At least 12 Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) had been noticed in a bunch within the wild in Rajasthan, in a significant enhance to efforts to preserve certainly one of India’s most critically endangered species.
The birds, domestically identified in northern and western India as “Godawan” and “Maldhok”, had been noticed at Desert National Park (DNP), situated close to the cities of Jaisalmer and Barmer, on Monday.
“The 12 Great Indian Bustards had been captured in a single body. Earlier, they had been seen collectively contained in the DNP closure (Sudashri space). In October and February 2023, 9 birds had been seen collectively contained in the DNP space. This (newest) photograph exhibits the outcomes of the efforts being taken to guard the endangered state chook. It additionally exhibits the necessity and significance of the closure made throughout the DNP space,” Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ashish Vyas mentioned.
The GIB is a extremely endangered chook species discovered within the Thar space of Rajasthan. Today, solely 173 birds are left, of which, 128 are discovered within the wild and the remaining are bred in captivity.
Besides Rajasthan, the chook is present in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
In 2011, the birds had been listed as “critically endangered” by IUCN Red List. (Dr Ashish Vyas, DCF, Desert National Park)
In 2011, the GIBs had been listed as “critically endangered” – the very best stage of risk – by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. According to IUCN, searching, disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation had been amongst elements that had lowered the inhabitants of those magnificent species.
Two years later, Rajasthan grew to become the primary state to launch a Rs 12.90 crore value challenge to avoid wasting the GIB. The state adopted a two-pronged technique to preserve the species – shield its pure habitat and enhance circumstances for breeding.
So far, 45 chicks have been bred in two websites – one in Sam and the opposite in Ramdevra.
“The birds that had been noticed collectively on Monday had been born within the wild. They are principally females, about three to 4 years previous. Some of them may be males of as much as one 12 months of age. We shield these birds by bettering the grasslands, that are their pure habitat. These birds are omnivorous and feed on bugs and desert fruits. So, when their habitat is improved, they’ve sufficient meals. We additionally fence the areas they’re present in to guard them from predators just like the desert fox, the desert cat and the mongoose,” Mr Vyas mentioned.
“These birds lay their eggs within the floor however the eggs are sometimes carried away by the predators. By fencing their habitat, we make sure that they will efficiently breed within the wild. They are additionally shielded from cattle that usually stray into these grasslands. The fenced areas are patrolled by the sector employees,” he added.
Recently in October, the state authorities’s GIB conservation programme touched one other milestone when for the primary time ever, scientists on the National Conservation Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer hatched a GIB chick via synthetic insemination.
The little chick, a male, is now practically 4 months previous and has been named “Arambh”.
In 2018, the Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with the Government of India, Government of Rajasthan and Forest Department, established the Great Indian Bustard Artificial Breeding Center in Jaisalmer beneath the Bustard Recovery Program. The programme goals to extend the GIB inhabitants.