Rajasthan: After Jaisalmer, Ajmer might be new home for Great Indian Bustards
A day after drone sightings were reported on May 8 in Jaisalmer, apart from Ramgarh, Pokhran, and Barmer in Rajasthan, the forest department relocated nine newly hatched GIB chicks to the conservation centre at Arwar in Ajmer, senior WII scientist Sutirtha Dutta said.
'As the Ramdevra Centre is located near the border, and in light of the tense situation and massive drone activity, the relocation was necessary to ensure the birds' safety and protection. We are exploring the option of whether we can keep them at the Arwar Centre permanently or return them to Jaisalmer once the situation stabilises,' Dutta said.
Arwar was chosen as it already hosts the Lesser Florican Conservation Centre and is equipped with the necessary infrastructure for handling such sensitive conservation operations. Developed jointly by the WII and the forest department, the centre aims to reverse the drastic decline of the country's most endangered grassland bird, Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus), known for its dramatic courtship leaps during the monsoon.
Also Read: Great Indian Bustard conservation milestones: 3 born in a day, 4 in a week
The GIB chicks, aged between five to 20 days, were transported in specially designed soft-suspension vehicles to ensure their comfort and safety. 'The transportation was conducted under the supervision of expert handlers, with a dedicated team of trainers accompanying the chicks to ensure their well-being throughout the journey,' Dutta said.
'Discussions on the possibility of keeping the GIB chicks there and provide a second home for them are going on. A final decision will be taken in the coming days,' deputy conservator of forest at the Desert National Park (DNP) in Jaisalmer Brijmohan Gupta.
Also Read: Boost for fight to save Great Indian Bustard as chick born through IVF
The population of the critically endangered GIB under India's national breeding programme has doubled from its founding number in just two years. On May 9, 2025, the programme marked the hatching of its 18th chick of the year, with nine of them born through artificial insemination—a groundbreaking achievement in avian conservation. The remaining chicks were born naturally under controlled, captive conditions, officials said.
Since the beginning in June 2019, the Bustard Recovery Programme has successfully reared 62 birds in total from wild-collected eggs and through captive breeding efforts, officials added.
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Indian Express
11 hours ago
- Indian Express
Great Indian Bustard in focus: Why is this flagship species relevant for UPSC Exam?
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GIBs' historic range included much of the Indian sub-continent but it has now shrunken to just 10 per cent of it. Due to the species' smaller population size, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has categorised GIBs as critically endangered, thus on the brink of extinction from the wild. ♦ IUCN Red List status of Great Indian Bustard: Critically Endangered ♦ Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I ♦ Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS): Appendix I ♦ Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix 1 The Great Indian Bustard is the state bird of Rajasthan. Notably, Rajasthan has the largest remaining population of the GIBs. 1. The first steps to address the decline of the bustard population were taken between 2012-2013, when the Rajasthan government as well as the Environment Ministry began a long-term Bustard and Lesser Florican recovery project. The recovery project firmed up more in the year 2016 when it received a funding outlay of Rs 33.85 crore for seven years. This money was sanctioned to improve the bird's habitat and start a conservation breeding program. 2. The Compensatory Afforestation Fund, which consists of money collected for afforestation in lieu of diversion of forests for non-forest uses, funded this project. Later, in July 2018, a tripartite agreement was signed between the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Rajasthan Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII). 3. This involved opening long-term conservation breeding centres (CBC) in Ramdevra and Sorsan, implementing field research projects such as telemetry-based bird tracking and population surveys, habitat management as well as outreach to local communities. 4. While the total length of the next phase of the GIB and Lesser Florican conservation is 2024-2033, the immediate next phase will run till 2029. The target of the project would be to complete the upgradation of the CBC at Ramdevra and development of the Lesser Florican CBC at Sorsan, both in Rajasthan. The Ramdevra facility would also include a new lab for artificial insemination, which the WII plans to use from 2026 onwards. 1. In March 2024, a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice D Y Chandrachud had recalled a 2021 Supreme Court order that required all power lines in GIB habitats to be buried underground, following concerns about the technical and economic feasibility of such a move. It then tasked the expert committee with prescribing measures to mitigate GIB deaths from power lines while balancing conservation goals with mushrooming renewable energy development in these two states. 