BNHS scientist receives Whitley Award for work on Great Indian Bustard

MUMBAI: The Bombay Natural History Society scientist Dr Pramod Patil has won the Whitley Award for his research project on conservation of the Great Indian Bustard.Dr Patil works as advocacy officer on the Great Indian Bustard Project of BNHS. This prestigious annual award, which is in the form of a project grant, is often referred to as Green Oscar. Earlier, Dr Deepak Apte, Chief Operating Officer, BNHS, had also received the Whitley Award and Whitley Continuation Grant.The grant supports the conservation and advocacy work for the critically endangered iconic species of Indian grasslands, Great Indian Bustard (GIB). HRH The Princess Royal presented the Whitley Award worth £35,000 to Dr Pramod Patil at a grand ceremony in Royal Geographical Society, London, in honour of his work to protect GIB in Thar Desert, Rajasthan. Dr Patil is one of the seven individuals worldwide to have received the grant this year.Edward Whitley, Founder of Whitley Fund for Nature, said; “The calibre of this year’s Whitley Awards winners is outstanding. Although they face remarkable and different challenges in their home countries, they are passionate about securing a better future for both people and wildlife.”Sir David Attenborough, Trustee, Whitley Fund for Nature, added; “Whitley Award winners are simply exceptional people - passionate individuals who are committed to achieving positive environmental impact and long-term conservation and community benefits.”After first sighting the species in 2003, Dr Patil, a medical doctor by training, made the decision to devote his time to conserving the species. By working with communities in the Thar Desert and the state forest department, Dr Patil and his team from BNHS-India are helping to once again create favourable situation for the species by developing positive relationships with local stakeholders and enabling better management of the habitat. Dr Patil’s team is also collecting crucial information about the species and engaging people to prevent poaching.Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) once flourished across the Indian sub-continent. But factors such as loss of grassland habitat due to unsustainable developmental works; alienation of local populations who were earlier co-existing with GIBs, due to faulty conservation policies of various governments; the resultant poaching and destruction of eggs have pushed the species towards extinction in 90% of its original range. The estimated surviving population consists of fewer than 250 individuals with eroding support among the locals and developmental works looming large over the landscape.