Wild Ass Sanctuary : Wildlife

Gujarat is as famous for its large herds of wild asses as it is for its lions. To protect this rare animal, a Sanctuary covering an area of over 4953 sq.kms. was created to offer protection to more than 2100 wild asses inhabiting this area.

In India the horse tribe is represented by the Indian wild ass. In the Little Rann of Kutch, the asses are attracted by the flat grass covered expanses known as bets or islands where coarse grasses spring up in monsoon. With the advent of summer, the asses move to other bets in which there is perennial supply of water and grass.

As for speed and stamina, there is no one in the animal kingdom to match the wild ass as they are capable of marathon runs at a pace of about 24 km/h for a long as two hours, reaching a top speed of 70 km/h over short distances. The wild ass is a strong animal and a stallion will fight viciously for the possession of the mare in the mating season. The combatants rear up on their hindlegs, and kick and bite viciously. After mating one fowl is born between July and September.

Besides the wild ass, the Sanctuary has a large population of blue bulls, black bucks, chinkaras, wolves and jackals. Watch towers, a tourist complex and other tourist related facilities are in place to enhance wildlife viewing in this unique habitat.

Contact : Deputy Conservator of Forests, Wild Ass Sanctuary, Dhrangadhra. Phone : 02754-23016.

Gujarat National Park » Gir National Park | Marine National Park | Blackbuck National Park | Vansda National Park

Gujarat Sancturies » Wild Ass Sanctuary | Nalsarovar Bird Sanctuary | Narayan Sarovar Chinkara Sanctuary | Shoolpaneshwar WildlifeSanctuary | Thol Wildlife Sanctuary | Jessore Sloth Bear Sanctuary

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