2. The committee has revised the boundaries of GIB conservation zones. In Rajasthan and Gujarat, it has proposed a 'revised priority area' of 14,013 sq km (up from 13,163 sq km) and 740 sq km (up from 500 sq km), respectively. These priority areas are meant for focused conservation and protection of the GIB. 3. The corridors proposed by the seven-member committee will be 5 km wide in Rajasthan and between 1 and 2 km wide across two separate zones in Gujarat. One member of the committee, however, is learnt to have submitted a dissent note, raising objections to exempting several power lines from mitigation. 4. The committee has proposed a set of mitigation measures and restrictions based on zonal priorities: * Existing power lines in Bustard habitats to be dealt with based on voltage. * Immediate burying of certain lines identified by the Supreme Court in key GIB habitats. * Lines of 220 kV and above be assessed individually for possible mitigation. * No restrictions on laying new power lines outside the priority areas. 5. Among key conservation measures suggested is using the 'jump start' method to revive Gujarat's GIB population. This will involve using eggs in advanced stages from conservation breeding facilities in Rajasthan, which will be incubated by wild GIB females. Tagging of the remaining Gujarat GIBs has also been recommended. 1. After knowing the significance of conservation of GIB, it's important to note that today (July 28) marks World Nature Conservation Day. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of preserving and conserving natural resources and the environment. The day serves as a reminder of the need to protect and sustainably manage the Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity for the well-being of current and future generations. 2. This year, the theme for World Nature Conservation Day 2025 is 'Connecting People and Plants: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation.' With reference to the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), consider the following statements: 1. It is a large bird found only in India. 2. It is known to be a key indicator species of the grassland habitat. 3. It is classified as vulnerable. 4. The population of GIB has steadily increased in the past four decades. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four (Sources: Exclusive: SC-named panel proposes 'power corridors' through Great Indian Bustard habitats, Critically endangered Great Indian Bustards' recovery program, and what lies ahead, The Great Indian Bustards of Kutch) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – Indian Express UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X. 🚨 Click Here to read the UPSC Essentials magazine for July 2025. Share your views and suggestions in the comment box or at Roshni Yadav is a Deputy Copy Editor with The Indian Express. She is an alumna of the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University, where she pursued her graduation and post-graduation in Political Science. She has over five years of work experience in ed-tech and media. At The Indian Express, she writes for the UPSC section. Her interests lie in national and international affairs, governance, economy, and social issues. You can contact her via email: ... Read More
The Hindu
2 days ago
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Identify your interests
I am in Class 12 (CBSE - Science with Biology). I am interested in a career in wildlife conservation but how do I go about it? Anna Dear Anna, Wildlife conservation is a rewarding field. Do well in your Class 12 board exams, especially Biology, as it will form the basis for your undergraduate studies. Look for colleges offering Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Botany, Environmental Science, Forestry, (Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry) or Biotechnology/Genetics. Check the curriculum, faculty, and research opportunities. Some prominent institutions in India for wildlife-related studies are the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun; National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bengaluru; the Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal; and the Forest Research Institute (FRI), Dehradun. Look at the websites for admission-related information, entrance exams and eligibility criteria. To enhance your career prospects, a Master's degree in a specialised area is recommended. Some options include in Wildlife Science, Wildlife Biology and Conservation, Forestry (with specialisation in Wildlife Management), Environmental Science (with focus on Biodiversity and Conservation) or Conservation Biology. Potential job roles are a wildlife biologist or researcher, conservation biologist, forest officer, environment educator or outreach specialist wildlife veterinarian, policy analyst and so on. I completed my degree in EEE in 2020. Though I cleared the prelims of some State PSC exams, I am yet to get a job. I am not interested in working as an engineer or investing more time in higher studies. I am interested in social service. How can I make a career in it? Gopika Dear Gopika, Social service is a broad field. You need to identify your area