Brief History: Covering an area of 7,506.22 square kilometers, the Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary is the largest sanctuary in the state, featuring a unique saline desert ecosystem. Within this vast expanse lies the world-famous “Flamingo City,” where thousands of flamingos nest and breed. This sanctuary was officially declared in February 1986. Nearby, the ancient city of Dholavira, a site from the Harappan civilization, was excavated, drawing numerous archaeologists from around the globe. Equally captivating is the Flamingo City, located in the mudflats of the Rann, about 10 kilometers from the Nir outpost on Kala Dungar. This is the only area where flamingos breed consistently.
The Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary represents one of the largest seasonal saline wetlands, with water depths ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 meters. However, by October or November, the water recedes, transforming the area into a saline desert. The sanctuary is home to a wide variety of waterbirds and an astonishing range of mammalian wildlife.
About the Location: The sanctuary offers numerous attractions beyond its bird and wildlife population. Hidden beneath the Jurassic and Cretaceous rocks on Khadir, Kuvar, and Pachchham bets are abundant fossils of vertebrates, invertebrates, and plants. Fossils of dinosaurs, crocodiles from the Dinosaurian period, and whales from the Tertiary period have been found here, along with fossilized forests from the Jurassic and Cretaceous eras. Invertebrate fossils, including those of ammonites and sea urchins, are also present.
The sanctuary is home to many timid and harmless spiny-tailed lizards, known for their unique hiding and running behavior. Chinkaras, foxes, hyenas, and nilgai are abundant in the area, and there are occasional sightings of caracals. The sanctuary is also a haven for numerous resident and migratory birds, including raptors and the Houbara bustard.
The renowned “Flamingo City” is situated in the mudflats of the Rann, approximately 10 kilometers from the Nir outpost on Kala Dungar. Hundreds of greater flamingos breed here, particularly during the optimum inundation period. They build their muddy nests, lay eggs, and rear their young.