The Little Rann Sanctuary though sounds little but hold immense importance in terms of wildlife protection. The sanctuary protect the India's last remaining population of Khur (Asiatic Wild Ass). The park also home to various birds population and the area is one of the few places in India where flamingos are known to breed naturally. The sanctuary is located in the Little Rann of Kutch of the Gujarat. The sanctuary covers an area of 4954 square kilometer and the ghostly white land is nature's most harsh creation. The remarkable and unparalleled land is of its kind in the entire world. The sanctuary is a saline desert of the Little Rann of Kutch, is said to be a shallow sea.



The sanctuary is a transitional area between marine and terrestrial ecosystem. During monsoon Rann gets flooded for more than one month. The landscape has about 74 elevated plateaus or islands locally called bets. The largest plateau called Pung Bet, which has an area of 30.5 square kilometer. Mardak is the highest island lies at 55m. The vast cover of saline landscape has amazingly no vegetation, except on the fringes and bets. The vegetation is mainly xerophytic and that activated during the monsoon months. The islands have incredible floral varieties including 253 species of flowers.

Sights And Activities

Wildlife Sightseeing
Rann sanctuary is the only home to endangered Asiatic Wild Ass in India. the animal is last survivor of wild horse family of the Indian subcontinent and found only the Thar desert of Gujarat. The sanctuary is a home to diverse 93 species of invertebrates including varieties of zooplankton, annelid, crustaceans, insects, molluscs and spiders. There are large variety of amphibians and reptiles are also found in the sanctuary. The other wildlife attractions are Gazelle, Blue Bull, Wolf, Jackal, Jungle Cat, Hare, Indian Foxes and many others.

Bird Watching
The sanctuary is prominent place for breeding of different species of birds. Because of its favored location on bird migration and closeness with dynamic Gulf of Kutch. Over 250 acres about 75000 birds nests in an area. There are about 350 species of birds inhabited here, the most common are crane, flamingo, pelican.

Desert Courses
The small town of Zainabad, 105km north west of Ahmedabad, is very close to the little Rann. Desert courses is the family run tour company that organizes interesting safaris and village tours in the Little Rann. It runs Camp Zainabad offering comfortable nad attractive kooba(traditional thatch roofed huts) in a peaceful, remote setting. There are other organizers like Rann Riders that offers luxurious cottage accommodation and jeep safaris.