Velavadar Blackbuck Sanctuary, as you may have guessed from the name, is home to thousands of Blackbucks, a rare endangered species in India. Located an hour's drive from Gujarat's Bhavnagar, this wildlife sanctuary was originally a private grassland that belonged to the Maharaja of Bhavnagar. The Maharaja made sure that blackbucks were hunted during specific periods only. Once a thriving species, the blackbuck population thinned at an alarming rate over the years due to excessive hunting and deforestation. Velavadar was built in 1976. The northern part of the sanctuary is inhabited by the Blackbucks, which is a widespread grassland. Some parts form mudflats in the southern Gulf of Khambat.