Khur Research Articles

Multiproxy analysis on Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) dung from Little Rann of Western India and its implications for the palaeoecology and archaeology of arid regions

The dung of the Indian wild ass was analyzed using biotic and abiotic proxies to determine its dietary habits in relation to the plant diversity and ecology in the arid region of western India. The presence of both micro and macrobotanical remains of Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae, and Fabaceae indicates they are the primary food plants of the wild ass. The continuous recovery of arboreal pollen taxa chiefly, Prosopis, Acacia, and Ephedra is indicative of dry thorny forest under semi-arid to arid conditions which display the existing vegetation and climate in the region. The recovery of marshy pollen taxa like Cyperaceae and Onagraceae along with Arcella indicates utilization of water-logged environments in the habitat. Spores of coprophilous fungi, Sporormiella, Sordaria, and Podospora are also present in the dung samples. The low value of stellate trichomes in winter dung samples reflects the seasonal migration of wild ass. Average δ13C values ranging between −15.8‰ and–26.3‰ are indicative of a mixed diet of both C3 and C4 plants. The generated multiproxy data from dung samples can provide a reliable counterpart to modern data for the interpretation of the palaeoecology in relation to the palaeoherbivory and palaeodietary analysis in the region. This study also provides a basis to distinguish between wild and domesticated herbivores by analyzing coprolites and cultural sediments in archaeological sites.

Monitoring Spatial and Seasonal Abundance of Indian Wild Ass (<i>Equus hemionus khur</i>) in Little Rann of Kutch Landscape, Western India

<p class="Default">The present study was conducted in Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) landscape in the Gujarat state of western India. It is a vast saline mud-plain holding the last remaining source population of Indian wild ass (<em>Equus hemionus khur</em>) or Khur after its population from other parts of the world got locally extinct. Khur occupy fringes of the Sanctuary and bets (islands) having grassland and scrubland vegetation. Taking adequate and effective management decisions and monitoring would be difficult in absence of reliable information. Line transect sampling will ensure robust population estimate of Khur. By bridging this gap with adequate information, meaningful and effective management decisions can be taken. We have conducted line transect surveys using foot and vehicle transect following distance sampling in southern fringe as intensive study site. The density estimates (No./km<sup>2</sup> ± SE) in southern fringe of LRK during two surveys were 5.76 ± 0.91, 6.08 ± 1.39 in winter and 2.29 ± 0.55 in summer from foot transect and 5.2 ± 0.73, 6.72 ± 1.12 in winter and 4.29 ± 0.87 in summer from vehicle transect, respectively. The study will help managers to evaluate long term monitoring method and make adaptive management decisions.</p>

Low genetic diversity of the endangered Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur, as revealed by microsatellite analyses.

Low genetic diversity of the endangered Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur, as revealed by microsatellite analyses.

Mitochondrial DNA analyses revealed low genetic diversity in the endangered Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur

The Indian wild ass Equus hemionus khur, belonging to ass-like equid branch, inhabits the dry and arid desert of the Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat. The E. h. khur is the sole survivor of Asiatic wild ass species/subspecies in South Asia. To provide first ever insights into the genetic diversity, phylogeny, and demography of the endangered Indian wild ass, we sampled 52 free-ranging individuals from the Little Rann of Kutch by using a non-invasive methodology. The sequencing of 230 bp in cytochrome b (Cyt b) and displacement loop (D-loop) region revealed that current ∼4000 extant population of Indian wild ass harbours low genetic diversity. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that E. h. khur, E. h. onager, and E. h. kulan belong to a single strict monophyletic clade. Therefore, we suggest the delimitation of the five E. hemionus subspecies in vogue to a single species E. hemionus. The application of molecular clock confirmed that the Asiatic wild ass had undergone diversification 0.65 Million years ago. Demographic measurements assessed using a Bayesian skyline plot demonstrated decline in the maternal effective population size of the Indian wild ass during different periods; these periods coincided with the origin and rise of the Indus civilization in the northwest of the Indian subcontinent during the Neolithic. In conclusion, maintaining high genetic diversity in the existing isolated population of 4000 Indian wild asses inhabiting the wild ass sanctuary is important compared with subspecies preservation alone.

Massive Invasion of Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora) in Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary, India

Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in India represents ‘Indian wild ass’ (Equus hemionus khur), an endangered desert mammal of the world. The present study has found desert mammals are supporting rapid invasion of Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora). Multi-temporal satellite images of 1977–2011 have been used for spatial quantification of Mesquite. The annual expansion rate of Mesquite cover has been estimated between 1.66 and 6.87 during the studied phases indicates significant threat to indigenous biodiversity.

Network metrics reveal differences in social organization between two fission–fusion species, Grevy’s zebra and onager

For species in which group membership frequently changes, it has been a challenge to characterize variation in individual interactions and social structure. Quantifying this variation is necessary to test hypotheses about ecological determinants of social patterns and to make predictions about how group dynamics affect the development of cooperative relationships and transmission processes. Network models have recently become popular for analyzing individual contacts within a population context. We use network metrics to compare populations of Grevy's zebra (Equus grevyi) and onagers (Equus hemionus khur). These closely related equids, previously described as having the same social system, inhabit environments differing in the distribution of food, water, and predators. Grevy's zebra and onagers are one example of many sets of coarsely similar fission-fusion species and populations, observed elsewhere in other ungulates, primates, and cetaceans. Our analysis of the population association networks reveals contrasts consistent with their distinctive environments. Grevy's zebra individuals are more selective in their association choices. Grevy's zebra form stable cliques, while onager associations are more fluid. We find evidence that females associate assortatively by reproductive state in Grevy's zebra but not in onagers. The current approach demonstrates the utility of network metrics for identifying fine-grained variation among individuals and populations in association patterns. From our analysis, we can make testable predictions about behavioral mechanisms underlying social structure and its effects on transmission processes.

