Surviving in India’s Salt Desert: The Resilience of the Indian Wild Ass in the Rann of Kutch
- September 29, 2024
- Posted by: OptimizeIAS Team
- Category: DPN Topics
Surviving in India’s Salt Desert: The Resilience of the Indian Wild Ass in the Rann of Kutch
Sub: Geo
Sec: Mapping
Why in News
The Rann of Kutch, particularly the Little Rann of Kutch, remains a significant ecological region as it supports the last population of the Indian wild ass, also known as khur. Conservation efforts have helped the species rebound from near-extinction, though conflicts with human activities, such as salt farming and agriculture, threaten the delicate ecosystem.
Geological Evolution of the Rann of Kutch
The Rann of Kutch is a salt desert that evolved between 150-200 million years ago when the Arabian Sea extended into the region. Geological upheavals raised a landmass that separated the Kutch basin from the sea. The Little Rann of Kutch is situated at the end of the Gulf of Kutch, covering approximately 5,000 square kilometers, primarily in Gujarat’s Surendranagar district.
About Rann of Kutch
It is a large area of salt marshes that span the border between India and Pakistan.
It is located mostly in the Kutch district of Gujarat, with a minor portion extending into the Sindh province of Pakistan.
It is divided into the Great Rann and Little Rann. It extends east and west, with the Thar Desert to the north and the low hills of Kutch to the south.
The Indus River Delta lies to the west in southern Pakistan.
The Little Rann of Kutch lies southeast of the Great Rann, and extends southwards to the Gulf of Kutch.
The climate of the ecoregion is: Temperatures average 44 °C during the hot summer months, and can reach highs of 50 °C. During the winter the temperature can drop to or below freezing.
The Rann of Kutch is the only large flooded grasslands zone in the Indomalayan realm. The Indomalayan realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms.
The area has desert on one side and the sea on the other enables various ecosystems, including mangroves and desert vegetation.
The Little Rann of Kutch is home to the Indian wild ass (khur). To conserve this species, the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary (IWAS) was created in 1973.
In 2008, to project Kutch as an international nature destination, the Government of Gujarat designated the area as the Kutch Biosphere Reserve.
The Little Rann contributes to 30% of India’s salt production, and the salt industry attracts an annual influx of about 5,000 families during the salt farming season.
About Indian Wild Ass: The Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), also called the Indian onager or, in the local Gujarati language, Ghudkhur and Khur, is a subspecies of the onager native to South Asia.
It is currently listed as Near Threatened by IUCN.
The khur is a hardy animal adapted to harsh, arid environments. It survives on xerophytic vegetation and has an efficient digestive system that processes the region’s dry flora.
These animals can run at speeds of up to 70 km per hour on the flat terrain.
Khur closely resemble zebras in size and live up to 21 years. Female khurs (mares) live in stable groups, while males (stallions) are often solitary, especially during the breeding season.
The gestation period is long, lasting 11 to 12 months, and mares often experience concurrent pregnancy and lactation.
Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary: Located in the Little Rann of Kutch in the Gujarat state of India. It is spread over an area of 4954 km².
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.
Agariyas: Agariyas have traditionally been making salt from underground brine in the Little Rann of Kutch.
The 60,000-odd Agariyas at the Little Rann produce 30 percent of India’s inland salt. The forest department is issuing ‘Agar’ cards to some Agariyas for extraction of salt. The card is only valid for a year and lists 23 conditions. Use of heavy machinery is not allowed.
In 1973, the area was designated as a Wild Ass Sanctuary and their (Agariyas) access to it was restricted by the forest department.
The latest acknowledgment gives the Agariyas official access to land and in turn, access to bank finance and markets. But legal recognition of their traditional rights, by rights settlement, is still awaited.
The wild ass population improved from a meager 362 in 1969 to 4451 in 2014 and 6082 in 2020, shows that salt production activities have no negative impact on wildlife.
The forest department stated that as per the Mines Act, 1952, salt production is not a mining activity.
About Maldharis: The Maldharis are a tribal herdsmen community in Gujarat, known for managing livestock.
The term Maldhari means “keeper of animal stock.” They have lived in the Gir National Park and Banni Grasslands for over a thousand years, co-existing with lions, which the park was established to protect.
The community breeds Banni Buffaloes, a species native to the region, well-adapted to Kutch’s hot climate.