We spent 4 days in Gujarat recently with the main objective of viewing the Asiatic lions at Gir forest and then go around visiting places of interest.Little did we know what was in store for us at Narara in Jamnagar district.See map above.
It came about like this.We were talking to some folks at the Gir Jungle Lodge and they said that they had visited the Marine sanctuary at Narara and that it should form a part of our itinerary too as it is a unique experience.So we made a note and decided to go for it.
Marine National Park and Sanctuary falls in the inter-tidal zone along the Jamnagar coast and in the islands in the Gulf of Kutch. With its coral reefs and mangroves the series of 42 islands supports an amazing marine life.Narara island is one such which forms part of this beautiful ecosystem and is easily accessible.
This location is about 60 Kms from Jamnagar city, an hour's drive on the smooth Jamnagar - Dwarka highway.
We are here to do a Coral walk as it is popularly called.
But a little background on Corals and Coral reef first.
Corals are very tiny,
soft-bodied organisms. They form a protective limestone skeleton by secreting Calcium Carbonate (limestone)which
forms the structure of coral reefs. Reefs begin when a Coral attaches
itself to a rock on the sea floor, then divides into thousands
of clones. As colonies grow over hundreds and
thousands of years, they join with other colonies and become reefs. Some
of the coral reefs on the planet today began growing over 50 million
years ago.
Reefs get their wild hues from the colorful algae they host. When attacked by such things as temperature change or pollution, corals will evict their boarders, causing coral bleaching that can kill them.
Corals live in tropical waters throughout the world, generally close to the surface where the sun's rays can reach the algae.Corals get most of their nutrients from the byproducts of the algae photosynthesis.
Reefs get their wild hues from the colorful algae they host. When attacked by such things as temperature change or pollution, corals will evict their boarders, causing coral bleaching that can kill them.
Corals live in tropical waters throughout the world, generally close to the surface where the sun's rays can reach the algae.Corals get most of their nutrients from the byproducts of the algae photosynthesis.
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| Dead Coral skeleton |
And... Coral reef supports a multitude of marine life and it is a treat to view them as people do by diving underwater.
However,
today we are going to walk over the sea,at low tide,along with a guide.It is not very hot as we undertake our expedition,first on the dry sea bed filled with mangroves and sea weeds and progressing to ankle deep water and then some where we see algae.The water is crystal clear.
We are told that the walk up to the main Sea yonder is about 3.5 Kms and promises sighting of many creatures which should be interesting.
So we walk taking care not to slip on the rocks embedded in the sand and covered with algae and weed.
Here is a shot of what you see after 45 minutes.
Lots of birds...of the Crane variety were seen foraging in the waters.
Our guide is busy sifting the sand, looking for buried treasure.
We are beginning to see Coral skeletons and many are dead.The guide lifts many of these skeletons to see whether any life form is adhering to its bottom.Because, if the coral inside is alive it will be close to the sea bed looking for nutrition and so will be others.
Shortly, he shows a Star fish on a Coral ( I am going to avoid the suffix Skeleton and let it be understood by the reader)
Then we are shown a sea Cucumber
When threatened, cucumbers can contract their muscles and shoot out water from their body making them shorter, thicker, and harder.
We saw this happen!
This one is still very young.
Here is another Coral lifted and the underneath is full of life.
By now we have covered almost 2 Kms and we are looking to see if we can spot something exotic.
The guide is chasing something.He is quite nimble in water being a fisherman.Wow! he has got something in his hands...a fish? but it gives him the slip.
He goes after and corners it and there he is holding it again.He calls it Puffer fish.
Puffer fish has the ability to ingest huge amount of water (and air sometimes) which increases their body size and turns them into odd-looking ball-like creatures. Quick transformation scares predators.This tactic was developed as a method of self-defense because they are poor swimmers that cannot escape from danger quickly.
That was good...with the best yet to come... Meanwhile here are some specimen
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| Look at that beautiful Crab |
It is almost 2 1/2 Hours in the water and we are very close to the blue sea.Suddenly a yell from the guide asking us to approach him quickly.There is this other couple who can be seen looking at something with great interest.I move fast lest that creature slips into the water and disappears.
Oh! What a sight.It is a baby Octopus!!
The tide has receded further as we start our walk back.The guide is still holding the Octopus to show it to all the visitors approaching and to his peers.He then lets it down in a pool of water and it goes wiggling away. Great finds and a unique learning experience ends as we get into the car and drive away to Dwarka.
More on Gujarat in the next blog
Where is the Farsan packet?
