Indian Wild Ass
Genus: Equus; species: hemionus; subspecies: khur
Habitat & distribution: open salt mudflats in the Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India
Status: critically endangered
Two subspecies of the Asiatic Wild Ass are found in India - the Indian Wild Ass (E.h. khur) and the Tibetan Wild Ass (E.h. kiang), found in the Himalayan deserts of Ladakh. In peninsular India the Indian Wild Ass represents the horse family. The general colour of its hide varies from reddish grey to fawn or pale chestnut. It has an erect dark chocolate-brown mane on its neck, which extends along the spine to the root of the tail as a thin stripe; the lower parts are white. The height at the shoulders is 3ft 8in - 4ft (110-120cm) and full-grown adults tip the scales at 250-290kg. The males are slightly superior in size and darker of colour than the females though this difference is not easily distinguishable.

The Wild Ass relies on its speed and keen sight for survival. An ass at full gallop can reach speeds up to 50 km an hour; average speeds can be 30-35 km an hour. They live in herds of up to 30-40 members, sometimes reaching 100, under the leadership of an alpha male who guides the movement of the herd.

Today the Indian Wild Ass is confined to the scorching deserts of the Little Rann of Kutch. It enjoys protection in the Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary in the Little Rann, under the Indian Wildlife Act of 1972. Once the khur galloped across the open sandy deserts of Kutch but habitat destruction and poaching drove this fascinating creature to islands, locally known as bets, in the temporary marshes of the Rann.

Asiatic Lion
Genus: Panthera; species: leo; subspecies: persica
Habitat & distribution: mixed deciduous forests and grasslands of Gir in the Saurashtra peninsula of Gujarat state in India
Status: critically endangered
Of the two subspecies of lions found in Asia and Africa, the Asiatic Lion survives only in India. Highly endangered, it subsists in the harsh environment of the Gir forests, where in an area of about 1400 sq. km, no more than 300 of them remain.

The Asiatic Lion is a tawny coloured beast with no visible patterns on its hide though cubs are spotted when born. The lion carries a head with a pale blond or darker mane that is rarely black, in case of the Asian species, though it tends to be scantier than the African species; females do not have a mane. As if to make up for the loss persica is a shaggier animal with a fuller coat, longer tassel of hair at the tip of its tail, more pronounced tuft of hair on the elbow joints, and a fuller fringe of hairs on its tummy; another characteristic is the distinct fold of skin along the belly. The average length of the African and Asiatic Lion is the same i.e. a little over 275cm (9ft); the largest Asiatic Lion recorded was 292cm (9ft 7in) while the largest African Lion was 323cm (10ft 7in). Body weight is from 110-190kg. Lion is smaller than the tiger.

The lion is a social animal and lives in groups called prides. Unlike other members of the cat family the lion is not a solitary hunter but hunts with its pride, just as wolves in a pack. However, the killing is done as other cats by a fatal bite to the throat, unlike the wolves or wild dogs that tear up their prey while on the run.

Today the Gir Lion is protected but its fate hangs in limbo, as its isolated population is susceptible to outbreak of an epidemic and also from inbreeding. Nevertheless, an attempt has been made under an ambitious translocation programme to give the Asiatic Lion a fresh lease of life by introducing a few males and females in a Wildlife Sanctuary in Madhya Pradesh in central India.

Blackbuck
Genus: Antilope; species: cervicapra; subspecies: cervicapra, rupicapra, rajputanae, centralis
Habitat & distribution: scattered populations throughout India except in the Himalayan foothills, the terai, the Northeast, west coast and the desert; prefer grasslands and avoid forests and hill tracts; once upon a time main prey species of the Indian Cheetah
Status: endangered

The Blackbuck is the only member of the genus Antilope in India and undoubtedly one of her prettiest mammals. It found only in India and finds mention in ancient Hindu texts. They have survived in isolated pockets throughout the country, but enjoy special patronage of the Bishnoi and the Vala communities in Rajasthan and Gujarat and fiercely protected for both religious and sentimental reasons.

The males are handsome in their glossy coats that vary from dark brown to velvet black, while the females and fawns are yellowish-brown; the undersides of all are white. Blackbucks have impressive heads with long spiralling horns: the yearling buck has horns without the spirals; in the second year a large open spiral is formed but the full number of spirals are formed by the end of the third year. Females normally do not carry horns but one may rarely come across horned females.

Blackbucks like other members of family bovidae live in herds, which may be anything from 20-30 individuals to several hundreds. They are found in open plains with scrub or cultivation and only enter forests that have extensive stretches of grasslands.

The sense of hearing and smell are moderate to fair, but sight is very keen and they are swift of foot. Once hunted by the Cheetah in open grasslands they had to rely on their sight and speed to escape from its clutches. Unfortunately the Cheetah has become extinct in India and there is no possibility of seeing two magnificent creatures trying to outsmart and outrun each other in that never-ending game of survival