National Bustard Day on cards to raise
BARMER: To raise awareness about the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), also known as ‘Godawan,’ the Union government has announced the celebration of ‘National Bustard Day’ with the aim to underscore the urgent need for the conservation of the species that has seen its population drastically decline due to various threats, including overhead power lines, officials familiar with the matter said.
According to the officials, the Centre had informed the court about its plan to observe ‘National Bustard Day’ during the hearing in the apex court in April. The date has not yet been announced. The plight of the GIB was highlighted in the case of MK Ranjitsinh v. Union of India, where the detrimental impact of overhead power lines on the GIB population in Gujarat and Rajasthan was emphasised.
The government had been making efforts for years to increase the number of Godawans and revive this endangered species. After constructing breeding centres in Sudasari and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer, a significant increase in the number of Godawans has been recorded. At present, there are approximately 182 Godawans, including 34 at the breeding centres.
The GIB is critically endangered, with fewer than 200 remaining in the Indian subcontinent. The state bird of Rajasthan is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is listed in Schedule I of
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
As part of the conservatory measures taken for the GIB, a breeding centre at Sam Rajasthan’s in Jaisalmer was established in 2019 as part of a joint effort between the ministry of environment, forest, and climate change (MoEFCC), Rajasthan forest department (RFD), and wildlife institute of India (WII) to conserve the critically endangered species.
In a significant milestone for the captive breeding programme, two artificially hatched GIBs successfully gave birth to a chick in April last year. This achievement, occurring at the Jaisalmer breeding centre, marked the first time in the country that artificially reared GIBs was naturally reproduced.
In its affidavit, the Centre detailed the steps it has taken so far and has also undertaken to implement a host of measures in the future aimed at conserving the critically endangered GIB.
The Union government informed the apex court that the MoEFCC has implemented the national GIB project, which undertakes ex-situ conservation measures to provide and conserve habitats into which the birds bred in captive may be released. Insulation breeding centres will be established in range states other than Rajasthan where they do not currently exist.
It further said: “In-situ operations will be implemented in the Desert National Park Sanctuary, Rajasthan, Kachch Bustard Sanctuary, Gujarat, Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary, Maharashtra, Rollapadu Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh, Ranebennur Sanctuary, Karnataka, and Ghatthe igao Sanctuary, Madhya Pradesh.”
The government assured the court that predator-proof enclosures will be developed to prevent the entry of predators, including foxes, mongooses, hedgehogs, and monitor lizards.
“Additionally, local grass seed dissemination will be used to restore degraded grasslands. Water will be supplied to these grasslands, and undesirable and invasive species will be eliminated to make the grasslands more friendly to GIBs released from captivity,” it stated.
The government further underscored that GIB movement shall be monitored using satellite telemetry. Highlighting the planned security measures, the government mentioned that ongoing administration and maintenance will include the repair and restoration of water points and historic watch towers as well as the maintenance of existing fences and fire lines.
It further informed that capacity-building programmes will be conducted and collaboration with scientific organisations will be fostered. Furthermore, local stakeholders will be involved in initiatives aimed at conserving the GIB, and awareness programs will be implemented in the relevant areas.
The government said that as the majority of villages and settlements in the concerned region depend on grasslands for the supply of fodder, the pastures in these lands are in need of revival. These lands will be revived and innovative strategies of fodder management will be implemented.