The Gujarat government is set to conduct the country’s first-ever census of coastal and wader birds at the Marine National Park and Sanctuary in Jamnagar from January 3 to 5, the state government said in a statement on Thursday ( January 3, 2025).

The census will be jointly organised by the state forest department and the Bird Conservation Society of Gujarat.

The three-day programme, which is expected to attract bird enthusiasts, experts, and researchers from Gujarat and across the country, will also feature expert talks on forestry and wildlife on the first day, bird counting activities on the second day, and knowledge-sharing sessions on the third day.

The Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary

The Marine National Park and Marine Sanctuary in Gujarat is India’s first designated marine national park. Spanning the districts of Devbhoomi Dwarka, Jamnagar, and Morbi, it covers approximately 170 km of coastline and 42 islands between Okha and Navlakhi.

This protected area in the Gulf of Kutch was established to conserve marine biodiversity and mangrove ecosystems.