Gujarat donkeys attract over 15K visitors
AHMEDABAD: The ‘donkeys of Gujarat’ that have been dragged into political campaigns for the UP assembly elections attract more than 15,000 tourists every year.
Known as Indian wild ass and Ghudkhar in Gujarati, this is an endangered animal with a population of 4,451. And the only place on earth where the species is found is Little Rann of Kutch (LRK) in Gujarat.
The red list of International Union for Conservation of Nature had a couple of years ago moved the Indian wild ass from the ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’ category. But the initiative to protect this schedule-i animal started decades ago when an area spread over 5,000 square km in the Little Rann, located some 150 km from Ahmedabad was declared Wild
Today, it generates revenue to the tune of ₹15 to 30 lakh annually for Gujarat tourism department. “This year, the tourist footfall so far is nearly 15,000,” said a forest official. The wild ass population has seen an increase after the Lit ary. From 3,997 in the 2010 census, their count went up to 4,451 in 2015. Forest officials said before the 21st century, the species was found in Gulf countries but now LRK plains are their only abode.
At a rally in Raebareli UP had taken a dig at PM Narendra Modi by referring to a Gujarat tourism promotion campaign featuring actor Amitabh Bachchan. Modi replied to the jibe, saying donkeys are “loyal” and “hardworking” which inspire