Western India showcases a fascinating variety of natural environments, primarily defined by the arid and semi-arid landscapes of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the lush, biologically rich Western Ghats stretching along its coast. The Thar Desert in Rajasthan, characterized by vast sand dunes and sparse thorny vegetation like Khejadi and rohida trees, represents extreme aridity. Further south, the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat is a unique saline desert, home to the wild ass and a key breeding ground for flamingos. Contrasting sharply with these dry regions, the Western Ghats, a UNESCO World Heritage site, boast dense tropical forests, abundant rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri, and a remarkable array of endemic flora and fauna, including elephants, tigers, and a high percentage of endemic amphibians and reptiles. This diverse region, spanning states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, and parts of Kerala, presents a wide spectrum of natural habitats, from dry deciduous forests and grasslands to the coastal ecosystems with mangroves and coral reefs.