The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The Indian Wild Ass (Equus hemionus khur), also known as the Khur, is a subspecies of the Onager native to South Asia. It is currently listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.- Statement 1 is Correct: The Indian Wild Ass is endemic to the Little Rann of Kutch and surrounding areas in Gujarat. The Indian Wild Ass Sanctuary, located in the Little Rann of Kutch, is the largest wildlife sanctuary in India established specifically for their conservation.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The natural habitat of the Indian Wild Ass is the saline desert (Rann), not the sandy Thar Desert. While the Rann of Kutch is geographically close to the Thar Desert, the Wild Ass is strictly restricted to the arid saline flats of Gujarat and is not found in the Thar Desert region of Rajasthan.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: The Yak (Bos grunniens) is a long-haired bovine found throughout the Himalayan region of south Central Asia, the Tibetan Plateau, and as far north as Mongolia and Russia. The wild ass found in the Tibetan region is a distinct species known as the Kiang (Equus kiang), not the Yak.
Key Takeaway: The Indian Wild Ass is endemic to the saline deserts of the Rann of Kutch (Gujarat), whereas the Tibetan Wild Ass is known as the Kiang. The Yak is a completely different bovine species.