All National Parks and Sanctuaries are however not alike. Some of them have been created specifically to protect the rare and endangered species, notable among which are the Gir National Park for the Asiatic lion, Kaziranga National Park for the single horned Rhinoceros, Dachigam sanctuary for the Kashmir stag, Keibul Lamjo and the Brow antlered deer, Velavadar National Park and Point Calimer for the Black buck and special Tiger reserves. Some of National Parks are famous for the richness and variety of wildlife found in them. Amongst them the most well known are the Kanha National Park and the Corbett National Park.

The Gir National Park
is located among the low, undulating and excellently irrigated hills in the Junagadh district of Gujarat. It is famous for being the last existing natural home of the Asiatic lion, although it has a healthy population of other animal species too. The Gir forest covers an area of 1150 square kilometers with 300 square kilometers forming the core area of the national park. The park receives a good annual rainfall averaging 1000mm. The temperatures at the park vary to extremes, as they do with most of the country too. In winters, the temperatures go down to as low as 6 degrees centigrade, while soaring up to a scorching 46 degrees in the summers. The park is open to visitors from November to May but the best time for visiting the park, taking comfort and wildlife viewing into consideration, is December to March. The park offers many excellent drives through scenic areas.

Bondla Sanctuary
Here you can find Samber, wild boar and a few leopard, this is very smallest sanctuary of the country. This is the smallest of Goa's sanctuaries.


Marine National Park

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


Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary

38 kms from Margao is the smaller of the three wildlife sanctuaries of Goa - the Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary. More than a sanctuary, it is an ideal jungle resort, a major attraction for school going children and nature lover