of interest. Which issues resonate most with you? Some options include the education sector (working with underprivileged children or adult literacy programmes), healthcare industry (public health initiatives or creating health awareness and access), environment (sustainable development, climate change advocacy or conservation), Human Rights (advocacy for marginalised groups, legal aid awareness, working for disability rights), and so on. Gain experience through volunteering and internships, understand the realities of the field, and build connections. Look up NGOs, social enterprises, and government agencies that align with your interests. Websites like GiveIndia, Volunteer for India, and local NGO directories can be helpful. Consider short-term courses or certifications in areas like Project Management, Social Work/Development, Communication and Advocacy, Monitoring and Evaluation. I have done a PG in Social Work and am doing an internship. I am not interested in this field, but feel guilty because my family has invested so much in my education. My passion was to be a pilot, but I did not meet the height requirement and couldn't afford the course fee. I am now 25 and yearning for aviation. I am conflicted about whether to remain in the current field or pursue my passion. Name withheld You seem to be in a rough situation. While respecting your family's investment and feelings is important, your long-term happiness and career satisfaction are a priority. Take another look at the requirements for being a pilot, especially specific height regulations of different aviation bodies (both Indian and international) to see if there is any way you can make the cut. Research different flight schools and training programmes. Costs can be significant as well. Research scholarships and financial aid or modular training programmes, which may be a more cost-effective way to gain pilot licenses compared to integrated programmes. 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Identify any additional skills you might need for your desired path like programming, statistical software, and so on and work on developing them.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Great Indian Bustards (GIB) revival hits roadblock again as Rajasthan refuses to share eggs, male bird with Gujarat
Gujarat's efforts to revive its Great Indian Bustard population have been thwarted again as Rajasthan refuses to share fertile eggs or male birds. This setback jeopardizes the survival of the species in Gujarat, where only three infertile females remain. AHMEDABAD: In a critical blow to the state's conservation efforts, Rajasthan has once again refused to share fertile eggs or male Great Indian Bustards (GIB), pushing one of India's most majestic birds closer to local extinction in Gujarat. Despite securing approval from the ministry of environment, forest and climate change for an innovative egg-replacement strategy - where dummy eggs were to be swapped with fertile ones from Rajasthan's breeding centre - Gujarat's project has failed to take off. The refusal, the third since 2015, has dented Gujarat's hopes, as only three female bustards remain in Kutch's Abdasa region. Although females can nest without mating, their eggs have been infertile in the complete absence of a male. The last time a male GIB was spotted in the region was in Dec 2018. Saying that strategy could have revived one of India's most critically endangered species in Gujarat's wild, senior officials said that the proposal was sent to Rajasthan for approval after the Union ministry's nod. The Gujarat forest department was hoping to implement the proposal this breeding season, which concludes in Oct. "Since it was a ministry proposal, the Rajasthan govt, instead of saying a direct no, said the experiment should be carried out in the wild on its own soil first. If successful, eggs would be shared with other states." Sources said this was the second time the Rajasthan refused to give GIB eggs. Conservation efforts in Gujarat have had their set of challenges. An official said that since 2019, the female GIBs in Abdasa have been laying and incubating infertile eggs and abandoning them some 20 days later. In 2024, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) had offered a glimmer of hope by proposing the idea of bringing fertile eggs from Sam in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, and having them hatched by female GIBs sighted in Abdasa. Its suggestion also made the state responsible for monitoring the eggs and ensuring these are protected from predators. This idea was discussed at the 82nd meeting of the National Board of Wildlife held at Sasan in March this year. Minutes of the meeting state, "Dr H S Singh (board chairman) mentioned that there are three female Great Indian Bustards in Gujarat. They lay infertile eggs every year. If some fertile eggs from Rajasthan can be replaced, the GIB population in Gujarat can be recovered." An official added, "Chicks were to hatch and grow in their natural habitat, as those born at the breeding centre are released in the wild only after their third generation is born." WII officials say that a male could have contributed to the local population, as the last known male in the region is believed to have either migrated to Pakistan or have died.
