Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps)
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and serves as an indicator species for grassland ecosystems in India.
Conservation & Legal Status
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered (CR).
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection).
- CITES: Appendix I.
- CMS (Bonn Convention): Appendix I.
Major Threats & Supreme Court Rulings
Collision with overhead high-voltage power transmission lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat remains the main cause of mortality. The Supreme Court of India mandated bird diverters and undergrounding of power cables in critical habitat zones.
Introduction and Ecological Significance
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, is an iconic flagship species of India's grassland ecosystems. Once widespread across the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, its population has plummeted drastically, making it a critical focus of national and international conservation efforts. As an indicator species, the health of the GIB population directly reflects the ecological balance and well-being of the arid and semi-arid grassland habitats, which are often erroneously classified as 'wastelands' in land-use policies.
Conservation Status and Legal Protection
The Great Indian Bustard holds the most severe threatened category designation. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. In terms of international trade and protection, it is placed in Appendix I of CITES and Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). Domestically, it receives the highest degree of legal protection, listed under Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The largest surviving population is currently restricted to the Desert National Park in Rajasthan, with marginal populations in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh.
Primary Threats: Power Lines and Habitat Loss
The existential crisis facing the GIB is multi-faceted. The most immediate and lethal threat is collision with high-tension overhead power lines. Due to their heavy bodies and poor frontal vision, bustards are unable to maneuver away from power cables in time, leading to fatal electrocutions or physical trauma. Additionally, the rapid conversion of grasslands into agricultural fields, industrial zones, and renewable energy parks (solar and wind) has led to severe habitat fragmentation. Poaching, though reduced, and predation of eggs by feral dogs and foxes further exacerbate their decline.
Conservation Initiatives: Project GIB and Supreme Court Interventions
Recognizing the urgency, the government launched 'Project Great Indian Bustard' to implement targeted conservation strategies. A cornerstone of this effort is the captive breeding program established in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) at the Sam conservation center in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, which has seen some success in artificial incubation and rearing of chicks.
Furthermore, the Supreme Court of India has actively intervened to protect the species, passing landmark directives regarding the mandatory undergrounding of power cables in the GIB's priority and potential habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat. The court has also emphasized the installation of bird diverters on existing lines to mitigate collision risks.
UPSC GS Paper 3 Perspective
For UPSC aspirants, the Great Indian Bustard is a crucial topic covering Biodiversity and Environment Conservation. It highlights the inherent conflict between renewable energy infrastructure expansion (solar/wind farms in deserts) and wildlife conservation. Understanding the GIB's plight requires analyzing environmental impact assessments, the role of the judiciary in environmental protection, and the necessity of reclassifying grasslands as vital ecosystems rather than exploitable wastelands.