Marine National Park, Gujarat

Gujarat has the distinction of creating the country's first Marine National Park spread over an area of nearly 458 sq.kms. in the Gulf of Kutch, 30 km. from Jamnagar. Here corals create fantasies in stone and are the master builders of the Park. Their limestone fortresses - those found near the Pirotan Islands and the rich moist deciduous forests like those found in the dense forests of the Danes. One of the most threatened birds, the great Indian bustard finds a refuge in certain pockets of protected areas.

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The world's only four-horned antelope, the chowsingha is found here in healthy numbers. One of the largest herds of blackjacks grace the grasslands of Velavadar and till recently Gujarat was the place where flamingos nested in huge numbers. Dugong, a marine mammal which resembles a seal, along with the rare Borolo species have found home in the protected areas of the Marine National Park.

Each one the work of a colony of countless tiny animals - come in an amazing variety of shapes and sizes, from the convolutedbrain coral corals that look like horns. Here you will find plants that look like animals and animals that look like plants. Turtles, shrimp, sponge, eels, sea urchin lurk among the corals and huge schools of fish create a brilliance of colors that are unknown, unseen and unimaginable to us.

There are fishes to be seen which puff-up when threatened, octopuses that mimic the color and texture of the surroundings in the blink of an eyelid so as to vanish without a trace.

There are Gobi's which clean parasites from other fish and fishes who burrow so deep only their eyes are seen. You will easily spot fishes that look like stars and spot dolphins herding schools of fish for a hearty meal. Dugong, a marine mammal which resembles a seal and the rare Boralia species are found in these protected areas. At times it seems as if every life form here is familiar with the art of magic as each seem to trick the other for food and shelter. Above the waters, mangrove plants with their tangled roots and densely packed leaves prevent land based predators from penetrating but provide scores of birds with nesting and roosting sites. There is no doubt that life in the coral reef is like witnessing a thousand rainbows in a kaleidoscopic way.

Widllife in Marine National Park

Fauna

Vertebrates (Animals with an internal skeleton made of bone)
Dugong, a vulnerable marine mammal is the flagship mammal of the park. It is an important habitat for the Cetaceans: Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin, finless porpoise, spinner dolphin and common dolphin.

510 (23%) of the 2,200 fin fish species in Indian waters are found in the Gulf, making it the most highly diverse fish habitat in India. Coral associated ornamental fishes belonging to the family Chaetodontidae, (butterfly fish); Parrotfish; Amphiprion spp (clown fish), Holocentrus spp ([[squirrel fish), Scarus spp (parrot fish), Lutjanus spp (snappers) and Abudefduf saxatilis (sergeant Major) are abundant.

Invertebrates (Animals don't have an internal skeleton made of bone)
4 species each of shrimp and lobster, 106 species of crab, 17 species of sea cucumber, and 466 species of mollusc including 271 gastropods, 174 bivalves, 5 polyplacophorans, 16 cephalopods and 5 scaphopods , 108 species of sponge, and 100 species of echinoderm occur in the Gulf.

The coral fauna includes 106 species from 30 genus of hermatypes and 11 species from 10 genus of ahermatypes, including 13 new species, giving a total of 117 species from 14 families and 40 genus. The reefs in this area are narrow fringing reefs located 150 to 300 m. from the shore of the islands and patch reefs rising up from depths of 2 to 9 m. and extending up to 2 km. long and 50 m. wide

Marine National Park Wildlife Tour Packages-1

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Place - The Gulf of Kutch, Jamnagar, Gujarat.

Best Season - October to March

Nearest Town - Jamnagar (7 Kms.)

Significance - India's first Marine National Park.

How to Reach Marine National Park:

By Air : The Nearest airport is Jamnagar (7 kms).

By Bus : The Nearest bus station is Jamnagar (7 kms).

By Rail : The Nearest Railway station is Jamnagar - 7 kms and Rajkot - 90 Kms

Location of Marine National Park

North - west India, on the southern shore of the Gulf of Kutch, Gujarat State, 22*15'-23*40'N, 68*20'-70*40'E.

The Gulf of Kutch is an arm of the Arabian Sea, separating the Saurashtra Peninsula from the Great and Little Rann of Kutch.

Climate in Marine National Park

Climate of this area is generally pleasant, summer season extends from March to June, day time temperature mostly 42C. Monsoons season July to September, winter season October and extends till February.

Marine National Park Map