Great indian bustard

The recent sighting of three Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) deep in Pakistan’s Cholistan desert has given rise to speculation that the An Islamabad-based wildlife photographer, Syed Rizwan Mehboob, released pictures and a video of the GIBs after spotting them in southern Punjab province’s Cholistan game reserve earlier this month. Though Mr. Mehboob did not claim that the GIBs had arrived from India, environmental activists in Jaisalmer district have postulated that the birds might have migrated due to their shrinking habitat. A Great Indian Bustard captured on camera in Pakistan’s Cholistan game reserve by wildlife photographer Syed Rizwan Mehboob. Photo: Twitter The GIB, which is the State bird of Rajasthan, is also considered India’s most critically endangered bird and is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. Its population of about 150 in Rajasthan accounts for 95% of its total world population. The captive breeding of GIBs was taken up in the DNP through a project executed by the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India in 2019. As many as 24 GIB chicks are in hands now and are being reared in DNP by a team technically supported by the International Fund for Houbara Conservation of United Arab Emirates. As Rajasthan shares the international border with Pakistan’s Sindh and Punjab provinces, it is suspected that the GIBs might have flown across to the neighbouring country’s desert amid fears that they could become easy prey for the poachers there. DNP Deputy Con...

The Supreme Court on Monday swooped-in to intervene on behalf of the A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde will examine on a priority basis whether overhead power cables can be replaced with underground ones to save one of the heaviest flying birds on the planet. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the Power Ministry, however submitted that only low voltage lines can go underground but not the high voltage ones. The court found further that an alternative mechanism — to install flight bird divertors — to guide the birds away from the power lines would be expensive. In fact, the court discovered that the divertors, with their recurring costs, would end costing more than installing and maintaining underground lines. But the court suggested treading the middle path. Great Indian Bustard habitats to be declared as conservation reserves “Wherever there is high voltage power lines, they can use flight bird divertors even if the recurring costs are high. Wherever there are overhead low voltage lines, these lines can be placed underground,” Chief Justice Bobde remarked. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for some power companies, objected to the court passing any sort of blanket ban which would affect over 50 lakh jobs. Mr. Singhvi said the greater threat to the birds was from their diminishing habitat which have been flattened for agriculture. He said these areas were arid areas which require electricity for sourcing water. The Indian bustard: on i...

A bench of justices DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian directed both the states to file their compliance affidavits on an order of the court passed last year and the status reports within three weeks. The top court also directed the committee constituted in accordance with the order dated April 19, 2021 to file a report on the progress made so far, the applications received on the issue of feasibility and the decisions taken on those. The bench said the Centre's application for modification of the April 19, 2021 order and other intervention applications will be taken up for hearing after three weeks, once the court has an idea about what development has taken place since the passing of the order last year. It listed the matter for further hearing after three weeks. The apex court's order came on a plea moved by M K Ranjitsinh, a retired IAS officer, and others filed through advocate Sonia Dube, seeking the court's directions for an urgent emergency response plan to protect and ensure the recovery of numbers of the endangered species of GIB and Lesser Florican (LF). On April 19 last year, the top court, in a bid to save the GIB, directed the Gujarat and Rajasthan governments to convert overhead electric cables into underground power cables, wherever feasible, within a year. It had set up a three-member committee to assess the feasibility for the laying of high-voltage underground power cables. The committee comprises scientists Rahul Rawat, Sutirtha Dutta and ...

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Deadliest Animals Quiz Predators and prey Great Indian bustards are omnivores that feed opportunistically; that is, they feed on any Triticum vulgare] and peanuts [groundnuts; Arachis hypogaea]), in contrast, make up the largest portions of the diet during the coldest and driest months of the year. Adult great Indian bustards have few natural enemies, but they display considerable agitation around certain predatory birds, such as Neophron percnopterus). The only animals that have been observed to attack them are Canis lupus). On the other hand, chicks may be preyed upon by Reproduction Although some of the reproductive behaviours of great Indian bustards are known, the finer details of nesting and mating, as well as migratory activities related to nesting and mating, are thought to vary greatly among populations and individuals. For example, they are capable of year-round breeding, but for most populations the breeding season lasts from March through September, which largely Whether or not the species uses a specific mating strategy is unknown, but elements of both promiscuous (where members of both sexes mate with multiple partners) and polygynous (where males mate with multiple females) mating have been observed. It does not appear that the species forms pair bonds. Lekking, where males assemble at communal display sites to perform for and court females, occurs in some populations. However, in other instances, solitary males may attract females to their locations with lo...

