Indian wild ass: Difference between revisions
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The '''Indian wild ass''' (''Equus hemionus khur'') also called '''khur''', is a subspecies of wild asses native to southern Asia. |
The '''Indian wild ass''' (''Equus hemionus khur'') also called '''khur''', is a subspecies of wild asses native to southern Asia. |
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==Range/Habitat== |
==Range/Habitat== |
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The Indian wild ass's range once extended from western India, through Sind and Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran. Today, its last refuge lies in the little Rann of[[ |
The Indian wild ass's range once extended from western India, through Sind and Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran. Today, its last refuge lies in the little Rann of[[Kutch]] and its surrounding areas of the Greater Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat province. The animal, however, is also seen in the districts of Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Mehsana, and other Kutch districts. Saline desert, grassland in arid zone and shrubland are its preferred homeland. |
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==Biology/Behavior== |
==Biology/Behavior== |
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Revision as of 17:07, 21 August 2007
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The Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) also called khur, is a subspecies of wild asses native to southern Asia.
Description
The Indian wild ass, as with most other Asian wild ass species, is quite different from the African species. The coat is usually sandy, but varies from reddish grey, fawn, to pale chestnut. The animal possesses an erect, dark mane which runs from the back of the head and along the neck. The mane is then followed by a dark brown stripe running along the back, to the root of the tail.
Range/Habitat
The Indian wild ass's range once extended from western India, through Sind and Baluchistan, Afghanistan, and south-eastern Iran. Today, its last refuge lies in the little Rann ofKutch and its surrounding areas of the Greater Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat province. The animal, however, is also seen in the districts of Surendranagar, Banaskantha, Mehsana, and other Kutch districts. Saline desert, grassland in arid zone and shrubland are its preferred homeland.
Biology/Behavior
Wild ass graze between dawn and dusk. The animal feeds on grass, leaves and fruits of plant, crop, Prosopis pods, and saline vegetation. It is one of the fastest of Indian animals. With speeds clocked at about 50 km. per hour. Stallions live either solitarily, or in small groups of twos and threes while family herds remain large. Mating season is in rainy season. When a mare comes into heat, she separates from the herd with a stallion who battles against rivals for her possession. After few days, the pair returns to the herd. She gives birth to one foal. The male foal weans away by 1-2 years of age, while the female continues to stay.
Threats/Conservation
It is unknown how the Indian wild ass disappeared from its former haunts in parts of western India, Pakistan, etc. The animal, however, was never a target for maharajas and British officials. However, the wild ass became a victim of a disease known as surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi and transmitted by flies, in 1958 and 1960. This caused a dramatic decline of the wild ass population in India. In November and December of 1961, some wild asses perished to 870 individuals due to the outbreak of South African Horse Sickness. The animal's other threats, as well as disease, included habitat degradation due to salt activities, invasion Prosopis juliflora, encroachment, and grazing by the Maldhari people. However, serious conservation efforts have helped boost the animal's population from 1969 to 2000.