Great Indian Bustard

• Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps
• Common name: Godawan.
• Conservation status: Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
• Habitat: Grasslands and open, arid and semi-arid landscapes.
• Distribution: Mainly Rajasthan, with small populations in Gujarat and other parts of its historical range.
• State bird: Rajasthan.
• Major habitat: Desert National Park, Rajasthan.
• Ecological importance: A flagship species of India’s grassland ecosystems.
• Major threats: Habitat loss and fragmentation, collisions with overhead power lines, disturbance and low reproductive rates.

Environmental Programmes for Conservation

1. Project Great Indian Bustard

• Launched by the Rajasthan Government on 5 June 2013.
• Aims to protect the remaining population and its habitat.

2. Bustard Recovery Programme

• Implemented by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) with support from MoEFCC and state forest departments.
• Focuses on conservation breeding, applied research, habitat restoration, threat mitigation and monitoring.
• Covers the Great Indian Bustard and Lesser Florican.

3. Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding — Integrated Approach

• Supported by the National CAMPA Authority.
• Conservation-breeding facilities are located at Sam and Ramdevra, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
• Includes captive breeding, scientific research, habitat improvement and preparation for release into the wild.

4. Conservation Action Plan for GIB and Lesser Florican

• The National CAMPA Authority approved ₹77.05 crore for five years in 2024.
• Includes surveys, artificial insemination research, habitat improvement, predator management, community participation and telemetry-based monitoring.

Important Conservation Developments

• Jumpstart Approach: A captive-laid fertile egg is placed in a wild nest, where a wild female incubates it. In March 2026, this approach helped a chick hatch in Gujarat after a decade.
• Power-line mitigation: Overhead power-line collisions are a major threat. Conservation efforts include identifying dangerous stretches and measures to reduce collision risks.
• Recent milestone: On 4 October 2026, two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards were released into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, marking a major step towards rewilding.

 Prelims Practice Questions

Q1. Consider the following statements about the Great Indian Bustard:

1. It is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN.
2. It is a grassland species.
3. Rajasthan is an important stronghold of the species.
4. Its major threat includes collisions with overhead power lines.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 1, 2 and 3 only

(c) 2, 3 and 4 only

 (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (d) 1, 2, 3 and 4

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