Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is in the news due to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) approving funds for the next phase of the Bustard Recovery Program, which will run from 2024 to 2029. Here's an overview of the program, its background, current status, and objectives:

Bustard Recovery Program

Coverage of Species

• Great Indian Bustard (GIB): A critically endangered species with very few individuals left in the wild.
• Lesser Florican: Another endangered bustard species, also under threat.
• Other Bustard Species in India:
• Bengal Florican
• Macqueen's Bustard

Background

• Initial Plan: Recovery efforts for bustards began in 2013 under the National Bustard Recovery Plan.
• Bustard Recovery Project: Launched in 2016, this project aimed for an initial five-year period and has now been extended until 2033.

Current Status

• Great Indian Bustard: Approximately 140 individuals remaining in the wild.
• Lesser Florican: Fewer than 1,000 individuals remaining.

Project Implementation

• Lead Agency: Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
• Funding Agency: National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).
• Partner Agencies:
• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Rajasthan Forest Department
• Gujarat Forest Department
• Maharashtra Forest Department

Project Objectives

• Conservation Breeding:
• Goal: Establish secure ex-situ populations of the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican to support recovery efforts.
• Applied Research:
• Focus: Identify and prioritize conservation areas, understand threats, assess the status of populations and habitats, and evaluate the effectiveness of management strategies.
• Capacity-Building and Outreach:
• Objective: Enhance protection efforts, raise awareness among stakeholders, and encourage sustainable land-use practices.
• Pilot Implementation of Surgical Habitat Management:
• Aim: Test and showcase best practices through experimental habitat management interventions to improve habitat conditions for bustards.

Significance

The Great Indian Bustard is one of the most critically endangered bird species in India, with its population declining rapidly due to habitat loss, hunting, and other anthropogenic pressures. The Bustard Recovery Program is a crucial step in halting and reversing this decline, aiming to secure a future for both the Great Indian Bustard and the Lesser Florican through comprehensive conservation efforts.

The approval of funds and the continuation of the Bustard Recovery Project reflect the government's commitment to preserving these iconic species and their habitats. Through collaborative efforts involving various agencies and stakeholders, the program seeks to address the multifaceted challenges faced by these endangered bustards and ensure their survival for future generations.

The conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is a complex and multi-faceted effort involving various agencies, legal protections, and specialized programs.

Collaborating Agencies

• Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS)
• Role: Promotes nature conservation across India with a focus on biological diversity through research, education, and public awareness.
• History: Established in 1883, BNHS is a leading wildlife research organization in India.
• International Fund for Houbara Conservation / Reneco
• Focus: Conservation efforts for the Houbara bustard and related initiatives.
• The Corbett Foundation
• Role: Works on wildlife conservation, including bustard species, through various initiatives.
• Humane Society International
• Objective: Engages in animal protection and welfare activities, including conservation of endangered species.
• Jivdaya Charitable Trust
• Mission: Focuses on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, including bustard conservation.
• The Grasslands Trust
• Goal: Dedicated to the conservation of grassland ecosystems, which are crucial for the GIB’s habitat.

About the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

Conservation Status

• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Listed under Schedule I and IV, providing high levels of protection.
• IUCN Red List: Classified as Critically Endangered, reflecting its severe risk of extinction.
• CITES: Listed in Appendix I, which includes species threatened with extinction and prohibits international trade.

Key Characteristics

• Habitat: An agro-grassland bird endemic to the Indian Subcontinent. In India, the GIB primarily inhabits Rajasthan and Gujarat, with smaller populations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
• Food Habit: Omnivorous, feeding on grass seeds, insects (like grasshoppers and beetles), and occasionally small rodents and reptiles.
• Behavior: Lacks frontal vision and breeds mainly during the monsoon season, laying a single egg on open ground.
• Ecological Role: Acts as an indicator species for the health of grassland ecosystems.

Steps Taken for GIB Conservation

• Protected Areas
• Designations: Key habitats have been designated as National Parks and sanctuaries, such as Desert National Park (Rajasthan) and Naliya Grassland (Lala Bustard Wildlife Sanctuary).
• Species Recovery Programme
• Initiative: Part of the centrally Sponsored Scheme for Wildlife Habitat Development, this program provides financial and technical assistance to states for GIB protection.
• Conservation Breeding
• Objective: Develop captive populations for eventual release into the wild and support in-situ conservation. Breeding centers are operational in places like Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan.
• Legal Protection
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: The GIB is protected under Schedule I, which prohibits hunting and trade.
• Capacity Development
• Training: Includes specialized training in artificial incubation and insemination techniques. For example, personnel were trained in these techniques at the National Avian Research Centre (NARC) in Abu Dhabi during 2022-23.
• Supreme Court Oversight
• Legal Monitoring: The Supreme Court is actively involved in monitoring the conservation program for GIB and Lesser Florican, with a pending petition seeking further protection for these species.

Conclusion

The conservation of the Great Indian Bustard requires a coordinated, multi-level approach involving various stakeholders, from government agencies to non-governmental organizations. By addressing habitat protection, legal frameworks, breeding programs, and capacity building, these efforts aim to secure the future of the GIB and, by extension, the health of its grassland ecosystem. The involvement of the Supreme Court underscores the importance of judicial oversight in ensuring effective conservation measures.