Population Status of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)
The population of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard has remained stable, estimated between 110-150 birds. The latest official assessment since 2017-18, led by the Wildlife Institute of India, reports an estimated population of 130 birds with a variance of +/- 21.
- GIBs occupy only 16% of their potential habitat in Rajasthan’s Thar desert.
- The survey, conducted using vehicles across multiple grids, also recorded 35 GIB flocks, 1,568 chinkara herds, and 79 desert foxes.
Threats to the GIB
- Habitat fragmentation due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure development.
- Poaching and predation of eggs by wild animals.
- Mortality risks from collisions with power transmission lines due to poor frontal vision.
To mitigate these threats, the Supreme Court ordered the creation of dedicated “power line corridors” to reroute overhead lines and mandated the burial of power lines in specific areas.
Project GIB Initiatives
The Thar region is identified as the last viable landscape for GIB population recovery.
- Efforts include improving habitat, egg protection, predator management, and mitigating power line impacts.
- Captive breeding centers at Sam and Ramdevra are raising GIBs from wild-collected eggs for future release.
Besides GIB, the Thar desert supports other species of high conservation value, such as Chinkara, Desert fox, Indian fox, Desert cat, Spiny-tailed lizard, and various raptors.
