WII ropes in French scientists to save Great Indian Bustard from extinction

Haridwar: The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has roped in French scientists working under the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC) among other experts to save the last remaining critically-endangered

Great Indian Bustard

(GIB) species in the country. The scientists plan to undergo artificial incubation and rearing of the bird whose numbers have seen a sharp decline in the country. From 1,250 in 1960, the number of GIBs has fallen to an alarming figure ranging between 120 and 150 which was recorded last year.

WII in collaboration with the United Arab Emirates-based IFHC has drawn global attention towards the plight of these rare birds. GIB, whose scientific name is Ardeotis nigriceps, would be conserved in an artificial facility at Ramdevera near Desert National Park in Rajasthan. Construction work of the facility has started under the French scientists’ supervision, WII officials said, adding that it is expected to be completed in a month’s time. “In order to artificially incubate their eggs and rear the chicks, we have tagged two adult female GIBs around the Desert National Park in Rajasthan in April. This was done in collaboration with scientists from France under the aegis of IFHC,” said YV Jhala, senior WII scientist.

Sutirtha Dutta, a faculty member at WII, added, “For last two to three years, we were in constant touch with the Rajasthan government to give us permission as it has the highest number of surviving GIBs. The team finally succeeded to get permission to radio- collar these birds and then collect and rear the chicks artificially.”

Dutta pointed out that the GIB population is estimated to be around 90 in Rajasthan (Jaisalmer), 10 in Karnataka; five to 10 in Gujarat; and five in Maharashtra.

Worried conservationists and activists have for the past few years been spreading awareness to protect the GIB species which has reached its present existential crisis primarily because of loss of habitat and poaching.