At least 12 Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were spotted in a group in the wild in Rajasthan, in a major boost to efforts to conserve one of India’s most critically endangered species.

The birds, locally known in northern and western India as “Godawan” and “Maldhok”, were spotted at Desert National Park (DNP), located near the towns of Jaisalmer and Barmer, on Monday.

“The 12 Great Indian Bustards were captured in a single frame. Earlier, they were seen together inside the DNP closure (Sudashri area). In October and February 2023, nine birds were seen together inside the DNP area. This (latest) photo shows the results of the efforts being taken to protect the endangered state bird. It also shows the need and importance of the closure made within the DNP area,” Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Ashish Vyas said. 

The GIB is a highly endangered bird species found in the Thar area of Rajasthan. Today, only 173 birds are left, of which, 128 are found in the wild and the remaining are bred in captivity.

Besides Rajasthan, the bird is found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

In 2011, the birds were listed as “critically endangered” by IUCN Red List. (Dr Ashish Vyas, DCF, Desert National Park)

In 2011, the GIBs were listed as “critically endangered” – the highest level of threat – by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. According to IUCN, hunting, disturbance, habitat loss and fragmentation were among factors that had reduced the population of these magnificent species.

Two years later, Rajasthan became the first state to launch a Rs 12.90 crore worth project to save the GIB. The state adopted a two-pronged strategy to conserve the species – protect its natural habitat and improve conditions for breeding.

So far, 45 chicks have been bred in two sites – one in Sam and the other in Ramdevra.

“The birds that were spotted together on Monday were born in the wild. They are mostly females, about three to four years old. Some of them may also be males of up to one year of age. We protect these birds by improving the grasslands, which are their natural habitat. These birds are omnivorous and feed on insects and desert fruits. So, when their habitat is improved, they have enough food. We also fence the areas they are found in to protect them from predators like the desert fox, the desert cat and the mongoose,” Mr Vyas said.

“These birds lay their eggs in the ground but the eggs are often carried away by the predators. By fencing their habitat, we ensure that they can successfully breed in the wild. They are also protected from cattle that often stray into these grasslands. The fenced areas are patrolled by the field staff,” he added.

Recently in October, the state government’s GIB conservation programme touched another milestone when for the first time ever, scientists at the National Conservation Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer hatched a GIB chick through artificial insemination. 

The little chick, a male, is now nearly four months old 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 under the Bustard Recovery Program. The programme aims to increase the GIB population.

New Delhi:

The Supreme Court has recently appointed an expert committee to look into the preservation of the Great Indian Bustard which is “non-negotiable” and “need for sustainable development in the context of meeting the international commitments of the country towards promoting renewable sources of energy”.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra passed the order observing while dealing with a matter relating to protecting the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

The court has sought a report from the committee by July and listed the matter for the second week of August 2024.

“We are of the view that it will be appropriate if an expert committee is appointed so as to balance both the need for the preservation of the GIB, which is non-negotiable and the need for sustainable development, more particularly, in the context of meeting the international commitments of the country towards promoting renewable sources of energy,” the court in its March 21 order stated.

During the course of the hearing, the Court has underscored the importance of taking proactive measures to protect the GIB.

“There is no dispute in regard to the fact that the GIB is seriously endangered as a species. At the same time, it has emerged in the course of the hearing that there is no adequate basis to impose a general prohibition in regard to the installation of transmission lines in an area as wide as over 88,000 square kilometres,” the court order read.

The committee includes the Director, Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun; Hari Shankar Singh, Member, the National Board for Wildlife; Niranjan Kumar Vasu, Ex-Principal Chief Conservator of Forest; B Majumdar, former Chief Wildlife Warden and Principal Chief Conservator of Forest, Maharashtra; and Devesh Gadhavi, Deputy Director, The Corbett Foundation, among others.

The committee will determine the scope, feasibility and extent of overhead and underground electric lines in the area identified as priority area in the reports of the Wild Life Institute of India in the States of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

The committee will also look into the need for adopting conservation and protection measures for the GIB, as well as other fauna specific to the topography and desert features and identify the measures to be adopted in the priority areas to ensure the long-term survival of the GIB.

It will also look into the identification of suitable alternatives in the context of sustainable development in the matter of laying long future power lines, which should balance the protection of conservation and the protection of the Great Indian Bustard together with the arrangement of power lines in a manner that would facilitate the fulfilment of the international commitments made by India for developing renewable sources of energy.

“The injunction which has been imposed in the order dated April 19, 2021, in respect of the area described as the potential area shall accordingly stand relaxed subject to the condition that the Expert Committee appointed by this Court may lay down suitable parameters covering both the priority and potential areas,” the court said.

The Committee shall be at liberty to impose any additional measures, both in regard to the priority and potential areas, if it considers it appropriate, including considering the efficacy and suitability of installing bird diverters on existing and future power lines, the court clarified.

Earlier, a three-judge bench had directed the concerned authorities to convert the overhead cables into underground powerlines.

The court’s order had come on a plea seeking to protect two species of birds, including the Great Indian Bustard.

According to the petition, the existence of overhead power lines is stated to have become a hazard due to which the said species of birds in collision are getting killed.

According to the petitioners, overhead power lines are the biggest threat to the survival of the GIBs.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)