Blackbuck National Park: Official Guide Collection for Regional Grassland Discovery

Gujarat's grassland sanctuary for the endangered blackbuck and lesser florican

Blackbuck National Park, Velavadar

Blackbuck National Park at Velavadar represents one of India's most important grassland conservation success stories. Located in the Bhal region of Saurashtra in Gujarat state, the park encompasses approximately 34 square kilometers of semi-arid grassland ecosystem situated along the southern coast of the Gulf of Khambhat. The landscape is characterized by flat terrain dominated by dry grasses, with a unique coastal interface where southern portions experience tidal inundation, creating a complex mosaic of terrestrial and marine-influenced habitats. The park's establishment in 1976 marked the recognition of this landscape's ecological significance, with initial protection covering 18 square kilometers before expansion in 1980 added another 16 square kilometers to create the current protected extent. The area's historical significance as the private grassland of the maharaja of Bhavnagar, where blackbucks were hunted with trained cheetahs, underscores the long-standing ecological character of this landscape despite its historical association with aristocratic hunting practices. The park is classified within the Gujarat-Rajwada biotic province of the semi-arid bio-geographical zone, placing it within a distinct ecological region characterized by specific vegetation patterns, climate conditions, and wildlife assemblages. This classification helps contextualize the park's significance as a representative example of India's semi-arid grassland ecosystems, which have been heavily degraded and converted across much of their historical range. The park's location at the interface between terrestrial grasslands and coastal tidal zones creates a diversity of habitats that support species adapted to both environments, as well as species requiring the transitional habitat mosaic.