Great Indian Bustard

Great Indian Bustard

#GS-03 Biodiversity Conservation

For Prelims:

Great Indian Bustards:

  • The Great Indian Bustard is easily recognisable by its black cap over a pale head and neck.
  • The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is the State bird of Rajasthan.
  • It is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
  • It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
  • The Great Indian Bustard is the largest flying bird in its native region, standing at about 3.3 ft tall.
  • Both the male and female are roughly the same size and re distinguished by the colour of their feathers.
  • It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent and found in parts of India and Pakistan.

Earlier present in 11 states of India, they are now restricted to the following 6 states today.

  1. Andhra Pradesh
  2. Gujarat
  3. Karnataka
  4. Maharashtra
  5. Madhya Pradesh
  6. Rajasthan
IUCN Status                                             :           Critically Endangered
CITES                                                        :           Appendix1
Convention on Migratory Species     :           Appendix I
Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972            :           Schedule 1

 

For Mains

Major Threats:

  • Death by collision with infrastructure, particularly power lines and wind turbines
  • Depletion of grasslands
  • Hunting, (still prevalent in Pakistan)
  • Development of mines and human habitation in and around their habitats among others.

Conservation measures taken:

Project Great Indian Bustard:
  • It has been launched by the Rajasthan government with an aim of constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing infrastructure to reduce human pressure on its habitats.
Species Recovery Programme:
  • GIB is kept under the species recovery programme under the Integrated evelopment of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Conservation Breeding Facility:
  • MoEF&CC, Rajasthan government and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have also established a conservation breeding facility in Desert National Park at Jaisalmer in June 2019.

Source ” SC seeks Centre’s response on evolving a programme to protect Great Indian Bustard