INDIAN WILD ASS/KHUR

  INDIAN WILD ASS/KHUR



Local name : Jungli gadheda, Ghudkhur. 

Physical measurements & life cycle : 

 Length : 210 cm

Weight : 200-250 kg

Height  : 110-120 cm 

 Maturity : 27-30 months

Gestation : 11 months   

Litter size :  1

 Life Span : 20 years

 Breeding : Monsoo

Description 

It is larger than the domestic donkey, but somewhat smaller than the horse. It has golden cream coloured round patches on its white coat. It also has dark brown mane that extends as black stripe along the back.

Food

Herbivorous. It feeds on grass, leaves, fruits, pods of Prosopis juliflora, saline vegetation as also agricultural crops.

Distribution

Little Rann of Kachchh and Khadir and Tragadi islands in Great Rann of Kachchh. Some individuals were also seen recently in Kala Dungar area during an ecological study in the Rann of Kachchh. Also reported from Nalsarovar area and the areas on the fringes of the Ranns.

Habitat

Wild ass lives in saline desert, dry grass land and open scrub forest.

Behaviour

 Wild asses mate and give birth to young ones in monsoon. The male young-one leaves the mother after two years. Usually lives in herds of various sizes.

 Signs of presence

 Sound, droppings and hoof marks in muddy wet area.



Indian wild ass is one of the fastest of Indian mammals that can gallop at the speed SA km/hr. When tired, the speed may drop to 45 km/hr. It is unknown how the Indian wild ass disappeared from its former haunts in parts of western India, Pakistan, etc. It is widely believed that the wild ass became a victim of a disease known as Surra, caused by Trypanosoma evansi and transmitted by flies, in 1958 and 1960. In 1961 many were thought to have fallen victim to South African horse sickness.







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