Published on: December 23, 2025

GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD CONSERVATION

GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD CONSERVATION

NEWS

  • The Supreme Court of India has reiterated that conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is non-negotiable, observing that humans are merely “guests in the bird’s abode”.
  • The Court examined an expert committee’s recommendations while hearing a 2019 petition under Article 32 highlighting the sharp decline of the species.

HIGHLIGHTS

About the Great Indian Bustard

  • Flagship species of the Thar Desert and state bird of Rajasthan (largest surviving population).
  • One of the heaviest flying birds; primarily terrestrial and grassland-dependent.
  • Endemic to India; largest among India’s four bustards (others: Lesser Florican, Bengal Florican, MacQueen’s Bustard).
  • Ecological role: Indicator of grassland health; feeds on insects, seeds, and small reptiles.

Conservation Status

  • IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
  • CMS: Appendix I
  • CITES: Appendix I
  • Population: Fewer than 150 individuals; historic range reduced to ~10%.

Major Threats

  • Habitat loss due to agricultural expansion and infrastructure.
  • Collision with overhead power lines (leading cause of adult mortality).
  • Egg predation by dogs, monitor lizards; human disturbance.

Supreme Court Directions (2024–25)

  • Accepted expert panel recommendations to balance development and conservation.
  • Revised Priority Areas:
    • Rajasthan: 14,013 sq km
    • Gujarat: 740 sq km
  • In-situ and ex-situ conservation to be implemented immediately.
  • Restrictions on future renewable energy projects in priority areas.
  • Long-term studies on climate change impacts mandated.
  • Recognised the conservation ethic of the Bishnoi community.

Beyond the Nugget: Conservation Programme

  • Long-term Bustard & Lesser Florican Recovery Project (since 2012–13).
  • Funded via Compensatory Afforestation Fund; strengthened through a tripartite agreement with Wildlife Institute of India.
  • Conservation Breeding Centres at Ramdevra and Sorsan; advanced research including telemetry and planned artificial insemination.
  • Key landscapes include areas around Desert National Park.

Takeaway: GIB conservation highlights the tension between infrastructure-led growth and biodiversity protection, reinforcing the constitutional duty to safeguard endangered species.