighted here in 1976. Subsequent sightings of this bird have unfortunately been rare. All of this is a guarantee to a real experience of the wild untouched nature.

There have been issues and concerns about the local population around the sanctuary who are dependent on these lands for cattle grazing. This is leading to the destruction of the grasslands. This has become a major issue, as there seems to be no action to rectify or manage the situation. Adding to this, as the sanctuary is actually two masses of land separated by 2 kilometers of land in between, used by the locals for grazing of their livestock. As there is no clear demarcation, the livestock stray into the sanctuary with devastating effect on the landscape. One way out of this situation is to fence the two areas of the sanctuary so that trespass of the locals and their livestock is completely restricted and the damage to the ecology contained.

There is another and a more serious concern, the damage to the ecosystem due to the ingress of salinity. As this sanctuary is located in an arid zone, droughts are frequent. There is a perennial shortage of water, and there is ingress of salinity by the seepage of salt water from the sea, leading to a rapid degradation of the ecosystem. There is a lot of intricate and sensitive work to contain this or very soon, there will be a disaster to reckon with. Re-inventing innovation may be the only path to a lasting and robust solution.

Geography

Spread over an area of 3332.87 hectares the sanctuary is located in the Saurashtra peninsula on the coast of the Gulf of Kutch. The sanctuary is two land masses with a two kilometer with wasteland separating them. The sanctuary consists of wide-ranging landscape and is made up of grasslands, saline scrub, Prosopis chilensis, kerdo, gorad, and piloo. The array of ecology is a delight to anyone who has the slightest interest in nature. The nearest town Bhatia is about 20 kilometers away and the nearest city is Jamnagar.

Where to Stay

Tourist accommodation is available in Bhatia town and of course in Jamnagar. Bhatia being relatively a smaller place has good budget accommodation while Jamnagar can pander to your tastes with star accommodation. The hotels and tariffs vary at both the places. It is however, safer to stay in establishments that have the recognitions of the tourism department. This also helps tourists in finding good, reliable and economical transport and tour guides who can be trusted.

What to Eat

Local cuisine is famous for its variety and flavor. You need to however, ensure that the establishment that you choose to eat in is hygienic. Sickness in travel is a hassle you can avoid. In addition, however much you like the food, please do not overdo anything. It is better to be nostalgic than to be sick. Please take care to drink water from a reliable source. Water borne deceases are frequent during travel. Human body has its own ways of reacting to a sudden change in diet and it makes sense to approach a medical professional at the first sign of a health issue.

How to Reach

By Road

Jamnagar has excellent road transport facilities to all of Gujarat and even some places in neighboring states. The choice of comfort during travel varies from full reclining sleeper accommodation to normal seating, to suit all budgets.

By Rail

Jamnagar has train connection to Ahmadabad and Mumbai. Since there are only a few trains to Jamnagar, it needs a lot of planning. Last minute reservation on a train is very difficult to get and can ruin your travel plans.

By Air

Jamnagar has an airport and has air connections to Mumbai and Ahmadabad.

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Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary
Gaga Wildlife Sanctuary

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