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{{Short description|Indian wildlife sanctuary}}
{{Short description|Indian wildlife sanctuary}}
{{coord|23.152739|71.395678|display=title}}
{{Infobox protected area
{{Infobox protected area
| name = Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
| name = Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
| alt_name = Wild Ass Nature Education Camp
| alt_name = Wild Ass Nature Education Camp
| iucn_category =  
| iucn_category = IV
| photo = IndianWildAss.jpg
| image = IndianWildAss (cropped).jpg
| photo_alt =  
| image_alt =  
| photo_caption = [[Indian Wild Ass]] in the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, [[Little Rann of Kutch]]
| image_caption = [[Indian wild ass|Khur]] grazing at the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, [[Little Rann of Kutch]].
| photo_width =
| map = Gujarat#India
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| label_position =
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| location = [[Kutchh]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| location = [[Kutchh]], [[Gujarat]], [[India]]
| nearest_city = [[Ahmedabad]]
| nearest_city = [[Ahmedabad]]
| coords =  
| coordinates ={{coord|23.152739|71.395678}}
| coords_ref =  
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| region =  
| region =  
| area = 4954 km<sup>2</sup>
| area = 4954 km<sup>2</sup>
| designation =
| designation =  
| authorized =
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| created =
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| established = 1972
| established = 1972
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| world_heritage_site = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/ UNESCO Tentative List]
| world_heritage_site = [https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/ UNESCO Tentative List]
| website = [http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/80 GujaratTourism]
| website = [http://www.gujarattourism.com/destination/details/12/80 GujaratTourism]
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[[Image:Map GujDist Kuchchh.png|thumb|right|Map of [[Gujarat]] showing the Little Rann of Kutch and Greater [[Rann of Kutch]]]]
'''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&nbsp;km².<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx|title=Wildlife Sanctuaries|website=wiienvis.nic.in}}</ref>


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.
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&nbsp;km².<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx|title=Wildlife Sanctuaries|website=wiienvis.nic.in|access-date=2017-04-24|archive-date=2017-02-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223175631/http://wiienvis.nic.in/Database/wls_8230.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Image:Map GujDist Kuchchh.png|thumb|right|Map of [[Gujarat]] showing the Little Rann of Kutch and [[Greater Rann of Kutch]]]]
 
The Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary was established under the [[Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972|Wildlife Protection Act]] of 1972 as one of the last bastions for the endangered [[Indian Wild Ass|Indian wild ass]] (''Equus hemionus khur'')—called ''khur'' or ''godhkhur'' in the [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] language—, a southern [[subspecies]] of ''E. hemionus'', the [[Onager|Asiatic wild ass]] (or ''onager'').


==Geography==
==Geography==
The [[Rann of Kutch]] is a sealine desert. During [[monsoon]], the Rann ([[Gujarati language|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.<ref>
The [[Rann of Kutch]] is a sealine desert. During [[monsoon]], the Rann ([[Gujarati language|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.<ref>{{cite news
{{
|work=The Hindu
cite news
|title=Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
|publisher = The Hindu
|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/27/stories/2006022700320300.htm
|title = Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
|accessdate=2006-09-13
|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/27/stories/2006022700320300.htm
|accessdate=2006-09-13
|location=Chennai, India
|location=Chennai, India
|date=27 February 2006
|date=27 February 2006
|archive-date=2007-01-22
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070122141623/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/27/stories/2006022700320300.htm
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>
}}</ref>


==Species found==
==Species found==
The sanctuary is habitat to many species of animals and birds. According to the data submitted to the [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Centre<ref>
The sanctuary is also a habitat for many other endemic species of animals and migratory birds. According to data submitted to the [[UNESCO]] World Heritage Centre,<ref>{{cite web
{{
cite web
  |publisher = UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  |publisher = UNESCO World Heritage Centre
  |title = Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch
  |title = Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch
  |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/
  |url = https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/
  |accessdate=2006-09-13
  |accessdate = 2006-09-13
}}</ref> the sanctuary has
|archive-date = 2022-05-16
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220516234433/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/
|url-status = live
}}</ref> the sanctuary's rich biodiversity includes
 
* nine [[mammal]]ian [[Order (taxonomy)|orders]], representing over 30 species and subspecies;
 
* at least 70,000 individual bird nests and pairs;


* About 93 species of [[invertebrate]]s - 25 species of [[zooplankton]]s, 1 species of [[annelid]], 4 [[crustacean]]s, 24 [[insect]]s, 12 [[mollusc]]s and 27 [[spider]]s.
* at least 30 species of [[reptile]], with two [[turtle]]s, 14 [[lizard]]s and 12 [[snake]] species, as well as the [[mugger crocodile]];
* 4 species of [[amphibian]]s
 
