Only 5 Marine National Park and Water Sanctuaries of India

India boasts of several marine national parks which are hotspots of bio-diversity and home to number of marine creatures including Olive Ridley sea turtles,saltwater crocodile and a medium-sized marine mammal known as Dugong. Water Sanctuaries of India includes Bhitarkanika National Park, Sundarbans National Park and Rani Jhansi Marine National Park, These are swamp or large mangroves forest in India.

Rani Jhansi Marine National Park is located in Andaman and Nicobar islands in the Bay of Bengal.

Gulf of Kutch Marine National Park

Marine National Park in Gulf of Kutch is situated on the southern shore of the Gulf of in the Jamnagar of Gujarat. It is the first national marine park of India with 42 islands on the Jamnagar coast in the Marine National Park.

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park

Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park is a national park of India on the Andaman Islands, Situated 29 km. from Port Blair. Most of the coral reefs in the park are fringing reefs and the park is an important breeding ground for turtles.

Gahirmatha Marine Wildlife Sanctuary

Gahirmatha is the first and the only Marine Sanctuary of Orissa, number of marvelous creatures including Olive Ridley sea turtles migrate in huge numbers. Gahirmatha Beach separates the Bhitarkanika mangroves from the Bay of Bengal is the world’s most important nesting beach for Olive Ridley Sea Turtles. Image Source:orissadiary

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park

Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park consist of 21 small islands and coral reefs in the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean of Tamil Nadu. The park has a high diversity of plants and animals in its marine and shore habitats, Dugong, a vulnerable marine mammal also found here.

Malvan Marine Wildlife Sanctuary

Malvan Marine Sanctuary is the only marine sanctuary is located in Malvan Taluka of Sindhudurg district in Konkan region of Maharashtra. The Malvan Wildlife Sanctuary includes Padamged island and other submerged rocky structures.