Population of wild asses, an ‘endangered species’, has been rising since 1976 in Gujarat: State govt

A release quoting Forest and Environment Minister Mulubhai Bera said that due to the state govt’s efforts, wild asses have been growing in number since 1976

Indian Wild Ass walking across the scrub desert of the Little Rann of Kutch. (Photo: Ikshan Ganpathi/Wikimedia Commons)

The population of wild asses in Gujarat has been estimated at 7,672, as per the 10th Wild Ass Population Estimation (WAPE) conducted by the Gujarat government earlier this year. This is a rise of 26.14% in its population. In the last WAPE, done in 2020, the population was estimated at 6,082.

Wild asses are animals protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act. As per a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2008, wild asses are found in very few numbers. They are listed as an “endangered species”. In the past, the wild ass could be found in North-West India, Pakistan, and even in Central Asia. However, now they are found only in the Little Rann of Kutch and Great Rann of Kutch.

The figures were declared by Forest and Environment Minister Mulubhai Bera in a press release Monday. Quoting Bera, the release stated that as India celebrates Wildlife Week between October 2-8, these figures are an achievement for the state in wildlife conservation.

Giving out further details of WAPE, 2024, Bera said that the most wild asses — 2,705 — were found in Surendranagar district. This number is followed by Kutch (1,993), Patan (1,615), Banaskantha (710), Morbi (642) and Ahmedabad (7).

Furthermore, the release stated that in forest and sanctuary areas, there are 2,569 female wild asses, 1,114 male wild asses, 584 baby wild asses, and 2,206 unclassified wild asses. Whereas, in revenue areas, there are 558 female wild asses, 190 male wild asses, 168 baby wild asses, and 283 unclassified wild asses.

Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel said that WAPE-2024 was conducted in a 15,510 square kilometre area using the Direct Count Method. Patel added that a special camp was organised for the enumerators. Apart from training on conventional methods of enumeration, the enumerators were reportedly provided with modern technology like drone cameras, camera traps, and forest modules.

The state government said that following their efforts, the population of wild asses has been witnessing an upward trend since 1976, when there were 720 of them in the state.

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The release added that the enumerations of other wild animals like Asian antelope, Indian gazelle, blackbuck, wild boar, Indian jackal, and Indian desert fox were also done.

“The survey recorded the highest populations of 2,734 Asian antelope, 915 wild boars, 222 Indian hares, 214 Indian gazelles, and 153 Indian jackals,” it stated.

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