Context:
Survival of Khur in India’s Salt Desert.
Rann of Kutch:
- Location – Lies at the end of the Gulf of Kutch in Gujarat.
- Span the border between India and Pakistan.
- Evolution – Formed 150-200 million years ago when the Arabian Sea waters made incursions into the region.
- Geological upheavals led to the rise of a landmass, cutting off the Kutch basin from the sea.
- Divided into the Little Rann and the Big Rann.
- Landscape – For most of the year, it is a vast, barren surface of dark silt encrusted with salts.
- Known for the ecologically important Banni grasslands.
- During the monsoon, it transforms into a shallow wetland.
- Acts as a large ecotone, a transitional area between marine and terrestrial ecosystems.
- Elevated pieces of land turning into islands is referred to as bets by the local Agariya and Maldhari communities.
- Little Rann of Kutch is home to the Indian wild ass (khur).
Indian Wild Ass (Khur):
- Range – Historically extended from Southern India to southern Pakistan, Afghanistan, and southeastern Iran.
- Currently found only in India.
- Features –
- Almost the size of a zebra, with a lifespan of 21 years.
- Capable of running up to 70 km per hour on the flat terrain of the Rann.
- Long gestation periods of 11 to 12 months
- Predominantly feeds on grasses.
- Threats –
- Diseases such as Viral African Horse sickness and Surra.
- Low genetic diversity due to a genetic bottleneck caused by disease outbreaks.
- Increased human presence for salt farming and agriculture.
- Conservation Status –
- IUCN – Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act 1972 – Schedule I
- Conservation Efforts – Wild Ass Sanctuary in the Little Rann of Kutch, the largest sanctuary in Gujarat.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Lions do not have a particular breeding season.
2. Unlike most other big cats, cheetahs do not roar.
3. Unlike male lions, male leopards do not proclaim their territory by scent marking.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2024 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Statement 3 is not correct: Leopards are territorial and mark their territory with faeces, urine and cheek-rubbing on trees. They can also leave scrape markings on the ground, trees or logs. This communicates to other leopards passing through that the territory they are in is occupied.
