Project Great Indian Bustard

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 2

Coming to the rescue of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the Supreme Court  mooted the idea of launching ‘Project GIB’ on the lines of ‘Project Tiger’, which was started in 1973 to save the big cats, and sought the government’s view on the proposal.

About The Great Indian Bustard

• It is one of the heaviest flying birds (weighing up to 15kgs). 
• They inhabit dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: It is a Critically Endangered species with less than 150 birds left in the wild.
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972: Schedule I

Habitat:

• It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found in Rajasthan (Desert National park), Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh in India and parts of Pakistan.

Characteristics

• Great Indian Bustards are tall birds with long legs and long necks; the tallest individuals may stand up to 1.2 metres (4 feet) high.
• Both the male and female are roughly the same size, with the largest individuals weighing 15 kg (33 pounds).
• Males and females are distinguished by the colour of their feathers.
• Food Habits: Great Indian Bustards are omnivores. They prey on various arthropods, worms, small mammals, and small reptiles.

Threats

• Death by collision with infrastructure, particularly power lines and wind turbines
• Depletion of grasslands
• Hunting
• Development of mines and human habitation in and around their habitats among others.

Conservation Initiatives:

Project Great Indian Bustard

• It was launched by Rajasthan Government with the objective of conservation of the remaining population of critically endangered Great Indian Bustard(Ardeotis nigriceps) locally called Godawan.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

• WWF-India has provided inputs in developing the ‘Guidelines for the State Action Plan for Resident Bustard Recovery Programme’.
• It has played an important role in raising awareness about the declining populations and highlighting the importance of implementing a focused bustard conservation programme at the national level.
• WWF-India, is undertaking initiatives towards conservation of GIB in and around Desert National Park.

Question: Discuss the efforts and steps taken by government to save tiger under Project Tiger.