UPSC Articles
Great Indian Bustard
Part of: GS Prelims and GS Mains –III- Environment Conservation
In News
- The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), is one of the heaviest flying birds, and is found mainly in the Indian subcontinent. Barely 150 of these birds are estimated to be surviving now globally
- Today, its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small population also occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- Along with chick-rearing centre for GIB in Jaisalmer, Sorsan in Rajasthan has been identified as the most conducive site for their rearing, due to availability of grasslands, access to roads and well suited climatic conditions
- Vanishing grasslands, uncontrolled use of pesticides and insecticides in farms which has impacted their food habitat, attacks by dogs & foxes, poaching and presence of high voltage power lines are a major threat to the GIB
- Conservation status:
- Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act, 1972,
- Listed in Appendix I of CITES
- Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
