After 10 Years, Great Indian Bustard Chick Birth Revives Survival Hopes in Gujarat

The Good news coming from Gujarat in Wildlife conservation as Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick has been born in the wild after nearly a decade. The chick hatched in the grasslands of Kutch and with this it is marking the significant achievement for of India’s most critically endangered bird species. This rare event has renewed hope for the survival of the species in Gujarat state.

Meet the Great Indian Bustard: A Critically Endangered Species

It is is one of the heaviest flying birds and it is native to the grasslands of India. It is especially available in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Key facts abut it,

• It is listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)
• Its population is estimated at fewer than 150 individuals in India
• Various threats like include habitat loss, power line collisions and low breeding rates have impacted their numbers

In the state of Gujarat the situation had become alarming as just only three surviving females in Kutch and there was no breeding success for years.

The “Jumpstart Approach”: A First-of-Its-Kind Effort

This successful hatching was made possible through the innovative conservation method which is known as the ‘Jumpstart Approach.’

This approach involved the,

• Transporting a fertile and partially incubated egg from Rajasthan
• Carefully placing it in to the wild nest in Gujarat
• Also ensuring natural incubation by a female bustard

The egg was transported nearly over the 770 km from Sam (Rajasthan) to Naliya (Gujarat) in a portable incubator. This journey has completed in about 19 hours.

This effort was coordinated by the,

• Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change
• Wildlife Institute of India
• State forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat

Significance of The Birth

The last successful breeding of GIB in Gujarat was recorded in the year 2016. And after that time the species was on the verge of the local extinction in the state.

Key reasons for this successful implementation,

• Revives the breeding potential in Gujarat
• Demonstrates the success of inter-state conservation partnership
• Also offers a model for future wildlife interventions
• Boosts of the morale among conservationists

And with this it is the first successful inter-state ‘Jumpstart’ initiative for the species in India.

Challenges That Still Remain

Despite this success of the initiative the Great Indian Bustard continues to face severe threats by,

• Extremely low population size of species
• Lack of breeding males in Gujarat
• Habitat degradation in grasslands is impact more
• High mortality rate because of the power lines and infrastructure

Question

Q. The Great Indian Bustard is classified under which IUCN category and which state has highest population in India?

A. Endangered & Gujarat
B. Vulnerable & Gujarat
C. Critically Endangered & Rajasthan
D. Near Threatened & Punjab