Assessment of the Traditional Production of the Hybrids of Indian Wild Asses (<i>Equus hemionus khur</i>) and Jennies (<i>Equus asinus</i>) in Kutch, Gujarat

Assessment of the Traditional Production of the Hybrids of Indian Wild Asses (<i>Equus hemionus khur</i>) and Jennies (<i>Equus asinus</i>) in Kutch, Gujarat

Status of Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur) in the Little Rann of Kutch

Introduction The Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat State in India is a unique saline desert and is synonymous with the Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur). The Wild Ass, a handsome beast called ghodkhad or ghorkhar is the main attraction of the area. To conserve this animal, an area of 4954 sq.km. in the Little Rann, its fringe areas and some Bets (upland or island) in the Great Rann of Kutch were declared as the Wild Ass Sanctuary in 1973. Kutch, Banaskantha, Mehsana, Surendranagar, and Rajkot districts and Gulf of Kutch constitute boundaries of the Sanctuary. Recognising its uniqueness and ecological significance, the area has been listed by the Government of India (GOI) as among the first 13 areas selected for conservation as Biosphere Reserve, which is pending with the state government for finalizing the declaration (Khacher, 1994).

Sardar Sarovar Project—a conservation threat to the Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur)

The 4900 sq. km2 Wild Ass Sanctuary (WAS) in western India harbours one of the surviving endangered subspecies of Asian wild ass Equus hemionus khur, and other flora and fauna unique to this area. The proposed irrigation component of the Sardar Sarovar Project (SSP) threatens the conservation value of the area, since it will cause loss of wildlife habitat, grazing land and will have long-term consequences due to waterlogging caused by excessive irrigation and soil salinization. Wildlife habitat constituting 30—51% of 1.3 million ha in eight administrative units (talukas) around WAS will be affected by changes in land use pattern. Appropriate changes in the canals around WAS are suggested to conserve the biological integrity of the area. Such changes will cause the decline of only 8.6% of the total SSP irrigated (command) area. Compensatory development programmes for 93 villages deprived of SSP benefits due to the changes are suggested.

Changes in wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) habitat conditions in Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat from a remote sensing perspective

Abstract The Rann of Kutch, Gujarat is the only habitat for one of the endangered sub-species of the Asiatic wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) and most of the population survives in the Wild Ass Sanctuary in Little Rann of Kutch. The area is a saline desert with extremely sparse cover of vegetation. In the past, the habitat supported a thriving population of wild asses. However, due to extensive changes in the land-use around the Rann of Kutch, there has been an increase in the conflict of interests between man and the wild ass. The present paper seeks to analyse the situation with respect to changes in land-use, vegetation cover and salt cultivation to plan proper habitat management inside the sanctuary to mitigate the problem of crop predation by the wild ass through the use of high resolution satellite data. The Survey of India (SOI) topographic maps of 1960 vintage were used to estimate the past habitat, land-use, vegetal cover and salt fields. The SOI topographic maps and false colour composites provide...

Ungulate conservation in India — problems and prospects

India has 31 species of ungulates. Of these, 25 species or races are on the completely protected schedule of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The most highly endangered are 4 species with only single populations: the Kashmir stag or hangul ( Cervus elaphus hanglu), the Manipur brow-antlered deer or sangai ( Cervus eldi eldi), the Central Indian race of the swamp deer or barasingha ( Cervus duvauceli branderi) and the Indian wild ass or khur ( Equus hemionus khur). These require urgent attention for conservation. For these ungulates, as for other wildlife species, India's huge, expanding human population is the crux of the conservation problem. The three principal manifestations are loss of land to human use or to degradation through over use, decreasing water availability owing to lack of planning coupled with lowering water tables, and increasing energy demand which strips away forest cover for firewood.

The Indian wild ass—wild and captive populations

The ghor-khar is a rare subspecies of onager, or Asiatic wild ass, and its habits are little known. The only known wild population inhabits the Little Rann of Kutch Desert in Gujarat State in western India and, after its numbers fell dramatically in the 1960s, it was declared a protected species. Conservation measures, including the establishment of a Wild Ass Sanctuary in 1973, have been so successful that the most recent census, in 1983, recorded nearly 2000 individuals, compared with 362 in 1967. The authors made four visits to Gujarat to study wild asses between 1984 and 1986.

BREEDING THE INDIAN WILD ASS Equus hemionus khur AT AHMEDABAD ZOO

International Zoo YearbookVolume 6, Issue 1 p. 197-198 BREEDING THE INDIAN WILD ASS Equus hemionus khur AT AHMEDABAD ZOO Reuben David, Reuben David Superintendent, Ahmedabad Zoo, IndiaSearch for more papers by this author Reuben David, Reuben David Superintendent, Ahmedabad Zoo, IndiaSearch for more papers by this author First published: January 1966 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1966.tb01752.xCitations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat No abstract is available for this article.Citing Literature Volume6, Issue1January 1966Pages 197-198 RelatedInformation

The Indian Wild Ass

Information on the present population and status of the Indian Wild Ass Equus hemionus khur Lesson, 1827, is scanty. For this reason I was prompted to undertake this brief fact-finding survey, especially as South African Horse Sickness had been reported in that part of India recently. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources sponsored my expedition, and the World Wildlife Fund very kindly paid my travelling expenses from the eastern part of India to the furthest western tip of the country.