News Highlight
The recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustard (GIBs) in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that the birds might have flown across the international border.
Key Takeaway
- An Islamabad-based wildlife photographer released pictures and a video of the GIBs after spotting them in southern Punjab province’s Cholistan game reserve earlier this month.
- GIBs are critically endangered in Pakistan because of a lack of protection and rampant hunting.
- Rajasthan shares the international border with Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces; it is suspected that the GIBs might have flown across to the neighbouring country’s desert amid fears that they could become easy prey for the poachers there.
Great Indian Bustard
- About
- It is one of the heaviest flying birds endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
- It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology.
- It is a State Bird of Rajasthan.
- It is considered India’s most critically endangered bird and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
- Habitat:
- Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population.
- A Maximum number of GIBs were found in Jaisalmer and the Indian Army-controlled field firing range near Pokhran, Rajasthan.
- Other areas: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- Characteristics:
- Weighing about 15 kgs, the great Indian bustard is easily recognisable by its black cap over a pale head and neck.
- The male is deep sandy buff coloured, and its breast band turns black during the mating season.
- The female is smaller than the male.
- Food Habits:
- Great Indian bustards are omnivores. They prey on various arthropods, worms, small mammals, and small reptiles.
- Protection Status:
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered.
- Listed in Wildlife Protection Act-1972- Schedule 1.
- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1.
- Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
- Threats:
- Hunting,
- Intensification of agriculture
- Power lines.
The Initiatives for the Protection of GIB
- Species Recovery Programme:
- The species have been identified for conservation efforts under the component ‘Species Recovery Programme’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)-Development of Wildlife Habitat.
- Directions of the National Green Tribunal (NGT):
- NGT ordered a time-bound action plan to implement mitigation measures, such as the installation of bird diverters and their regular maintenance and monitoring by power agencies.
- Breeding centre:
- A Bustard conservation breeding centre in Rajasthan has been set up in Jaisalmer.
- Project Great Indian Bustard:
- Rajasthan Government launched it to conserve the remaining population of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard(Ardeotis nigriceps), locally called Godawan.
- The Desert National Park (DNP):
- As many as 24 GIB chicks are being reared in DNP by a team supported by the International Fund for Houbara Conservation of the United Arab Emirates.
Content Source: The Hindu