Rajkot: Kutch, India’s largest district and home to the famed Rann Utsav and Dholavira Unesco heritage site, is set to offer visitors more than its famed white desert.Four new wildlife awareness centres are being developed across the district, adding a fresh eco-tourism dimension to one of Gujarat’s biggest tourist destinations.Developed by the forest department, these interpretation centres aim to promote eco-tourism while educating visitors about the region’s unique biodiversity, wildlife, geology and cultural heritage.The four new interpretation centres are being developed at Tragadi Bet (island) near the Road to Heaven, Kalo Dungar, Ekal near Mata no Madh and Dholavira. Each centre has been designed around a distinct theme reflecting the ecological, historical and cultural significance of its location. Construction is nearing completion, and the centres are expected to be inaugurated before the tourist season begins in Oct.Each facility will feature interactive display panels, digital screens, kiosks, murals and educational exhibits to help visitors understand Kutch’s rich natural heritage. According to the forest officials, with interactive self-explanatory digital screens, these centres will educate visitors about the region’s unique biodiversity, including the desert fox, Indian wild ass, wolf, the critically endangered greater and lesser floricans, and several migratory bird species. The centres also showcase information on Kachchh’s desert ecosystem and natural heritage.“Kachchh has immense ecological diversity, ranging from deserts, beaches, grasslands and hills to unique wildlife habitats. It is also India’s largest wildlife sanctuary and one of the country’s largest grasslands. Through these awareness centres, tourists will learn about this extraordinary diversity,” said Ayush Verma, deputy conservator of forest, Kutch East.“We are promoting eco-tourism so that visitors return with a greater appreciation for wildlife conservation and the region’s natural heritage,” he added.
