Marking an unprecedented conservation triumph, wildlife biologists at the Desert National Park in Rajasthan successfully orchestrated the captive breeding and hatching of five Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks. This scientific milestone injects profound hope into the survival trajectory of this critically endangered endemic avifauna.
Key Highlights & Strategic Significance
- Artificial Incubation Mastery: The project utilized advanced artificial incubation and robotic surrogate feeding techniques, meticulously ensuring the chicks did not imprint on humans, a critical prerequisite for their eventual re-wilding and natural integration.
- Threat Mitigation: Coinciding with this success, the MoEFCC mandated the undergrounding of all low-voltage power lines and the installation of acoustic bird-flight diverters on high-tension wires across the GIB’s core habitat to prevent fatal mid-air collisions.
- Genetic Diversity Preservation: The breeding center established a state-of-the-art cryogenic gene bank, preserving the DNA of the current flock to safeguard against genetic bottlenecking and inbreeding depression in future generations.
- Ecological Indicator: The survival of the GIB acts as the ultimate ecological barometer for the health of India’s fragile arid grassland ecosystems, which are under severe threat from unchecked agricultural expansion and renewable energy parks.
- Project Great Indian Bustard: The success validates the heavy investments injected into the Supreme Court-monitored ‘Project GIB’, creating a replicable conservation blueprint for other endangered grassland species.
Source Link: https://moef.gov.in/en/wildlife-conservation-gib-breeding-success
Q7. The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is protected under various national and international frameworks. What is its current conservation status on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species?
A) Vulnerable
B) Endangered
C) Critically Endangered
D) Extinct in the Wild
