The absence of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in the Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary and its surrounding areas in Nandyal district of Andhra Pradesh for the past few years raises concerns about its local extinction risk.
Observations and Surveys
- Migratory patterns indicate that GIBs usually stay in the sanctuary for a short duration.
- Regular surveys have failed to identify the presence of GIBs in recent years, according to Alan Chong Teron, District Forest Officer (DFO), Wildlife Management, Atmakur.
Endangered Status
- Tushna Karkaria, Project Scientist and Veterinarian, highlights that GIBs are critically endangered, with fewer than 140 individuals globally.
- Majority of the population exists in the arid grasslands of Thar, Rajasthan, with other states hosting only a handful of individuals.
Agreement and Initiatives
- An agreement was signed in 2018 between the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Rajasthan Forest Department, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to commence conservation breeding of GIBs.
- International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), Abu Dhabi, collaborated as a technical partner due to its success in breeding other bustard species.
Conservation Breeding Program
- The conservation breeding program began in 2019, involving the collection of eggs from the wild and their artificial hatching at the Sam Forest Chowki in Rajasthan.
- The first chick, named ‘Uno’, hatched on June 21, 2019, followed by eight more chicks that year.
- Protocols for artificial hatching and chick-rearing were developed based on other bustard conservation breeding programs.
- A total of 29 GIBs were housed in two breeding centers in Rajasthan.
Milestones and Future Prospects
- A significant milestone was achieved in 2023 when captive-reared birds naturally bred for the first time.
- The breeding program anticipates further success in the coming years, with the birds reaching maturity in 3-4 years.
- A minimum of 20 breeding females and 5-10 breeding males are required to establish a founder population.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs):
- What indicates the risk of local extinction for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)?
- A) Decrease in global population
- B) Absence from Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary
- C) Increased migratory patterns
- D) Presence in other range states
- Which organization collaborated as a technical partner for GIB conservation due to its success in breeding other bustard species?
- A) World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
- B) International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC)
- C) Conservation International (CI)
- D) Greenpeace
- When did the conservation breeding program for GIBs begin?
- A) 2018
- B) 2019
- C) 2020
- D) 2021
- What was the name of the first chick hatched in the conservation breeding program?
- A) Duo
- B) Trio
- C) Uno
- D) Quattro
- How many breeding females are required to establish a founder population for GIB conservation?
- A) 5-10
- B) 10-15
- C) 15-20
- D) 20-25