Wildlife Institute of India released the official ‘Great Indian Bustard’ population estimate for the first time since 2017-18

Wildlife Institute of India (WII) released the first official Great Indian Bustard (GIB) population assessment since 2017-18 and reviewed the progress of Project Great Indian Bustard at the 91st Standing Committee meeting of the National Board for Wildlife.

Key Findings

¨     Population Status: Estimated 130 (±21) GIBs remain in the wild.

¨     Population has remained broadly stable since the previous estimate of 128 (±19) during 2017-18.

¨     Trend analysis showed stable detections, encounter rate, abundance, and occupancy since 2017.

¨     Habitat Status: GIB occupies only about 16% of the surveyed landscape, despite the availability of larger suitable habitat.

¨     Most birds are confined to relatively undisturbed grasslands around the Desert National Park and Pokhran Field Firing Range.

¨     The species prefers flat to slightly undulating grasslands with sparse fallows and generally avoids agriculture and infrastructure.

¨     Major Threats: Habitat fragmentation due to expanding power transmission lines, agricultural fencing, roads, water sources, and solar plants.

¨     Increasing mortality from collisions with overhead power lines, as GIB has poor frontal vision and limited ability to avoid wires.

¨     Other threats include habitat loss, poaching, and egg predation.

¨     The report stressed that long-term survival requires stronger habitat protection, threat mitigation, habitat restoration, and conservation breeding.

¨     Other Observations: During the survey, 35 GIB flocks, 1,568 Chinkara herds, and 79 Desert foxes were recorded.

¨     Non-native species such as Nilgai, pigs, and free-ranging dogs were also observed.

¨     The Thar Desert remains the last viable landscape for large-scale recovery because of its extensive contiguous natural habitat.

Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

¨     Launched by the Government of Rajasthan in 2013.

A collaborative conservation programme involving the Government of India, Rajasthan Government, Gujarat Government,