Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
23°09′10″N 71°23′44″E / 23.152739°N 71.395678°E
| Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary | |
|---|---|
| Wild Ass Nature Education Camp | |
Indian Wild Ass in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch | |
| Location | Kutchh, Gujarat, India |
| Nearest city | Ahmedabad |
| Area | 4954 km2 |
| Established | 1972 |
| World Heritage site | UNESCO Tentative List |
| Website | GujaratTourism |
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary also known as the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat state of India. It is spread over an area of 4954 km².[1]
The wildlife sanctuary was established in 1972 and came under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The sanctuary is one of the last places on earth where the endangered wild ass sub-species Indian Wild Ass (Khur) (Equus hemionus khur) belonging to Asiatic Wild Ass species Onager (Equus hemionus) can be spotted.
Geography edit
The Rann of Kutch is a sealine desert. During monsoon, the Rann (Gujarati for desert) gets 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 feed the population of around 2100 animals.[2]
Species found edit
The sanctuary is habitat to many species of animals and birds. According to the data submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre[3] the sanctuary has
- About 93 species of invertebrates - 25 species of zooplanktons, 1 species of annelid, 4 crustaceans, 24 insects, 12 molluscs and 27 spiders.
- 4 species of amphibians
- 29 species of reptiles - 2 species of turtles, 14 species of lizards, 12 snakes and 1 crocodile
- Metapenaeus kutchensis - a type of prawn
- 70,000-75,000 bird nests
- 9 mammalian orders with 33 species/subspecies - including the world’s last population of the Khur sub-species of the wild ass
Threats edit
The main threat faced by the sanctuary is the illegal salt panning[4] activity in the area. 25% of India's salt supply comes from panning activity in the area.[5]
Biosphere Reserve — World Heritage Site edit
It is nominated by the Forest department to be a biosphere reserve which are areas of terrestrial and coastal ecosystems internationally recognized within the framework of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere (MAB) programme. It will focus on conserving biological diversity, research, monitoring and providing sustainable development models, the proposal has been sent to and listed at UNESCO.[6][7][8]
Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves of Kutch edit
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 edit
- A group of female asses breaking into a run
- Alpha Male of a group.
- Nilgai group at Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch
- Landscape of Wild Ass Sanctuary Little Rann of Kutch
- Indian Wild Ass
See also edit
References edit
- ^ "Wildlife Sanctuaries". wiienvis.nic.in. from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
- ^ . Chennai, India: The Hindu. 27 February 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
- ^ "Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
- ^ ; kuensel online; Nov 16, 2009; asiaone news; Singapore Press Holdings
- ^ . Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
- ^ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
- ^ Kaushik, Himanshu (July 22, 2008). "Kutch gets biosphere reserve status". from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019 – via The Economic Times.
- ^ Kutch’s wild ass habitat may soon get heritage label 2023-03-05 at the Wayback Machine (2 Page article online); by DP Bhattacharya; Jul 26, 2007; Indian Express Newspaper
Further reading edit
- 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
- ; SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT; Mar 04, 2006; The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper. Also posted at
- Wild ass population shows upward trend; TNN; 3 April 2004; Times of India
- ; by Rupam Jain; November 3, 2003; Indian Express Newspaper. Also see [1]
- 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[permanent dead link]; by ANAND SUNDAS; March 8, 1999; Indian Express Newspaper
External links edit
- & Wild Life - National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries - Wild ASS Sanctuary; Official website: Forests & Environment Department; State Government of Gujarat, India