Top 10 Wild Animals of Kutch Desert of Gujarat
The Rann of Kutch is divided into the Great Rann and Little Rann, known as the Kutch Desert of Gujarat, As the word Rann means “desert” in Gujarati. The Great Desert of Kutch extends to the Thar Desert of Rajasthan and is the only large flooded grasslands zone.
Indian Wild Ass ! Indian Onager – घुड़खर
Indian Wild Ass found in Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary located in the Little Rann of Kutch and considered as a flagship species in LRK. Indian onager is one of the fastest of Indian animals with speeds about 70 – 80 km per hour.
Gazella – Chinkara ! Indian Gazelle – चिंकारा
The chinkara (Gazella bennettii) also known as the Indian gazelle is the only species of Gazella native to India.
Antilope – Backbuck ! Indian Antelope – काला हिरन
The blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra) also known as the Indian antelope mostly inhabits grassy plains and lightly forested areas of Western India.
Bovid – Nilgai ! Blue Bull – नीलगाय
The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) or blue bull is the largest antelope of India and found across the northern Indian subcontinent.
Asiatic Wild Cat ! Indian Desert Cat
Asiatic Wildcat also known as Indian desert cat, inhabits the Thar Desert of Rajasthan and also found in Kutch Desert of Gujarat.
Caracal Cat – स्याहगोश
Caracal Cat is listed as endangered in India and with fewer than 100 individuals estimated across the whole country.
Jungle cats (Felis chaus) is one of the most beautiful medium sized wild cats in India, Found in a wide range of habitats from Dry Thar Desert in Rajasthan to White Salt Desert of Kutch in Gujarat.
Indian Jackal – सियार
Indian Jackal is a medium sized wolf-like canid also known as the Himalayan jackal typically inhabits lowlands on the outskirts.
Indian Desert Fox ! White-footed Fox – लोमड़ी
White-footed fox also known as the Indian Desert Fox occurs throughout most of northwestern Indian Desert region of Kutch and Thar. The below list of wild animal and birds also found in Kutch Desert.
Indian Wolf ! Desert Wolf – भेड़िया
Indian Wolf or desert wolves are a subspecies of gray wolf and living in warmer conditions of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Striped Hyena – लकड़बग्घा
The striped hyena is the only extant species in the genus Hyaena and a nocturnal animal found in India. Primarily a scavenger animal and Blackbuck National Park at Velavadar is best place to see striped hyena in Gujarat.
Birds Found in Kutch Desert Of Gujarat – LRK
There are 200 plus species of birds including migratory and resident found in Rann of Kutch, Some of the most endangered birds of LRK are listed above.
Reintroduction of Cheetah in Kutch Desert – चीता ! विडाल
Cheetah reintroduction in India is one of the most challenging project and Kutch is found to be one of the last remaining habitats of the cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) in India with list of prey like Backbuck and Chinkara.
