Gujarat to set up Caracal conservation centre worth ₹10 cr in Kutch

Amid the ongoing Wildlife Week 2024 celebrations in Gujarat, the state government has decided to allocate ₹10 crores to develop a breeding and conservation centre for the Caracal (also known as Henotaro) in the Chadhwa Rakhal area near Samtra village in Kutch district.

Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel announced this during a ceremony held at the Shyamji Krishna Varma Memorial in Mandvi on October 4.

To ensure the long-term conservation and enhancement of the highly endangered Caracal, which is found only in Kutch in Gujarat, this area will be managed as a Caracal breeding and conservation zone.

The Chadhwa Rakhal area is rich in biodiversity, home to not only caracals but also 28 species of mammals, 28 reptiles, and 242 exotic bird species, totalling 296 species of wildlife. It also features 243 species of plant diversity.

A total land of 4,900 hectares was handed over to the state government by the royal family of Kutch for this initiative.