The Rajasthan Forest Department has ruled out a project to set up a Great Indian bustard (GIB) habitat centre at Nannaj, Solapur, citing the difficulties in transferring eggs or grown-up GIBs from Rajasthan to Maharashtra. Plans for a GIB breeding centre have also been nixed. However, the Maharashtra Forest Department is undertaking a long-term GIB habitat restoration project, which includes removing invasive species, controlling feral dog populations and reducing human interference in protected areas. While the Maharashtra Forest Department had been in talks with the Rajasthan Forest Department (RFD) for setting up a Great Indian bustard (GIB) Habitat Centre at Nannaj, Solapur, the RFD has ruled out the project saying it will not be feasible to transfer eggs or grown-up GIBs from Rajasthan to Maharashtra. Plans to set up a GIB soft release facility, too, have been nixed. Great Indian bustard (HT FILE) Earlier this year, the wildlife division of the Pune Forest Department had sent a proposal to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and the RFD for setting up a GIB Breeding Centre at the existing GIB Sanctuary at Nannaj in Solapur district. Among research and conservation institutions, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) had been elected to help set up the breeding centre in Maharashtra. As per the forest department records, there is only one female GIB at the Nannaj GIB Sanctuary. As such, the breeding ...

The Great Indian bustard ( Ardeotis nigriceps) is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent. It is among the heaviest of the flying birds. Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, this species is now critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat. It is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 of India. Appearance The Great Indian bustard is a large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich-like appearance. It is unmistakable with its black cap contrasting with the pale head and neck. The body is brownish with a black patch spotted in white. The male is deep sandy buff-colored and during the breeding season has a black breast band. The crown of the head is black and crested and is puffed up by displaying males. In the female which is smaller than the male, the head and neck are not pure white and the breast band is either rudimentary, broken, or absent. The male of the Great Indian bustard also has a well-developed gular pouch which is inflated when calling during display and helps produce deep resonant calls. Diet and Nutrition Great Indian bustards are omnivores preferring to feed on insects and beetles. They will also eat grass seeds, berries, rodents, and reptiles. In cultivated areas, these birds feed on crops such as exposed groundnut, millets, and pods of legumes. Great Indian bustards drink water if it is available and will sometimes sit down to drink or suck water followed by raising up their heads at ...

The Rajasthan Forest Department has ruled out a project to set up a Great Indian bustard (GIB) habitat centre at Nannaj, Solapur, citing the difficulties in transferring eggs or grown-up GIBs from Rajasthan to Maharashtra. Plans for a GIB breeding centre have also been nixed. However, the Maharashtra Forest Department is undertaking a long-term GIB habitat restoration project, which includes removing invasive species, controlling feral dog populations and reducing human interference in protected areas. While the Maharashtra Forest Department had been in talks with the Rajasthan Forest Department (RFD) for setting up a Great Indian bustard (GIB) Habitat Centre at Nannaj, Solapur, the RFD has ruled out the project saying it will not be feasible to transfer eggs or grown-up GIBs from Rajasthan to Maharashtra. Plans to set up a GIB soft release facility, too, have been nixed. Great Indian bustard (HT FILE) Earlier this year, the wildlife division of the Pune Forest Department had sent a proposal to the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MOEFCC) and the RFD for setting up a GIB Breeding Centre at the existing GIB Sanctuary at Nannaj in Solapur district. Among research and conservation institutions, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) had been elected to help set up the breeding centre in Maharashtra. As per the forest department records, there is only one female GIB at the Nannaj GIB Sanctuary. As such, the breeding ...

The Supreme Court on Monday swooped-in to intervene on behalf of the A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sharad A. Bobde will examine on a priority basis whether overhead power cables can be replaced with underground ones to save one of the heaviest flying birds on the planet. Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, appearing for the Power Ministry, however submitted that only low voltage lines can go underground but not the high voltage ones. The court found further that an alternative mechanism — to install flight bird divertors — to guide the birds away from the power lines would be expensive. In fact, the court discovered that the divertors, with their recurring costs, would end costing more than installing and maintaining underground lines. But the court suggested treading the middle path. Great Indian Bustard habitats to be declared as conservation reserves “Wherever there is high voltage power lines, they can use flight bird divertors even if the recurring costs are high. Wherever there are overhead low voltage lines, these lines can be placed underground,” Chief Justice Bobde remarked. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for some power companies, objected to the court passing any sort of blanket ban which would affect over 50 lakh jobs. Mr. Singhvi said the greater threat to the birds was from their diminishing habitat which have been flattened for agriculture. He said these areas were arid areas which require electricity for sourcing water. The Indian bustard: on i...

• About us • • • • • • • Prelims • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Practice Quiz • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Mains & Interview • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Current Affairs • • • • • • • • • Drishti Specials • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Test Series • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • State PCS • • • • • • • • • Videos • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Quick Links Tags: • • • Why in News Recently, a group of hunters shot down two Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) in a protected area of southern Punjab’s Cholistan in Pakistan. Key Points • About: • The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird. • It is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology. • Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. • The bird is under constant threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting (still prevalent in Pakistan), habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc. • Protection Status: • • • • • India’s Concerns: • The grassland habitat in the Cholistan desert, where the GIBs were killed, is very similar to the habitat in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park (DNP), where the GIB’s last remnant wild population is found. • DNP is situated near the towns of Jaisalmer and B...