Gujarat is one of the Indian states that pay a lot of attention to its wildlife. That is the reason why wildlife thrives here and Gir Forest stands as a glaring example to prove this point.
At a distance of 5 kilometers from Junagadh is the only place in the world where the lion can be seen in its natural habitat. The Gir Forest is considered one of the earliest efforts at conservation. Today the Gir Forest is one of the largest and most important game preserves in India. The Gir lion is a majestic animal with a bigger tail tassle, bushier elbow tufts and a smaller mane than its African cousin. In the beginning of the 20th century there were only 100 lions left here but today the number has grown to over 250. A dozen males were sterilized recently after lions strayed from the sanctuary. The forest is one of the few remaining places where a visitor can drive through open scrub country, dry tropical thorn forests and an evergreen corridor along the riverside. It is also a haven for a variety of smaller animals and birds. There is also a newly developed crocodile farm, panthers and striped hyena.
Besides this there are a host of other wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat. These are:-
| Pirotan Island, Marine National Park |
| Black Buck National Park, Velavader |
| Vansda National Park |
| Wild Ass Sanctuary, Rann of Kutch |
| Nal Sarovar Birds Sanctuary |
| Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary |
| Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary |
| Barda Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Hingolgadh Nature Education Sanctuary |
| Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary |
| Khijadia Bird Sanctuary |
| Gaga Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Rampara Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Thol Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Shoolpaneshwar Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Porbandar Birds Sanctuary |
| Pania Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Balaram Ambaji Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Jambughoda Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Purna Wild Life Sanctuary |
| Kutch Bustard Sanctuary |
There are a number of beaches as well in Gujarat. Mandvi in Kutch, Gopnath in Bhavnagar, Jamnagar (Surat), Ahmedpur Mandvi and Chorwad in Junagadh and others are perfect for spending holidays or even weekends.
