Project GIB

• Full name: Project Great Indian Bustard.
• Species: Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps).
• IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
• State bird: Rajasthan.
• Implementing institutions: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and state forest departments.
• Conservation-breeding centres: Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• Soft-release facility: Naliya, Gujarat.

Objectives of Project GIB

• Conservation breeding: Build a captive population to reduce extinction risk and support future releases into the wild.
• Habitat restoration: Improve and protect grassland habitats.
• Scientific research: Monitor populations, habitats and threats through surveys and telemetry.
• Community participation: Promote awareness and encourage bustard-friendly land use.

Important Conservation Approaches

• Captive breeding: Wild-collected eggs are artificially incubated, and chicks are raised at conservation-breeding centres.
• Rewilding: Captive-bred birds are gradually prepared for release and adaptation to natural habitats.
• Jumpstart approach: Eggs are transferred to wild nests for incubation by wild females, helping improve breeding outcomes and genetic diversity.
• Threat mitigation: Habitat protection and measures to reduce mortality from power infrastructure are important for recovery.

Habitat and Distribution

• Major habitat: Arid and semi-arid grasslands, open scrub and agricultural landscapes.
• Major stronghold: Thar Desert, Rajasthan.
• Other range areas: Gujarat and smaller populations in parts of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.

Prelims MCQs

Q. Consider the following statements about Project GIB:
1. Conservation-breeding centres are located at Sam and Ramdevra.
2. The Great Indian Bustard is the state bird of Rajasthan.
3. The project focuses exclusively on captive breeding and excludes habitat restoration.

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1 and 3 only

D. 1, 2 and 3

Correct:

Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Project GIB also includes habitat restoration, research, monitoring and threat mitigation.

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