Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar

2021-04-24T05:00:04Z

71.183.220.217: /* Wildlife Names in Gujarat */

{{short description|National park in Gujarat, India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}}
{{Infobox Protected area
| name = Blackbuck National Park
| iucn_category = II
| map = India |relief=1
| location = [[Bhavnagar District]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| nearest_city =
| coordinates = {{coords|22|02|N|72|03|E|display=inline, title}}
| area_km2 = 34.08
| established = 1976
| visitation_num =
| visitation_year =
| governing_body = [https://web.archive.org/web/20090410044805/http://gujaratforest.gov.in/index.htm Forest Department of Gujarat]
| photo = Antilope cervicapra from velavadar.JPG
| photo_caption = A blackbuck stag at the grasslands of the national park
}}

'''Blackbuck National Park''' is a national park in India located at Velavadar in the [[Bhavnagar District]] of [[Gujarat]] state, [[India]].

Established in 1976 in the [[Bhal region]] of [[Saurashtra (region)|Saurashtra]], the park is located around 42 km from the district headquarters city of [[Bhavnagar]]. Hugging the coasts of the [[Gulf of Khambhat]] on the south, it is spread over an area of 34.08 km2, which was primarily a "vidi" (grassland) of the [[maharaja]] of the [[princely state]] of Bhavnagar for hunting the blackbucks with his famous hunting [[cheetahs]]. On the northern side, it is surrounded by wastelands and agriculture fields. The [[national park]] has been classified as 4B Gujarat-Rajwada biotic province of semi-arid bio-geographical zone.

Flat land, dry grasses and herds of [[antelope]] have always attracted visitors to this park which has a grassland ecosystem. Successful conservation programs for the [[blackbuck]], [[wolf]] and [[lesser florican]] (a [[bustard]]) are ongoing. Considered to be an [[endemic]] Indian [[species]], the lesser florican, which once lived throughout the country, has become endangered in recent decades. Today, the largest population is in this park. Local wolf numbers are increasing, as are [[striped hyena]], with sightings quite frequent during daylight in winter 2012-2013.

==Geography==
[[File:VelavadarNP SVG.svg|thumb|Map of Velavadar National Park]]
In July 1976, when the park was established, the initial [[protected area]] measured about 18 km2. In 1980, another 16 km2 were added, increasing the total area to 34.08 km2.

A southern portion of the park, which adjoins the Gulf of Khambhat, is in the Gulf's high tide zone and gets inundated with water. However, its [[semi-arid]] conditions, together with this inundation of seawater during monsoon, creates [[Habitat (ecology)|habitat]]s suitable for various dependent fauna of the park.

According to a [[remote sensing]] study of habitat types, the park area is classified as follows:
* 7.57 km2 of dense [[grassland]]
* 9.91 km2 of sparse grassland
* 5.05 km2 of ''[[Prosopis]]'' [[shrubland]]
* 5.13 km2 of [[soil salinity|saline]] land
* 5.08 km2 of high tidal [[mudflat]]s
The mudflats are the high tide zones of Gulf of Khambhat and the lower part is prone to flooding.

==Wildlife Names in Gujarat==

[[File:Indian Wolf Photo Dhaval Vargiya.jpg|thumb|Indian Wolf at Velavadar (Blackbuck National Park, Gujarat)]]
There are some names of wildlife of blackbuck National park ''blackbucks'', ''wolves, [[Macqueen's bustard]]s, [[hyena]]s'' and [[lesser florican]]s, with [[fox]]es, [[jackal]]s and [[jungle cat]]s as the main [[carnivore]]s. Other species include [[Sus (genus)|wild pig]]s, [[hare]]s and [[rodent]]s typical of the [[savanna]]h type grasslands and [[thorn scrub]]s.

Among [[bird]]s, [[sandgrouse]] and [[lark]]s are <ref>{{Cite book|last=Washington|first=Washington, Booker T.|url=http://worldcat.org/oclc/1158613536|title=Up from slavery|date=29 June 2020|isbn=978-1-7225-2518-7|oclc=1158613536}}</ref> seen in fair numbers. According to [[Roger Geoffrey Clarke]], the British harrier-expert, the [[harrier (bird)|harrier]] roost found at the park is one of the largest in the world.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
Image:CourtshipDisplay.jpg|Blackbuck antelopes
Nilgai1.jpg|Male nilgai at Blackbuck National Park
Image:Blackbucks in Blackbuck National Park 05.jpg|Blackbuck antelopes crossing a dirt road
Image:Nilgai in Blackbuck National Park 01.jpg|Male nilgai
Image:Nilgai in Blackbuck National Park 04.jpg|Two female nilgais
Image:Circaetus gallicus in flight velvadar.JPG|Short-toed snake eagle
Image:Blackbuck Male and Female.jpeg|Male and female blackbucks
</gallery>

==Tourist information==
Though the park is open most of the year, it remains strictly closed in monsoon from 15 June to 15 October: this is breeding season for blackbuck and very important species like the lesser florican, the smallest bustard. The period from late October to the end of March is recommended for visitors. The best time to visit is from December to March as many species of migratory, including three species of harriers, the lesser florican, eagles and waders, migrate back.

[[Bhavnagar Airport]] is connected with [[Mumbai]] by daily flights. The closest international airport is [[Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport|Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel]] at 153 km by road. The closest railway station is at the town of [[Dhola, Gujarat|Dhola]], which is about 50 km from the park. The ancient town of [[Vallabhi]] is about 30 km away.

==See also==
* [[Arid Forest Research Institute]]
* [[List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat, India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commonscat|Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar}}
* Gujarat Tourism: [https://web.archive.org/web/20110928051911/http://www.gujarattourism.com/showpage.aspx?contentid=242&webpartid=1402&lang=English Blackbuck National Park]
* [https://archive.is/20130124171723/http://picasaweb.google.com/nicpandya/VelavadarNationalPark More photos of Blackbuck National Park]
* {{Wikivoyage-inline|Blackbuck_National_Park}}

{{National Parks of India}}

[[Category:National parks in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1976]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Bhavnagar district]]

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Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar