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Wild Haven L ITTLE Rann of Kutch, situated in the Thar Desert of Gujarat, was established in January 1972 as a sanctuary for the last population of Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), locally known as khur. The only other two subspecies of wild asses live in the high arid plateaus of Tibet. Around 150 kilometers off Ahmedabad, the wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary covers an area of roughly 5,000 square kilometers. The climate of the region is extreme with May being the hottest month. The average temperature during this time is around 31°C. January is the coldest month with an average temperature of 11°C. During the monsoon, the whole region becomes flooded with rainwater. SCIENCE REPORTER, JANUARY 2013 The vegetation in the Rann of Kutch consists of dry thorny scrubs. There are no large trees, and the main vegetation in the region includes many species of grasses that are widely available as the source of food for the wild asses. One of the three surviving species of the Wild Ass in the world, the khur is high on the list of endangered species. Only 1,800 to 2,000 of the species survive today. They are slightly bigger than a donkey, and are fast and strong like a horse. Few animals in the animal kingdom can match the wild ass in terms of speed and stamina. They are capable of marathon runs at a pace of about 24 kilometers per hour for as long as two hours, reaching a top speed of 70 kilometers per hour over short distances. The khur inhabits hills during the monsoon, and in the dry season descends and forages along the edge of the Little Rann, where it frequently raids cultivated fields during darkness. Apart from the wild ass, the region is inhabited by other wild animals 54 Wild Ass are slightly bigger than a donkey, and are fast and strong like a horse. Bird life found in the Wild Ass Sanctuary Wild Haven also such as the chinkara, desert fox, jackal, desert cat, caracal, nilgai, wolf, blackbuck, and striped hyena. Besides, the sanctuary is home to nearly 350 different species of birds, including the common crane, pelican and the lesser flamingo. Because of its proximity to the Gulf of Kutch and situated on the migratory route of many birds it becomes an important place for birds to feed and nest. Other birds that are more commonly sighted are the blue-tailed bee-eater that comes all the way from Europe; the common crane and the demoiselle crane from Siberia; the ceraneous vulture from Egypt and the houbara bustard from Iran and Iraq. One can also get a rare insight into the lifestyles of the numerous ethnic groups and local tribes, which live in The Khur was given full legal protection in 1952. The other threats to this last refuge of the Indian Wild Ass are from vehicular traffic that damages the fragile ecosystem. 55 and around the Rann. The tribes living in the region are the Kolis, Rabaris, Bajanias, Kutchis, Gujjars and the Bharvads. The main threats to the Khur are overgrazing by livestock; persecution by farmers in retaliation for crop raiding; and contraction of diseases from domestic horses. From 19581960, the wild ass became a victim of a disease known as surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi and transmitted by flies, which caused a dramatic decline of its population in India. In November and December 1961, the wild ass population was reduced to just 870 after to the outbreak of South African Horse Sickness. The Khur was given full legal protection in 1952. The other threats to this last refuge of the Indian Wild Ass are from vehicular traffic that damages the fragile ecosystem, cutting trees to make charcoal, and extensive illegal salt mining operations that are eating into the sanctuary and causing pollution. SCIENCE REPORTER, JANUARY 2013