The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, or Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in the state of Gujarat, India, spread over an area of 4954 km².
The Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary was established under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 as one of the last bastions for the endangered Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur)—called khur or godhkhur in the Gujarati language—, a southern subspecies of E. hemionus, the Asiatic wild ass (or onager).
Geography The Rann of Kutch is a saline desert. During the monsoon, the Rann (Gujarati for desert) becomes flooded for a period of about one month and is dotted with about 74 elevated plateaus or islands, locally called 'bets'. These bets are covered with grass and support a population of around 2,100 animals.
Species found The sanctuary is also home to many endemic animal species and migratory birds. According to data submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, the sanctuary's rich biodiversity includes
nine mammalian orders, representing over 30 species and subspecies;
at least 70,000 individual bird nests and pairs;
at least 30 species of reptile, with two turtles, 14 lizards and 12 snake species, as well as the mugger crocodile;
four species of amphibian;
and about 90 species of invertebrates—25 species of zooplankton, one annelid, four crustaceans (including Metapenaeus kutchensis, a type of prawn), 24 insects, 12 molluscs and 27 arachnids.
Threats The main threat faced by the sanctuary is the illegal salt panningThe salt-panners of the little Rann; kuensel online; Nov 16, 2009; asiaone news; Singapore Press Holdings activity in the area. 25% of India's salt supply comes from panning activity in the area.
Biosphere Reserve — World Heritage Site The reserve was nominated by the Forest Department to be a biosphere reserve, which are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems internationally recognised within the framework of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. The aim of the programme is to focus on conserving biological diversity, and the research, monitoring and providing of sustainable development models. The proposal was sent to and listed at UNESCO.Kutch’s wild ass habitat may soon get heritage label (2 Page article online); by DP Bhattacharya; Jul 26, 2007; Indian Express Newspaper
Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves of Kutch From the city of Bhuj various ecologically rich and wildlife conservation areas of the Kutch / Kachchh district can be visited such as Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutch Desert Wildlife Sanctuary, Narayan Sarovar Sanctuary, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Banni Grasslands Reserve and Chari-Dhand Wetland Conservation Reserve etc..
Gallery
See also
List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat, India
References
Further reading Wild asses population rises by 4%; TNN; 11 April 2009; Times of India Wild Ass vulnerable to flu; by TNN; 9 April 2009; Times of India Wild ass census to kick off from April 5; TNN; 31 March 2009; Times of India Bleak future for traditional salt; by Anosh Malekar; February 21, 2009; Courtesy : Infochange News & Features; ComodittyOnline Wild ass robs agarias' livelihood; February 15, 2007; Rediff India Abroad Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary; Sanctuary Spotlight; Mar 04, 2006; The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper. Also posted at Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary Wild ass population shows upward trend; TNN; 3 April 2004; Times of India Japanese duo does donkey work in Rann - ‘‘The female donkeys are left by the maldhari’s on the island of Plaswa village in the Rann of Kutch for about three months during the monsoon. Here, the Wild Ass, a protected species, breed with the female donkeys leading to the birth of hybrid donkeys which are taller than their mothers and wilder than their fathers,’’ says Dr R Kimura who has been a visiting researcher at the Equine Museum of Japan for the past two decades.; by Rupam Jain; November 3, 2003; Indian Express Newspaper. Also see Officials gear up for wild ass census; by TNN; 28 November 2003; Times of India Wild ass being robbed of its run of the Little Rann; by Anand Sundas; March 8, 1999; Indian Express Newspaper
External links
Wild ASS Sanctuary & ; Official website: Forests & Environment Department; State Government of Gujarat, India