The Red List of International Union For Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has moved the wild ass from the ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’ category, indicating the need for heightened protection measures. The wild ass is locally known as ghudkhar. It is found only in the Little Rann of Kutch in Gujarat in India. Previously it has been classified as an endangered animal.
The IUCN added that the population of the Asiatic wild ass has declined by an alarming 52% in the past 16 years. In Gujarat, there are 4,451 wild asses as per the 2014 census. In 2004, their number was 3,863. Principal chief conservator of forest H C Pant said, “Gujarat has recorded a 10% rise in numbers especially in the past five years. This change in classification must be prompted by the decline in their population across the world.
- The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field ofnature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.
- IUCN has a membership of over 1200 governmental and non-governmental organizations. Some 11,000 scientists and experts participate in the work of IUCN commissions on a voluntary basis.
- IUCN was established in 1948. Its headquarters are in Gland, Switzerland.
- The IUCN Red List is set upon precise criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world.
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