Key Facts & Data

  • Species: Great Indian Bustard (GIB) – Ardeotis nigriceps
  • Status: Critically Endangered (IUCN), Schedule I (Wildlife Protection Act, 1972)
  • International Protection: CITES Appendix I, CMS Appendix I
  • State Bird: Rajasthan
  • Population Centres: Rajasthan (Thar Desert), small pockets in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
  • First Inter‑State Success: Chick hatched in Kutch, Gujarat (2026) using the jumpstart method – transfer of a fertile, incubated egg from a captive‑breeding programme to the nest of a wild female.
  • Project GIB: Launched 2016; aims to create breeding enclosures, mitigate human pressure, and restore grassland habitats.

Background & Context

  • The Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds and an indicator species for the health of native grasslands.
  • Major threats:
  • Habitat conversion for agriculture, mining, and infrastructure
  • Collisions with overhead power lines (leading cause of adult mortality)
  • Disturbance from human activities
  • Conservation has been fragmented; the 2026 chick hatch marks the first coordinated effort between Rajasthan, Gujarat and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Significance for India & Policy

  • Demonstrates the effectiveness of inter‑state collaboration and scientific interventions (jumpstart) in reviving a critically endangered species.
  • Highlights the need for integrated grassland management and infrastructure modifications (e.g., underground cabling, bird diverters) to reduce mortality.
  • Aligns with India’s commitments under CITES, CMS, and the Convention on Biological Diversity to protect threatened wildlife.

Legal & Constitutional Provisions

  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 – Schedule I: Provides the highest level of protection; offences attract stringent penalties.
  • Article 48A of the Constitution (Directive Principle) urges the State to protect and improve the environment, including wildlife.
  • National Biodiversity Act, 2002: Mandates conservation of ecosystems that support endemic species like GIB.

Conservation Measures & Way Forward

  • Habitat Restoration: Promote native grassland restoration, restrict mining/agricultural expansion in key zones.
  • Power‑Line Mitigation: Install bird‑safe diverters, underground transmission lines in high‑risk corridors.
  • Community Involvement: Engage local pastoralists and farmers through incentive schemes for habitat stewardship.
  • Monitoring & Research: Expand captive‑breeding programmes, use satellite telemetry to map movement patterns.

Prepared for UPSC aspirants – focus on factual recall, policy analysis, and application.