14-Mar-2022: Protection of Great Indian Bustards

Important steps taken by the Government for protection of Great Indian Bustards in the country including details of captive breeding facilities are as given below:

1. A site for establishment of a Conservation Breeding Centre for the Great Indian Bustard has been identified at Kota District, Rajasthan in consultations with State Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, Wildlife Institute of India and international experts, under the project titled ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard-an integrated approach’. Currently, a satellite conservation breeding facility with incubator, hatcher, chick rearing and housing for captive birds has been set up at Sam, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan and is managed by WII Scientists, Rajasthan Forest Department with the technical assistance of the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and Reneco, Abu Dhabi. A total of sixteen (16) GIB chicks, (artificially hatched from eggs collected from wild) are being reared presently in the satellite conservation breeding facility at Sam, Jaisalmer Rajasthan.
2. The Great Indian Bustard is listed in Schedule-I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby, according it highest degree of legal protection from hunting.
3. Important habitats of Great Indian Bustards are designated as National Parks/Sanctuaries for their better protection.
4. The species has been identified for conservation efforts under the component ‘Species Recovery Programme’ of the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)-Development of Wildlife Habitat. Financial and technical assistance is provided to the State/Union Territory Governments under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Development of Wildlife Habitat for providing better protection to Great Indian Bustard and its habitat.
5. Ministry has taken up an initiative on conservation breeding of the Great Indian Bustard in collaboration with Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra Forest Departments and technical support from Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun. The Ministry with financial support from National Authority for Compensatory Afforestation Funds has sanctioned an outlay of Rs. 33.85 crores for the duration of five years for the programme titled ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard-an integrated approach’. The objective of this programme is to build up captive population of Great Indian Bustard and to release the chicks in the wild for increasing the population and also to promote in-situ conservation of the species.
6. Ministry has also constituted a Task Force for suggesting Eco- friendly measures to mitigate impacts of power transmission lines and other power transmission infrastructures on wildlife including the Great Indian Bustard.
7. The Great Indian Bustard has been included in the Appendix I of Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) of the basis of proposal submitted by India. It was also the mascot of the prestigious 13th CMS Conference of Parties held in Gandhinagar giving wider publicity for the conservation of the species.

As per the studies conducted by Wildlife Institute of India, there are around 150 Great Indian Bustards left across the country which includes about 128 birds in Rajasthan and less than 10 birds each in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

16-Jan-2019: Rajasthan High court takes initiative to save endangered Indian Bustard

Rajasthan High Court's Main bench in Jodhpur has issued a notice asking the central and the state government about the 22 crore rupees spent on the protection of the Great Indian Bustard.

The population of the bird is on a decline and after becoming almost extinct from rest of the world, the bird is fighting for its survival in the Forest Department files. Captive breeding has not started yet and the numbers have come down to just about 60- 70.

The bird has been given the status of the State Bird but despite the 22 crore rupees budget sanctioned nothing has been done in reality. A Bench of Justice Sangeet Lodha and Justice Dinesh Mehta has issued this notice to the Central and State Government and has asked them to give a reply on the issue by 25th January.

Given the decreasing numbers of the Indian Bustard, the government had created a project to protect it 8 years ago. The captive breeding was started 8 years ago but despite the funds getting released two years ago, the numbers came down.

Now, The bench has summoned the Central Government's Sanjita Purohit and Additional Advocate General of the state Government Sandeep Shah to reply to this situation. The High Court has appointed Advocate Vikal Balia as the NyayMitra in this case.

The responsible parties for the captive breeding, Rajasthan forest department and Wild Life Institute of India ( WII), have not started the breeding process yet. The bird is found in 5 states and in the last 20 years they are have decreased to just 4-5 in each state.

In Rajasthan, the bird's population has come down to about 60- 70 but the official numbers are stated up to be around 100.

For captive breeding, a closure has to be built in the Kota city of Rajasthan but sources say that the environment is not conducive for the bird to survive. The other point of dispute is that the flight path of the bird was to be ascertained through a radio collar.

But the authorities say that it will take time and will not be a solution to save the birds. Authorities point out another obstacle which is that it is difficult to provide the right environment after breeding for the birds and no discussion has taken place with the locals on this. Both the departments are blaming each other for the delay in the breeding process.

Rajasthan's Chief Wild Life Warden, J V Reddy, says, "the truth is that there has been a delay in the process and we are in touch with WII on this. But they have got the money and they have to take the work further. In Kota, a 700-hectare enclosure has to be built near Anta. Land also has to be given near Pokhran in Jaisalmer district of about 5 hectares."

"Our sources reveal that the files of the land are with the collector."

Wildlife Institute's scientist W K Jhala also agrees that they have the money but the work is not able to progress.

"We have the money for a long time but we are waiting for the land. We have talked to the Chief wild life warden as well. The issue remains that there is no one objecting but still the work is not happening. Now there is no time to waste", he said.

The expert has said that if the captive breeding process is not initiated soon, the Great Indian Bustard will be lost forever.

This will be the first instance though that a state will lose its honoured state bird.

"If the bird is lost, it will be a setback to all the bird lovers. With immediate effect the breeding should start in Jaisalmer, which provides the ideal environment for it", says R N Mehrotra ( Former chief conservator of forest, Rajasthan ).

In the National Desert Park spread over 3162 sq km in Barmer and Jaisalmer, the number of Godavan( Indian Bustard) has decreased in the last one and a half decades.

