Important steps taken by the Government for protection of Great Indian Bustards: UPSC Daily Important Topic | 27 March 2022

■  Important steps taken by the Government for protection of Great Indian Bustards-

✅As per the studies conducted by Wildlife Institute of India, there are around 150 Great Indian Bustards left across the country.

✅It includes about 128 birds in Rajasthan and less than 10 birds each in the States of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

✅Some important steps are taken by the Government for protection of Great Indian Bustards in the country.

● Great Indian bustard:

✅They are large birds with unique black caps over their heads

✅Males have white necks and underparts, as well as slender black breastbands.

✅Females are smaller, have a greyer neck, and usually have no or an incomplete breast band.

✅It is Rajasthan’s state bird

✅They are found in the Indian subcontinent with former strongholds in the Thar desert in the north-west and the Deccan tableland of the Peninsula.

✅They are the heaviest flying birds in the country

● Threats:

✅It has a very small population that is declining at an alarming rate.

✅Widespread hunting for sport and food hastened its decline, which has been accelerated by automobile access to inaccessible locations.

✅The current risks, however, are mostly caused by habitat loss and degradation as a result of widespread agricultural development and industrialization of farming.

✅Irrigation, roads, power pylons, wind turbines, and structures are examples of infrastructure development.

✅Industrialization and mining

✅Habitat management that is well-intentioned yet misguided.

✅The absence of community support.

✅According to the Wildlife Institute of India, high tension wires from power companies are a key danger element, killing roughly 15% of the GIB population due to accidents with power lines.

● Protection Status:

✅IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered

✅CITES: Appendix I

✅India Wildlife Protection Act: Schedule I

● Steps taken by govt:

✅Conservation Breeding Centre: 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

✅It is done under the project titled ‘Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard-an integrated approach’

✅Species Recovery Programme: 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: 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.

✅Task Force: The 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.

✅Inclusion in CMS: it has been included in the Appendix I of Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) on the basis of a proposal submitted by India.