Great Indian Bustard Conservation

Great Indian Bustard Conservation

Source: Indian Express
GS III: Environment and Biodiversity, Wildlife Conservation, Grassland Ecosystems, Renewable Energy and Environmental Impact

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Why in the News?

On October 4, 2026, two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) were released into the wild for the first time in Rajasthan’s Desert National Park near Jaisalmer. The release is part of a conservation project led by the Centre, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the governments of Rajasthan and Gujarat.

News in Brief

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• The Great Indian Bustard population has declined from an estimated 1,260–1,400 in the early 1970s to around 150 birds today.
• The Centre and Rajasthan government launched a long-term conservation and lesser florican breeding project in 2012–13.
• Captive breeding began in 2019, with 98 chicks successfully bred at conservation centres in Rajasthan.
• Rewilding aims to restore the wild population, but habitat degradation and collisions with overhead power lines remain major challenges.

About the Great Indian Bustard

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• The Great Indian Bustard is a large, ground-dwelling bird found in India’s grasslands, savannahs and arid regions.
• Historically, it was distributed across 11 states, from Haryana and Tamil Nadu to Rajasthan and Odisha.
• Its population has declined due to hunting, poaching, habitat conversion into agricultural land, mining and collisions with renewable energy power lines.
• Its poor frontal vision and heavy body make it particularly vulnerable to collisions with overhead power lines.

Conservation status

• IUCN Red List- Critically Endangered
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I
• CITES – Appendix I

Conservation and Captive Breeding

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• The Centre and Rajasthan government initiated a long-term conservation and breeding project in 2012–13, which was expanded in 2014.
• In 2019, eggs collected from the wild were artificially incubated at breeding centres in Sam and Ramdevra, Rajasthan.
• The chicks were raised in captivity to support population recovery.
• Of the 98 birds bred so far, two were released into the wild in October 2026, while 11 others were earmarked for future release.
• The remaining birds continue to support captive breeding.

What does Rewilding involve?

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• Rewilding is the process of reintroducing captive-bred or previously captive animals into their natural habitats to establish or strengthen wild populations.
• The rewilding programme involves;
  • Soft-release facility: A facility was established at the Ramdevra centre to prepare birds for release.
  • Gradual adaptation: Birds were released after being raised in captivity and prepared for survival in natural conditions.
  • Satellite tracking: Released birds are fitted with transmitters that send location data three times a day.
  • Monitoring: Conservation teams track their movements and assess their adaptation to the wild.
• The birds released in Rajasthan were selected because the Desert National Park contains suitable grasslands with relatively fewer human and technological disturbances.

Challenges in Rewilding

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Habitat degradation

• Grasslands are frequently converted into agricultural land or mining areas.
• Unlike forests, grasslands are not widely recognized as valuable ecosystems, leaving them vulnerable to degradation.
• Protecting and restoring grasslands is essential for the long-term survival of the species.

Power-line collisions

• Overhead transmission lines pose a major threat to the Great Indian Bustard.
• Renewable energy infrastructure in Rajasthan and Gujarat has increased concerns about bird mortality.
• Undergrounding power lines in priority areas and installing bird diverters along selected routes can help reduce collisions.

Long-term Survival

• Captive-bred birds must learn to survive independently in the wild.
• Rewilding requires continuous monitoring, suitable habitats and protection from human disturbances.
• Similar experiments may be necessary in states such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, but only after habitat improvement.

Mining and land-use pressures

• Limestone mining and other activities threaten the open, flat grasslands required by the species.
• Experts warn that rewilding alone will not succeed unless habitat loss and infrastructure-related threats are addressed.

Supreme Court’s Role in GIB Conservation

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• In a landmark case concerning the protection of the Great Indian Bustard, the Supreme Court accepted recommendations from an expert panel and directed measures to protect the species and its habitat in Rajasthan and Guajrat.
• Key measures include,
  • Identifying priority areas for protection.
  • Directing that approximately 80 km of power lines in Rajasthan’s priority areas be buried underground.
  • Providing for power-line corridors that accommodate rerouting of overhead transmission lines.
• However, experts have warned that undergrounding all power lines may not be technically or economically feasible in the short term.
• Mining and other habitat-related threats also remain concerns.

Grasslands and Conservation Policy

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• Grassland are important ecosystems that support specialized wildlife and maintain ecological balance in arid and semi-arid regions.
• They provide habitat for the Great Indian Bustard and other grassland-dependent species.
• Treating grasslands merely as degraded or wasteland areas can lead to their conservation for infrastructure and commercial activites.
• Conservation efforts must focus on restoring native grassland ecosystems rather than converting them into plantations or artificial water bodies that may not suit the species.

Way Forward and Conclusion

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Protecting grasslands, reducing power-line collisions and strengthening scientific monitoring are essential for the Great Indian Bustard’s recovery. Collaboration among governments, scientists and local communities can improve coservation efforts.

Ultimately, habitat protection alongside captive breeding and rewilding is crucial for the species’ long-term survival.

UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question

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Consider the following statements about the Great Indian Bustard:

1. It is a ground-dwelling bird associated with grasslands and arid regions.
2. Habitat degradation and collisions with power lines are major threats to its survival.
3. Captive breeding and rewilding alone can ensure its long-term conservation, even without habitat protection.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only

Mains Practice Question

Q) Rewilding offers a way to restore endangered species, but its success depends on suitable habitats and the mitigation of human-induced threats. Discuss (150 words)

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