A spectacular natural & seasonal lake is shallow and in most parts muddy
lagoon,seldom more than 2 mts. deep.The lake has as many as 360 islets most
of which exposed when the water level receeds.Nal is very rich in Avi fauna.In
fact its whole reputation is based on the varied bird life found here.Nal
supports more than250 species of birds,including many migratory species from
as far off as Central Asia,Europe and Siberia flock to Nal.
About the Sanctuary
The sand-dunes of the Thar or Great Indian Desert slowly flatten out into
a vast expanse of scrub-dotted, saline plain in the south. This is Gujarat's
Rann of Kutch. The larger Great Rann to the north, abutting the Pakistan border
and south Rajasthan, is renowned for its enormous breeding colony of flamingos.
The Little Pann is the last stronghold of the Indian Wild Ass, or Ghorkhar,
to which a 4953.71 sq km sanctuary has been dedicated. The Wild Ass Wildlife
Sanctuary is also home to various other mammals such as the Nilgai, an antelope-like
animal found only in India, the Wolf and the Indian Fox. A great assortment
of birds can be sighted in winter. Cranes and flamingos gather in thousands;
there are raptors in plenty and some rare MacQueen's Bustard.
It is said that Alexander the Great embarked on his journey home from a port
in the Rann region when it was still an inlet of the sea. Gradually, the Rann
was severed from the Gulf of Kutch. Dry and motorable between November and
June, large tracts are still inundated by at least 30 cm of sea-water during
the monsoon months. The Little Rann is only about 60 cm above sea-level, but
over 70 bets, or patches of high ground, rise to almost 3 m. Pung Bet, the
largest, spreads over 75 sq km. These less saline areas, with luxuriant grass
cover interspersed with thorny scrub, are the mainstay of the Rann flora and
fauna, and of the wild ass in particular.
Once found across the drier tracts of north-west India and Pakistan, today
the wild ass herds are confined to the Little Rann. E P Gee, the naturalist,
estimated a population of barely 870 animals in 1962. Wild asses can run for
long distances maintaining an average speed of about 50 km. Exploiting this
fact, several tour operators take visitors on a wild ass chase across the
desert, imperilling an already endangered animal. At dawn and dusk, the Little
Rann is clothed in wonderful hues and it is a joy to view wild ass silhouettes
against the setting sun. In the hot, dry months mirages are frequent, and
blurred outlines of animals on quivering water can be seen one moment, uncannily
disappearing the next.
The Indian Wild Ass has lived for long in relative harmony with its predominantly
vegetarian human neighbours. Now the flourishing salt industry is jeopardizing
the animal's future. Unfortunately, the Rann is perceived as a wasteland,
which could be agriculturally developed by introducing adequate irrigational
facilities. This would change its ecology irrevocably. Without proper protective
measures, the wild ass's nimble-footedness may not be insurance enough against
possible extinction.
KEY SPECIES
MAMMALS Indian Wild Ass, Blackbuck, Chinkara (Indian Gazelle), Nilgai (Blue
Bull), Wolf, Caracal, Desert Cat, Indian Fox, Striped Hyena, Indian Pangolin,
Small Indian Mongoose, Indian Desert Gerbil
REPTILES Spiny-tailed Lizard, Yellow Monitor, Black Cobra, Sand Boa
BIRDS BUSTARDS MacQueen's Bustard RAPTORS Short-toed Snake Eagle, Long-legged
Buzzard, Steppe Eagle, Imperial Eagle, Laggar Falcon, Saker Falcon, Short-cared
Owl
SCRUB/OPEN AREAS Eurasian Thick-knee, Collared Pratincole, White-tailed Lapwing,
Yellow-wattled Lapwing (below), Sirkeer Malkoha, Blue-checked Bee-eater, Southern
Grey Shrike (above),Variable Wheatear, Common Stonechat
WATERSIDE Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Asian Openbill, Woolly-necked
Stork, White Stork, Eurasian Spoonbill, Great Crested Grebe, Great White Pelican,
Dalmatian Pelican, Demoiselle Crane, Common Crane, Spotbill Duck, Gadwall,
Northern Shoveler, Common Pochard, Tufted Duck, Caspian Tern, Pied Avocet
Resorts
Wakaner Palace
Garha Safari Lodge
