Last month, conservationists received a glimmer of hope for the future of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a majestic yet critically endangered bird that has been teetering on the brink of extinction. For the first time in India, wildlife officials successfully hatched a Great Indian Bustard chick through artificial insemination at the National GIB Conservation Breeding Centre in Sudasari, Jaisalmer. This breakthrough marks a significant milestone in efforts to save one of India’s most iconic but vulnerable species.
The artificial insemination technique, which led to the hatching of the chick, is a pioneering step in the conservation of the endangered bird. For years, wildlife experts have faced significant challenges in breeding these large birds in captivity due to their unique reproductive traits.
The success of this artificial insemination process is a testament to the tireless work of conservationists. They have long sought innovative solutions to preserve this critically endangered species.
Officials in the western state of Rajasthan trained a lone adult male bustard to produce sperm without mating. This sperm was then transported to another breeding centre about 200 kilometers away, where it was used to inseminate an adult female. The result was the hatching of a healthy chick, which is now being closely monitored in the breeding facility.
This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for the future of the Great Indian Bustard, including the establishment of a sperm bank that could be used for future breeding efforts. With less than 150 individuals remaining in the wild, the success of artificial insemination offers a glimmer of hope for reversing the bird’s rapid decline.
A Species in Decline
Once widespread across India, the Great Indian Bustard has seen its numbers plummet dramatically due to a combination of factors like habitat loss, poaching, and collisions with overhead power lines. In the 1960s, more than 1,000 of these birds roamed across India. Now their population is confined to a few isolated pockets in Rajasthan, with a handful of birds spotted in Karnataka and Gujarat.
The bustard’s critical habitat, including Rajasthan’s Desert National Park, is increasingly threatened by industrialization, agricultural expansion, and the proliferation of power lines. The birds’ poor frontal vision and large size make them especially vulnerable to collisions with power cables, often leading to fatal injuries.
In addition to human-made threats, the Great Indian Bustard faces natural challenges. These birds have an unusual breeding strategy: they lay just one egg at a time and invest nearly two years in raising each offspring. During this time, males play no role in nurturing the young, leaving the female to care for the chick until the next breeding season. This slow reproductive rate has made it difficult for the species to recover in the face of mounting threats.
The Role of the Great Indian Bustard in the Ecosystem
Despite its endangered status, the Great Indian Bustard plays a crucial role in the ecosystems of the Indian subcontinent. The bird is an effective predator of rodents, snakes, and other pests, helping to maintain a healthy balance in its environment. Its role as a natural pest controller is especially vital in the agricultural areas it once inhabited in greater numbers.
Locally known as the Godawan, the Great Indian Bustard is also the state bird of Rajasthan, symbolizing both the state’s rich wildlife heritage and the urgent need for its conservation. The bird is also known as the ‘Son Chiriya’ in Madhya Pradesh and was once in contention to be named the national bird of India.
Conservation Efforts: A Collaborative Approach
Recognizing the urgency of the situation, the government of India, the Rajasthan state authorities, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) have collaborated on an ambitious conservation program to protect and restore the Great Indian Bustard population. The breeding programme, which has now included the successful artificial insemination of the bird, is part of this larger effort.
One of the critical elements of this programme is addressing the threat posed by power lines, which continue to pose a deadly hazard to the species. A 2020 study by WII found that power lines were responsible for the deaths of thousands of birds each year, including the Great Indian Bustard. In response to these findings, the Supreme Court of India ordered that power lines in GIB habitats be buried underground to reduce the risk of collisions. However, the implementation of this order has proven to be a challenge, and earlier this year, the Court signaled it would revisit the issue due to the high costs and logistical difficulties involved in burying power lines across vast stretches of land.
Despite these challenges, the collaborative efforts to save the GIB continue, with the breeding programme now expanding to include artificial insemination and other advanced techniques to boost the species’ chances of survival.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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