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Blackbuck
N.P. Velavadar in the Bhal region of Saurashtra is a unique grassland
ecosystem that has attracted fame for the successful conservation
of the blackbuck, the wold and the lesser florican. Once
found in open plains throughout the country and the state of Gujarat,
its largest population at present occurs in Velavadar N.P. This
exclusively Indian animal is perhaps the most graceful and beautiful
of its kind. It has ringed horns that have a spiral twist of three
to fours turns and are up to 70 cm long. The body's upper parts
are black and the underparts and a ring around the eyes are white.
The light brown female is usually hornless.
When the rut
(mating season) reaches a peak, one dominant male establishes
dominance and it's a sight to see him strut around with its head
held high with the horns almost touching its back. After six months
the mated females each bear one fawn, which are very well camouflaged
in the grasslands. The fawn joints the herd along with the mother
and remains with here for more than a year.The fastes of the Indian
Antelopes, they move-off in a series amazing leaps and bound when
threatened, and then break into a lighting run. The resultant
picture is that of a graceful and experienced dancer whose form
and grace can cast a spell on the beholder.
The wold and
the jackals are the main predators in the park. Wolves here use
shrub land for lying-up, denning and for rendezvous and depend
on blackbuck, hare and other small animals as their prey. Another
rare sight is that of the lesser florican who migrate here and
settle here be breed in the grasslands. After arrival, the male
bird marks the territory and displays to attract the female. The
courtship display of the male is a spectacular vertical leap up
to a hight of two meters and may display over 500 times in a day
! Velavadar is also an excellent place to see a large number of
harriers. The Park is very rich in other birdlife as well.
A word of praise
would not be out of place for the Kathi community, who like the
Bishnoi community of Rajasthan have protected the blackbuck with
vigour and zeal, as it is associated with their past history of
valor and religious practices. Such communities are the real strength
of wildlife protection in Gujarat.
Blackbuck
N.P. Velavadar in the Bhal region of Saurashtra is a unique grassland
ecosystem that has attracted fame for the successful conservation
of the blackbuck, the wold and the lesser florican. Once
found in open plains throughout the country and the state of Gujarat,
its largest population at present occurs in Velavadar N.P. This
exclusively Indian animal is perhaps the most graceful and beautiful
of its kind. It has ringed horns that have a spiral twist of three
to fours turns and are up to 70 cm long. The body's upper parts
are black and the underparts and a ring around the eyes are white.
The light brown female is usually hornless.