* 29 species of [[reptile]]s - 2 species of [[turtle]]s, 14 species of [[lizard]]s, 12 [[snake]]s and 1 [[crocodile]]
* four species of [[amphibian]];
* [[Metapenaeus]] kutchensis - a type of [[prawn]]
 
* 70,000-75,000 bird nests
* and about 90 species of [[invertebrate]]s—25 species of [[zooplankton]], one  [[annelid]], four [[crustacean]]s (including ''[[Metapenaeus]] kutchensis'', a type of [[prawn]]), 24 [[insect]]s, 12 [[mollusc]]s and 27 [[arachnids]].
* 9 [[mammal]]ian orders with 33 species/subspecies - including the world’s last population of the Khur sub-species of the wild ass
 
[[File:Pied bush chat in LRK.jpg|thumb|Pied bush chat in LRK]]
[[File:Variable Wheatear, Little Rann of Kutch, India.jpg|thumb|[[Pied bush chat]] at LRK]]


==Threats==
==Threats==


The main threat faced by the sanctuary is the illegal [[salt panning]]<ref>[http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20091116-180178.html The salt-panners of the little Rann]; kuensel online; Nov 16, 2009; asiaone news; Singapore Press Holdings</ref> activity in the area. 25% of India's salt supply comes from panning activity in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/takeaction/detailcampaign.php?cid=54|title=Rann of Kutchh Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutchh|accessdate=2006-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017155315/http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/takeaction/detailcampaign.php?cid=54|archive-date=2006-10-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>
The main threat faced by the sanctuary is the illegal [[salt panning]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091124183835/http://news.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Asia/Story/A1Story20091116-180178.html The salt-panners of the little Rann]; kuensel online; Nov 16, 2009; asiaone news; Singapore Press Holdings</ref> activity in the area. 25% of India's salt supply comes from panning activity in the area.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/takeaction/detailcampaign.php?cid=54|title=Rann of Kutchh Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutchh|accessdate=2006-09-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061017155315/http://www.sanctuaryasia.com/takeaction/detailcampaign.php?cid=54|archive-date=2006-10-17|url-status=dead}}</ref>


==Biosphere Reserve - World Heritage Site==
==Biosphere Reserve — World Heritage Site==
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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/|title=Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Earth/Flora--Fauna/Kutch-gets-biosphere-reserve-status/articleshow/3261967.cms|title=Kutch gets biosphere reserve status|first=Himanshu|last=Kaushik|date=July 22, 2008|via=The Economic Times}}</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kutchs-wild-ass-habitat-may-soon-get-herita/206928/ Kutch’s wild ass habitat may soon get heritage label] (2 Page article online); by DP Bhattacharya; Jul 26, 2007; Indian Express Newspaper</ref>
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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/|title=Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch|first=UNESCO World Heritage|last=Centre|website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre|access-date=2019-12-26|archive-date=2022-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220516234433/http://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/2105/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Earth/Flora--Fauna/Kutch-gets-biosphere-reserve-status/articleshow/3261967.cms|title=Kutch gets biosphere reserve status|first=Himanshu|last=Kaushik|date=July 22, 2008|newspaper=The Economic Times|access-date=April 27, 2019|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430163437/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Earth/Flora--Fauna/Kutch-gets-biosphere-reserve-status/articleshow/3261967.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.indianexpress.com/news/kutchs-wild-ass-habitat-may-soon-get-herita/206928/ Kutch’s wild ass habitat may soon get heritage label] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230305083606/https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/kutchs-wild-ass-habitat-may-soon-get-heritage-label/ |date=2023-03-05 }} (2 Page article online); by DP Bhattacharya; Jul 26, 2007; Indian Express Newspaper</ref>


==Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves of Kutch==
==Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves of Kutch==
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==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery widths=240px heights=200px>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="134">
Image:Wild ass group female.jpg|A group of female asses breaking into a run
Image:Wild ass group female.jpg|A group of female khur breaking into a run.
Image:Wild ass male.JPG|Alpha Male of a group.
Image:Wild ass male.JPG|Alpha male of a herd.
File:Nilgai_group_at_Little_Rann_of_kutch.JPG|Nilgai group at Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch
File:Nilgai_group_at_Little_Rann_of_kutch.JPG|[[Nilgai]] herd at Wild Ass Sanctuary, LRK.
File:Little rann of kutch landscape.JPG|Landscape of Wild Ass Sanctuary Little Rann of Kutch
File:Little rann of kutch landscape.JPG|Landscape of Wild Ass Sanctuary.
Image:Wild ass india.jpg|Indian Wild Ass
Image:Wild ass india.jpg|Indian Wild Ass
</gallery>
</gallery>


==See also==
==See also==
 
{{Portal|India}}
*[[List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat, India]]
*[[List of national parks and wildlife sanctuaries of Gujarat, India]]


