Great Indian Bustard numbers stable, survives in only 16% of Thar habitat, says report

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, historically found across the Indian subcontinent but now restricted primarily to Rajasthan and Gujarat. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, placed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and included in Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS). The stabilization of the population is a positive sign for in-situ conservation efforts, but the confinement to 16% of its habitat illustrates severe habitat fragmentation. The bird is an indicator species for grassland ecosystems, which are often mistakenly classified as 'wastelands' in Indian land-use policy. This classification leads to the diversion of these vital habitats for solar and wind energy projects, agriculture, and infrastructure, directly threatening species adapted to open, arid environments. The assessment also noted the presence of other significant species like the Chinkara and Desert fox, emphasizing the broader ecological value of the Thar landscape.

The conservation of the GIB highlights the complex challenge of balancing sustainable development goals with biodiversity protection. India's push towards achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel energy capacity by 2030 has led to a proliferation of solar and wind farms in the Thar desert. The GIB, possessing poor frontal vision, is highly susceptible to fatal collisions with the overhead power transmission lines associated with these projects. The Supreme Court of India intervened significantly in December, ordering the re-routing or undergrounding of power lines in designated priority areas to mitigate this mortality risk. This judicial intervention underscores the tension between climate change mitigation (through renewable energy) and species conservation. Furthermore, the article mentions Project GIB, a collaborative effort involving the Centre, the Rajasthan Government, and international bodies. This project encompasses habitat improvement, predator management, and notably, ex-situ conservation through captive breeding centers in Jaisalmer, aiming to eventually release captive-bred birds into the wild to bolster the population.

The Thar desert ecosystem, characterized by arid and semi-arid conditions, provides the last viable, contiguous landscape for the GIB. The species favors specific topography: flat to slightly undulating terrain featuring grasslands and sparse fallows. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) report identifies the areas in and around the Desert National Park and the Pokhran Range in Jaisalmer as critical habitats because they remain largely devoid of human settlements and, crucially, renewable energy infrastructure. The geographical spread of the GIB has shrunk drastically; the report notes that the current assessment was restricted to Rajasthan, as only a few females survive in Gujarat, indicating localized extinctions across its historical range. UPSC questions often focus on the precise habitat requirements of endangered species and the geographical distribution of protected areas like the Desert National Park, mapping the intersection of physical geography and biodiversity conservation.