GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD - ENVIRONMENT
News: Supreme
Court seeks government’s response on evolving ‘Project Great Indian Bustard’
conservation programme
What's in the news?
● The
Supreme Court sought the Government's response about evolving a 'Project Great
Indian Bustard' conservation programme like the 'Project Tiger' to bring
attention to the peril faced by the critically endangered bird species.
● 'Project Tiger' is touted
by the Government as one of the most successful conservation programmes for a
single species in the world.
Great Indian Bustard:
GIBs are one of the heaviest flying
birds in India.
Protection status:
● IUCN
Red List: Critically Endangered
● CITES:
Appendix I
● India
Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I
Habitat: Flagship species of
Grassland - arid and semi-arid
grasslands.
Range: Confined mostly
to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small
populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Threats:
Collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent
in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread
agricultural expansion.
Conservation Efforts:
1. Project Great Indian Bustard
- It was launched in Rajasthan
including constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing
infrastructure to reduce human pressure on habitats.
2. State Action Plan for Resident Bustards Recovery
Programme - The Indian government has provided
financial support to conservation actions for this species in some regions and
in association with several NGOs and experts has developed guidelines for the
recovery programme.
3. Mitigating Powerline Mortality
- In April 2021, the Supreme Court mandated that all power lines in both the
‘potential’ and the ‘priority’ habitats of the bird be laid underground. It
would ensure the long-term conservation of the species and the successful
reintroduction of captive-bred birds in the future.
4. Bird diverters, colorful discs
meant to alert birds in flight from a distance to avoid collision, have been
installed.