Indian Wild Ass [Equus Hernionus]: The wild ass belongs to the horse family that also includes horses, Asses and zebras.  The color of cots coat varies from reddish gray to pale chestnut.  Two species of the wild ass, the Indian Wild Ass, and the Kiang or Tibetan Wild Ass, occur within the Indian region.

Types of the Asses:

1. Asiatic Wild Ass: It is present in the desert of the rann of Kutchh in Gujarat.  They can be seen in large groups of more than 10 animals in these in hospitable conditions. They feed on the coarse grass and other vegetation in the morning and evening hours.  Sometimes the ass consorts with straggling herds of black buck.  In the little rann, they are attracted to the flat grass covered expanses know as bets.  These bets from Island of coarse grasses, which spring up vigorously with monsoon inundations.  The little rann has been delivered as wild ass sanctuary to protect these species.
2. Tibetan Wild Ass [Equus Bernionus Kiang]: The Tibetan Wild Ass is regarded by some as a distinct species, and by others as a race of the Asiatic wild ass.  Darker and redder than the Indian wild ass, it and has a narrower dorsal stripe and large horse-like hooves.  It is found in the cold deserts of Ladakh, Tibet and Sikkim.

 BEHAVIOUR:

1. HABITAT: Wild asses are attracted to the plant grass expenses known as bets in the little rann of Kutchh in the Western Indian State of Gujarat.  In the dry season, they often congregate in enormous numbers.  It is only during the hottest parts of the day that they are known to take refuge under a tree for shade.  Otherwise, they can be seen standing still in the scorching heat.
2. HABIT: Wild asses are highly adapted to the 'xerophytes' (Desert Conditions) of their habitat.  They feed during the early hours of the morning, or late in the evening.  Energy dissipation in the form of sweet movement.  Copious drinkers, they are quite tolerant of the saline content in their food.  These good runners have a keen sense of smell and hearing.  They often occur in large groups of more than 10 animals.
3. FOOD: Exclusively ‘herbivorous’ (Plant Eating Animals) it feeds on the coarse grasses that occasionally spring up during the rains.  Their cheek teeth are large, with complex folds that enable than to thoroughly chew the coarse grasses available.  Water is scarce in deserts, and the wild ass derives most of their daily water intake from moisture in their food.
4. LOCOMOTION: The wild ass forefoot consists of a single complete toe, enclosed in a large sold hoof.  This helps these good summers to get a good footing on loose and soft surface.

 FACTS:

1. NUMBERS: Today the wild ass is found in three distinct, population separated by great distance.  This suggests a continuous distribution in the past.  They are very well adapted for desert conditions, and are seen only in the desert, a terrain man finds rather inhospitable.
2. PREDATORS: The inhospitable areas in which wild ass thrive, are quite unsuitable for any large predators to survive.  However, wolves and hyenas are known to prey on the young foals.  Intense poaching at the turn of the century wiped out most of species from their past distribution, until, it was declared an endangered species.