The ‘Little’ Rann of Kutch is a 4950 sq. km. saline desert in the Kutch Peninsula of western India that is dominated by vast salt pans, shrubby islands, seasonal nullahs, marshes and rocky hillocks or Dungars of volcanic origin. This unique landscape was originally part of the Arabian Sea. As the land separated from the sea by geological forces, it became a vast, featureless plain encrusted with salt and inundated with water during the monsoon rains.
To conserve this species, the Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary (IWAS) was created in 1971, the sanctuary is also home to many species of migratory birds, such as the sarus crane, ducks, the Dalmatian pelican, and flamingos, as well as land birds like the sandgrouse, the francolin and the Indian bustard. It is also home to various mammals such as the Indian wolf, Desert fox and Nilgai. This is the great salt desert famed as the last home of the Asiatic wild ass (Khur) and the vast shimmering pink colonies of nesting flamingos. The drives across the Rann are a safari experience like no other. From some areas, all one can see is flat land and a flat horizon.
The ‘Little’ Rann hosts over 250 species of resident and migratory birds. The habitat diversity, location on a central migratory corridor and proximity to the waters of the Gulf of Kutch have all contributed to making the Rann a veritable bird paradise.
Mammals: The carnivores group mainly comprises the Asiatic lion, Indian leopard, Jungle cat, Striped hyena, Golden jackal, Bengal fox, Indian gray mongoose, Ruddy mongoose, and Honey badger. Asiatic wildcat and rusty-spotted cat occur, but are rarely seen.
The main herbivores of Gir are chital, nilgai, sambar, four-horned antelope, chinkara and wild boar. Blackbucks from the surrounding area are sometimes seen in the sanctuary.
Birds: The scavenger group of birds has six recorded species of vultures. Some of the typical species of Gir include crested serpent eagle, endangered Bonelli's eagle, changeable hawk-eagle, brown fish owl, Indian eagle-owl, rock bush-quail, Indian peafowl, brown-capped pygmy woodpecker, black-headed oriole, crested treeswift and Indian pitta.
Forest Type
Salt Marsh
Yearly and weekly off
Holi, Diwali
Area
4950 square kilometres of core area
