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WILDLIFE · KHUR · LITTLE RANNIndian Wild Ass
The last of the khur — the Indian wild ass, found only in the Little Rann beyond Morbi, where herds of these swift, handsome equines gallop across the salt flats.
India's only wild ass
The Indian wild ass, or khur, is one of the rarest and most special creatures of Gujarat — a swift, sturdy, sandy-brown equine that survives in the wild in only one place on earth: the Little Rann of Kutch and its fringes, reached from Morbi via Maliya.
Once close to extinction, the khur has recovered strongly under protection in the Wild Ass Sanctuary, and herds now range across the salt flats and the grassy islands (bets) that dot the Rann, capable of galloping at remarkable speed across the open ground.
A jeep safari into this stark, beautiful landscape offers the chance to see the wild ass alongside nilgai, chinkara, desert foxes, flamingos and a wealth of migratory birds. The combination of a unique species and an otherworldly salt-desert setting makes the wild ass of the Little Rann an unforgettable wildlife encounter — a quiet conservation triumph on Morbi’s wild frontier. (Safari via the sanctuary; book officially.)
A khur in the Little Rann.
From a riverside experiment to the road to freedom
Khur on the open flats.
The khur is reduced to a few hundred.
The Wild Ass Sanctuary is created to protect it.
The population rebounds strongly.
Thousands roam the Little Rann.
Reasons to make the time
Only wild ass
Found nowhere else in India.
Swift herds
Galloping across the flats.
Rann safari
Into the salt wilderness.
Conservation win
A recovery story.
Birds & more
Flamingos, nilgai, foxes.
Salt-flat setting
An otherworldly stage.
What to look for inside
Wild ass
Swift desert equine.
On the flats
Galloping across salt.
How to spend an hour or two
Book a safari
Via the sanctuary, officially.
Enter the Rann
The salt wilderness.
Find the khur
Herds on the flats.
Watch them run
At remarkable speed.
Spot the others
Nilgai, foxes, birds.
Catch the light
Dawn and dusk.
The Indian wild ass.
The khur of the salt flats
The Indian wild ass (Equus hemionus khur) is a swift, sandy-brown equine of the open salt flats, surviving in the wild only in the Little Rann of Kutch. Herds graze the grassy bets and cross the salt at speed, sharing the Rann with nilgai, chinkara, desert foxes, and — in winter — flamingos and migratory waterbirds.
It is the living wonder of the Rann, best seen on a permit-controlled safari into this stark, beautiful landscape. (Book the safari officially via the sanctuary.)
India’s only wild ass (khur)
Herds on the salt flats
Recovered under protection
Nilgai, foxes & birds too
When to go
Cool and clear — the best season for the Rann.
The Rann floods; wildlife disperses.
Hot, but wildlife gathers at water.
⏰ Take a winter safari at dawn or dusk; book via the Wild Ass Sanctuary and travel with a guide.
Timings & entry
- Safaris run in cooler hours
- Best from October to March
- Sanctuary permits required
- Allow a half day per safari
- Book via the Wild Ass Sanctuary
- Travel with a registered guide
- This is NOT a booking site — book officially
- Keep your distance; don't chase wildlife
Getting there
By Air
Rajkot airport is nearest.
By Rail
Maliya/Morbi, then road to the Rann.
By Road
Into the Little Rann via Maliya.
On safari
KHUR & SALT
India's wild ass in the Rann
What to shoot
The khur on the flats.
Action
Herds galloping.
Reach
A long lens from the jeep.
Etiquette
Keep distance; don't chase.
Know before you go
More to see close by
Where to eat around the ashram
Kathiawadi Thali
Rotla, kadhi, shaak and ghee-rich fare.
Ganthiya & fafda
Saurashtra's fried snacks.
Chaat & bhajiya
Lively local street food.
Veg & sweets
Hearty Kathiawadi veg fare and sweets.
Indian Wild Ass FAQ
What is the Indian wild ass?
The khur — a swift wild equine that survives in the wild only in the Little Rann of Kutch.
Where can I see it?
On a safari into the Little Rann, reached from Morbi via Maliya.
Is it endangered?
It was near extinction but has recovered well under protection.
How do I book a safari?
Via the Wild Ass Sanctuary, officially — this is an information guide, not a booking service.
What else lives there?
Nilgai, chinkara, desert foxes, flamingos and many birds.
When is the best time?
October to March, at dawn or dusk.
How fast can the khur run?
Remarkably fast — they gallop across the open salt flats.
What's the nearest gateway?
Maliya in Morbi district (also Dhrangadhra/Dasada).
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