My family just recently visited the city of Ahmedabad, located in western India in the state of Gujarat. Ahmedabad is the seventh largest urban center in India with a population of just over 5 million people, and is the largest inland industrial center in western India.

Ahmedabad, India

While exploring the city my family was pleasantly surprised to discover an exciting array of urban wildlife there. They observed and photographed everything from Black-faced Monkeys to Eurasian Collared-Doves (a bird that originated in the Indian subcontinent, and has increased its range to include Europe and northern Asia, and even more recently, the southern United States. We had recorded a number of photographs of these birds here in Carrollton just before my family made the trip to India).

After returning to Texas my 7 year old daughter wrote an article about the animals she had seen. Her field report with pictures follows:

I visited Ahmedabad, India and saw lots of animals in the city. They were wild animals walking around.

One of the animals I saw was a Eurasian Collared-Dove. It was right outside of my bedroom. I think that is cool because we have them here in America too.

Eurasian Collared-Dove in Ahmedabad, India

I saw monkeys also. They were on top of houses. They would jump from house to house. If I offered the monkeys something to eat they would be where the food was in a second.

Black-faced Monkeys in Ahmedabad, India

I also saw squirrels. They looked like baby chipmunks. They were everywhere in the trees.

Squirrel in Ahmedabad, India

I saw cows and longhorns too. They would walk up and down the streets looking for food. When they did find food, it was garbage.

Cow in Ahmedabad, India

I also saw dogs and cats. They were always around the neighborhood. There was a cat next door named Prince who drank milk the neighbors put out for him.

Puppies in Ahmedabad, India

I saw bats too. They would get up and fly at dusk. I liked seeing the bats because I have never seen one before.