Surrounded by rainfed arid land from all sides, this small wildlife sanctuary of Hingolgadh is a preferred habitat for Chinkara, blue bull and a very large number of resident and migratory birds. This sanctuary has a special ecological significance as the dry deciduous thorny forests and savannah type grasslands merge here. It plays a crucial role in the ground water conservation by recharging aquifers in the region. Declared as a sanctuary in 1980, the area has a high educational and recreational value.
The sanctuary is managed by Gujarat Ecological Education and Research (GEER) Foundation. Around 50-100 Nature Education Camps are organised by the Foundation every year during the monsoon season. The participants are generally school children.
Location
Jasdan taluka, Rajkot district
Sanctuary area
654.1 ha.
Flora
The plant species density is relatively high as there are 314 species of plants, such as- gorad, desi baval, kasedo, neem, gugal, thor, satodi, batkumi etc. in a very small area.
Fauna
The major fauna includes mammals like Chinkara, bluebull, wolf, jackal, fox, Indian porcupine, Indian hare, hyena, flying fox, etc. There are 230 species of birds and 19 species of snakes. Among the birds, Red-vented Bulbul, Green Bee-Eater, Spotted Dove, Shrike, Woodpecker, Indian roller etc. are common. The sanctuary has 19 species of snakes; of course not all of them are venomous. 16 non-venomous and 3 venomous species of snakes have been recorded from the area.
