The Little Rann of Kutch lies at the end of the Gulf of Kutch and covers an area of 5,000 sq.km, chiefly in the Surendranagar district of Gujarat.
- During Monsoon, Rann turns into a shallow wetland. About 75 elevated pieces of land turn into islands, called bets by the local Agariya and Maldhari communities.
- The salt marsh attracts human enterprise — 30% of India’s salt comes from the Little Rann.
- The Little Rann of Kutch is home to the wild ass sanctuary, which is the only remaining habitat of the Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur), locally called khur.
- About 6,000 of these sandy and brown creatures live in this area. Khur, like donkeys and other members of the Asinus subgenus, possesses a remarkable ability to locate sustenance in desolate environments.
- Their digestive systems are adept at processing even the most arid vegetation.
- The khur is almost the size of a zebra, and lives for 21 years. Stable groups of khur consist of females and their young. Stallions tend to be loners, especially in the breeding season.