In Rajasthan there is no increase in the number of Godavana in the areas like Sum, Sudashree, Phulia, Mujalar, Khudi, Satto etc.

They deliver eggs on the ground which becomes the food of reptiles and is sometimes crushed under the feet of cattle.

14-Dec-2018: Emergency campaign launched to save the Great Indian Bustard from extinction

Wildlife organisations have got together to launch a campaign to save the Great Indian Bustard which in recent years has come under the critically endangered list. With the total global population of the Great Indian Bustard reaching and all time low at fewer than 150 individuals, this campaign is the need of the hour.

Many experts believe that these birds might be the first species to become extinct in Independent India. This grassland species is extinct from 95% of its range now.

Rajasthan is the last stronghold of the Great Indian Bustard. Fewer than 150 birds survive, of which about 100 live in the Thar Desert. Gujarat has the next largest population of the bird – between 10 and 25 individuals

The wildlife organisations that have launched the campaign are The Corbett Foundation in collaboration with Conservation India and Sanctuary Nature Foundation.

The campaign aims at highlighting the overhead power transmission lines that result in the death of these low flying birds with a limited field of vision. This is the primary threat to the survival of the species especially in the Great Indian Bustard Habitat.

The campaign petitioned the Ministry of Power and Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for action to be taken to place these power transmission lines underground. The Wildlife Institute of India’s Endangered Species Recovery Program recommended this solution. The campaign also draws attention to the ecological importance of grasslands which are tragically designated as wastelands.

Unfortunately, this 'Great Indian' bird didn’t receive early support from our politicians, policy-makers, corporate sector, and the general public. This is our last chance to prevent its extinction - by providing it with ample habitat, safe flying space and non-toxic food to make sure their population bounces back.

It will be a great sense of shame and disappointment for India if it is unable to prevent the extinction of this species, in spite of its advancement in science and technology as well as the financial resources that it has at its disposal.

Significant threats to the GIB

• Reduction in the extent of undisturbed arid grassland habitat.
• Degradation and disturbance in existing grassland habitat
• Hunting
• Lack of importance for natural grassland conservation in policy, law and PA network due to incorrect perception on ecological value vis-a-vis forests
• Lack of protection for many ‘lekking’ and nesting sites
• Lack of cooperation between different departments/stakeholders in GIB habitats
• Lack of awareness and support from local communities
• Livestock overgrazing and feral dogs
• Disturbance by photographers — there is now enough anecdotal evidence to show that photography of the species causes significant disturbance

What needs to be done immediately to recover the GIB?

1. State Governments must secure and fully protect all ‘lekking’ sites. This may be the single most important step in saving the species. A lekking site is a traditional place where males gather to display and attract females. If these sites are subjected to disturbance or degradation, GIBs may not be able to breed. Even if large areas of potential GIB habitat are protected, but specific lekking sites are not, GIB numbers will continue to be slide. Since there are multiple threats to these sites, such as industrial development, agriculture, irrigation and highways, this step needs political will and cooperation by multiple government departments and local communities.
2. State Governments must constitute a GIB task force in every GIB state, with a handpicked membership that includes dynamic and committed government officials from different departments, biologists, conservationists, and local community leaders.
3. MoEF must launch a full-scale ‘Project Bustard’ based on a sound scientific plan, and developed in consultation with national and international experts, as well as key people from each GIB state.
4. Examine the feasibility of captive breeding by constituting a core group of experts that includes international experts with experience in breeding bustards or similar endangered birds in captivity (the recovery of the California condor, a large-sized, slow breeding bird that was on the verge of extinction, was a result of captive breeding. From 22 birds left in the wild, their numbers have increased to 405, with 226 living in the wild).
5. Send out annual advisories from MoEF to Chief Wildlife Wardens of GIB States to prohibit entry and photography during the breeding season (Apr 1- Oct 31) at all known bustard habitats. CI believes that even disturbance outside the breeding season can have serious implications for the species and requests that wildlife photographers voluntarily desist from GIB photography.

11-Feb-2018: Farmers decide not to use inorganic fertilizers and pesticides to save Great Indian Bustard

A group of farmers at the Lala Sanctuary in Kutch have decided not to use inorganic fertilizers and toxic pesticides so as to save the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) which is critically endangered in the state with IUCN pegging their numbers at alarming 20.

The farmers joined hands with an NGO, Corbett Foundation, and grew green lentils (moong) using organic methods. The move paid off as it not only helped in conservation of GIB but also brought more money to the farmers.

When farmers use pesticides, GIB loses a major portion of its food — insects, locust, lizard among others — and the bird is forced to look for smaller insects in the grains, resulting in damage to the crops.

The experiment to adopt organic farming was so encouraging that the foundation and the farmers have decided to apply for an organic certification with the brand name, Ghorad. The GIB is locally known as Ghorad.

70% of the food for the GIB during the breeding season were the insects in the agriculture fields and the pesticides were killing them. We then persuaded the farmers not to use pesticides and an experiment was undertaken in a small area. The results were very encouraging. The farmers were able to produce around 700kg of moong. With some publicity on social media, the 700kg of moong was sold off in two days and the farmers who were getting around Rs 45 per kg in the open market were able to garner Rs 70 per kg.

According to Gadhvi, 20 other threatened species of birds are found in the area. All these birds feed on insects.