Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary

Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary

Country:
India
Site number:
2464
Area:
511.7 ha
Designation date:
13-04-2021
Coordinates:
22°30'52"N 70°08'45"E
  • Arial view of Khijadia
  • Flock of Pelican
  • Flamboyance of flamingos
  • Arial view of Khijadia
  • Arial view of Khijadia
  • Flamboyance of lesser flamingos
  • Flock of Pelican
  • Group of Painted Storks
  • Rosy Pelicans with Little Cormorants

Materials presented on this website, particularly maps and territorial information, are as-is and as-available based on available data and do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the Ramsar Convention concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.


This freshwater wetland near the coast of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat State was formed following the creation of a bund (dike) in 1920 to protect farmland from saltwater ingress. As one of the important waterbird habitats in North-West India, the Site provides breeding, feeding and roosting grounds for a wide range of resident aquatic and also land-based birds. It provides habitat for over 310 bird species, including 125 waterbirds; over 165,000 individual waterbirds have been counted. These include the endangered Pallas’s fish-eagle (Haliaeetus leucoryphus) and Indian skimmer (Rynchops albicollis), and the vulnerable common pochard (Aythya ferina). The Site also regularly supports more than 1% of the south and south-west Asian population of Dalmatian pelican (Pelecanus crispus), more than 2% of greylag goose (Anser anser) and more than 20% of common crane (Grus grus). More than 180 plant species are present, including the critically endangered Indian bdellium-tree (Commiphora wightii). The Site contributes to the maintenance of hydrological regimes, erosion protection and nutrient cycling. It is used for recreation and tourism, and scientific and educational activities.

Administrative region: Khijadia wildlife sanctuary falls within Jamnagar District of Gujarat State, India. Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary located virtually between 22°31’27” N and 70°07’17”E.

National legal designation:
  • Eco Sensitive Zone - Eco Sensitive Zone of Khijadia Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Wildlife Sanctuary - Khijadia Bird Sanctuary
Regional (international) legal designations:
  • Other international designation
Last publication date: 01-02-2022
Ramsar Information Sheet (RIS)
Site map
Additional reports and documents