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*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120106184148/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/04/stories/2006030400320200.htm Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary]; SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT; Mar 04, 2006; The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper. Also posted at [https://web.archive.org/web/20070122141623/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/27/stories/2006022700320300.htm Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120106184148/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/03/04/stories/2006030400320200.htm Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary]; SANCTUARY SPOTLIGHT; Mar 04, 2006; The Hindu, Online edition of India's National Newspaper. Also posted at [https://web.archive.org/web/20070122141623/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2006/02/27/stories/2006022700320300.htm Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary]
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/599049.cms Wild ass population shows upward trend]; TNN; 3 April 2004; Times of India
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/599049.cms Wild ass population shows upward trend]; TNN; 3 April 2004; Times of India
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130509024619/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=67090 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 [http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/34794/ ]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130509024619/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=67090 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 [http://www.indianexpress.com/oldStory/34794/]
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/328732.cms Officials gear up for wild ass census]; by TNN;  28 November 2003; Times of India
*[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/328732.cms Officials gear up for wild ass census]; by TNN;  28 November 2003; Times of India
*[http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990308/ige08141.html Wild ass being robbed of its run of the Little Rann]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}; by ANAND SUNDAS; March 8, 1999; Indian Express Newspaper
*[http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/ie/daily/19990308/ige08141.html Wild ass being robbed of its run of the Little Rann]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}; by ANAND SUNDAS; March 8, 1999; Indian Express Newspaper


==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Animals of the Rann of Kutch}}
{{commons category|Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091227113948/http://gujenvfor.gswan.gov.in/wildlife/national-park/wildlife-wild-ass-sanctuary.htm Wild ASS Sanctuary] & [https://archive.today/20121218175034/http://gujaratforest.gov.in/wildlife/wild_ass1.htm Wild Life - National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries - Wild ASS Sanctuary]; Official website: Forests & Environment Department; State Government of Gujarat, India
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20091227113948/http://gujenvfor.gswan.gov.in/wildlife/national-park/wildlife-wild-ass-sanctuary.htm Wild ASS Sanctuary] & [https://archive.today/20121218175034/http://gujaratforest.gov.in/wildlife/wild_ass1.htm Wild Life - National Parks & Wildlife Sanctuaries - Wild ASS Sanctuary]; Official website: Forests & Environment Department; State Government of Gujarat, India


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[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Wildlife sanctuaries in Gujarat]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1972]]
[[Category:Protected areas established in 1972]]
[[Category:Onager]]
[[Category:World Heritage Tentative List for India]]

Latest revision as of 15:12, 22 February 2026


Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary
Wild Ass Nature Education Camp
IUCN category IV (habitat/species management area)
Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 501: Unable to find the specified location map definition: "Module:Location map/data/Gujarat" does not exist.
LocationKutchh, Gujarat, India
Nearest cityAhmedabad
Coordinates23°09′10″N 71°23′44″E / 23.152739°N 71.395678°E / 23.152739; 71.395678
Area4954 km2
Established1972
World Heritage siteUNESCO Tentative List
WebsiteGujaratTourism

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.[1]

Map of Gujarat showing the Little Rann of Kutch and Greater Rann of Kutch

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[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

The sanctuary is also a habitat for many other endemic species of animals and migratory birds. According to data submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre,[3] the sanctuary's rich biodiversity includes

  • at least 70,000 individual bird nests and pairs;
Pied bush chat at LRK

Threats[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

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.[6][7][8]

Wildlife Sanctuaries and Reserves of Kutch[edit | edit source]

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 | edit source]

  • A group of female khur breaking into a run.
    A group of female khur breaking into a run.
  • Alpha male of a herd.
    Alpha male of a herd.
  • Nilgai herd at Wild Ass Sanctuary, LRK.
    Nilgai herd at Wild Ass Sanctuary, LRK.
  • Landscape of Wild Ass Sanctuary.
    Landscape of Wild Ass Sanctuary.
  • Indian Wild Ass
    Indian Wild Ass

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "Wildlife Sanctuaries". wiienvis.nic.in. Archived from the original on 2017-02-23. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
  2. ↑ "Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 27 February 2006. Archived from the original on 2007-01-22. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  3. ↑ "Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  4. ↑ The salt-panners of the little Rann; kuensel online; Nov 16, 2009; asiaone news; Singapore Press Holdings
  5. ↑ "Rann of Kutchh Wild Ass Sanctuary, Kutchh". Archived from the original on 2006-10-17. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
  6. ↑ Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Wild Ass Sanctuary, Little Rann of Kutch". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Archived from the original on 2022-05-16. Retrieved 2019-12-26.
  7. ↑ Kaushik, Himanshu (July 22, 2008). "Kutch gets biosphere reserve status". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on April 30, 2019. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
  8. ↑ Kutch’s wild ass habitat may soon get heritage label Archived 2023-03-05 at the Wayback Machine (2 Page article online); by DP Bhattacharya; Jul 26, 2007; Indian Express Newspaper

Further reading[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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