The Kanjari Deer Park is 7 km from the Thol bird sanctuary.

ALBINO Blackbuck Kanjari Deer Park

When I go to Gujarat, I become a wandering eagle searching for fresh places to watch birds. Since I’m here now, I visited a few places in and around Ahmedabad. I phoned a few birding guides and Sherwin, who’s based in Ahmedabad, to get the latest on the migratory birds. They informed me that all sanctuaries and wildlife parks were closed till the 15 of October, because of the pandemic. Sherwin suggested I visit a place close to Thol Bird Sanctuary where the wild Blackbuck roams free. This place, although only 25 to 30 km from the city of Ahmedabad, is relatively unknown to the public at large, as it is slightly off the beaten track and not so popular.

Yesterday we left early so we could be at this not-so-famous place called the “Kanjari Deer Park”, This place is a vast open grassland with clumps of Keker bushes. We parked on a dirt road going through this semi-wilderness and within minutes were fortunate to spot a few small herds of blackbucks grazing at a distance. I took some photographs of these majestic animals and the prize was I bagged an albino among them.

I did a bit of birding but wished it was a clear day, photographing birds under subdued light leaves one slightly disappointed. I took photos of some species such as the Zitting Cisticola, Ashy-crowned Sparrow Lark, Painted Stork, Indian Roller, and Siberian Stonechat.