https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Artificially Rearing Critically Endangered Great Indian Bustards

Indian Masterminds Stories

The state bird of Rajasthan, Great Indian Bustard (GIB), popularly known as Godawan and Sonchiriya, has been struggling not to go the dodo way.  Loss of habitat and rampant hunting of this bird has critically endangered it despite it being protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. The GIB is a large bird of the bustard family (Otididae) and is one of the heaviest-flying birds in the world. The GIB inhabits dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent.

With only a handful of these birds left in India (Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat among others), the Rajasthan Forest Department’s efforts appear to have yielded positive results as a GIB has successfully hatched from a bird reared in captivity.

Speaking to Indian Masterminds, DCF Jaisalmer Dr. Ashish Vyas explained what all steps were being taken to rear the Sonchiriya in captivity and also protect them in the wild.


BUSTARD RECOVERY PROGRAM
According to a census by the forest department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), only about 128 GIBs are left. In a conservation effort, an MoU was signed between the Government of India, the Rajasthan Government, and WII (Dehradun) for the Bustard recovery program. 
As part of this program breeding centers have been started in Sam and Ramdevra. The eggs of GIB are collected and brought to the center where they are artificially hatched and the Godawan is reared. The baby GIBs grow in the presence of WII scientists and veterinarians. 
Explaining its importance Dr. Vyas said, “This has been done to establish a founder population. In case of
mishaps, this population could be used to breed the next generation of these birds.”

WHAT ARE GIBs?
GIBs are tall birds with long legs and long necks. The tallest individuals may stand up to 4 feet and the males and females are roughly the same size, with the largest individuals weighing up to 15 kg. 
Sexes are distinguished by the colour of their feathers. Feathers on the top of the head are black in males, which also possess a whitish neck, breast, and underparts, along with brown wings highlighted by black and gray markings. 
Males also have a small, narrow band of black feathers across the breast. In contrast, females possess a smaller black crown on the top of the head, and the black breast band is either discontinuous or absent.

In 1994, GIBs were listed as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. By 2011, however, their population decline was so severe that the IUCN reclassified the species as critically endangered. 
Smaller regional surveys conducted since have noted that local populations of GIBs have continued to decline. The largest concentration being in the state of Rajasthan.

HAPPY BREEDING
Great news from one of the breeding centres in the desert state came earlier in April when two artificially hatched and sexually matured GIBs mated and produced an egg. The chick has been successfully hatched taking the total number of GIBs in the breeding centre to 23. 
“This shows that we are on the right path as captive birds can also do normal breeding,” says Dr. Vyas.
He explained that although these are very shy birds they are used to human habitats. One of the reasons could be that these birds are omnivores and feed opportunistically; that is, they feed on any palatable food in their immediate surroundings. And, often reach the human settlements only to face a huge risk of being hunted by dogs and other animals. 
“So, right now these birds are being raised in captivity. Their second or third generation might be taken to the wild,”  Dr. Vyas said, adding before that the Sonchiriyas will be trained to develop wild instincts and other skills in separate enclosures.

SAFE ENCLOSURE
While the breeding centers are already giving positive results, the forest department is also taking steps to provide a safe breeding ground for these birds in the wild. 
In the Desert National Park (Jaisalmer), some safe enclosure with desert ecology has been created. These enclosures are safe from any sort of encroachment. All predators like wild boars, foxes, and dogs have been tranquilized and taken outside these enclosures. Predator-proof fencing has also been put up. 

GIB eggs in the wild are often stolen from nests by foxes, mongooses, monitor lizards, Egyptian vultures, and other birds. The greatest threat to the eggs, however, comes from grazing cows that often trample them. “GIBs lay their eggs on the ground. So, it is important to save them from dogs and other wild animals. These enclosures are helping in providing safe breeding grounds for them,” Dr. Vyas said.

And a true picture of these efforts was seen when six GIBs recently lay double eggs each — a highly unusual but positive sign.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Bipul-Pathak-IAS-JK
IAS Bipul Pathak Appointed Principal Secretary (Home) of Delhi in Strategic Bureaucratic Reshuffle
bihar-cm-solar
Bihar Moves Towards Energy Self-Sufficiency: Solar Power Emerges as a Game-Changer Under Nitish Kumar
bihar cabinet
69,000 Government Jobs and ₹2 Lakh for Women Entrepreneurs: Bihar’s Mega Employment Push
IAS Ayushi KBC
Who Is IAS Ayushi? The Visually Impaired Officer Whose Inspiring Journey Moved Amitabh Bachchan on KBC 17
India Post BSNL MoU
Department of Posts and BSNL Join Hands to Expand SIM Sales and Recharge Services Nationwide
Praveen Kumar ALIMCO CMD
Meet Praveen Kumar, Youngest CMD in India’s Public Sector, Driving ALIMCO’s Assistive Devices Mission
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Govt Denies Prosecution Sanction for IAS Officer Jaibir Arya in 2023 Corruption Case Due to Legal Technicality
Shah Faesal tribute to PM Modi
PM Modi’s 75th Birthday: IAS Officer Shah Faesal Credits Him for Restoring His Dignity, Calls Him a ‘Priest-King’ of Forgiveness
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
From Extinction to Exhilaration: The Untold Story and Future Vision of Project Cheetah | Led by IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma | Eco Warrior Awards 2025
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
Meet K. M. Abharna, the IFS Officer Behind Avni’s Case and Vidya Balan’s Sherni Role
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Ishwarlal Gurjar UPSC
10th Grade Failure to Indian Police Service: Ishwarlal Gurjar’s UPSC Success Path
Read the inspiring journey of Ishwarlal Gurjar from a small village in Rajasthan to becoming an IPS officer....
IAS Minnu P M
“Lazy, Sleepy, Yet Determined”: Minnu P M’s Honest Take on Cracking UPSC
Minnu PM, once a clerk in Kerala Police, cleared UPSC with AIR 150 after five years of struggle. Her...
IPS Ashish Tiwari
From IIT and Investment Banking to Public Service, Meet IPS Ashish Tiwari 
Ashish Tiwari, IIT graduate and former investment banker, chose public service over global finance. As...
Social Media
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
Tamil Nadu Gaur Rescue
Tiruchirappalli Forest Officials Risk Lives to Rescue Juvenile Gaur; Video Shared by IAS Officer Goes Viral
Trichy forest and fire teams risk lives to rescue a juvenile Indian gaur; IAS officer Supriya Sahu shares...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Bipul-Pathak-IAS-JK
IAS Bipul Pathak Appointed Principal Secretary (Home) of Delhi in Strategic Bureaucratic Reshuffle
bihar-cm-solar
Bihar Moves Towards Energy Self-Sufficiency: Solar Power Emerges as a Game-Changer Under Nitish Kumar
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr. S.K
IFS Uttam Kumar Sharma Interview
K M Abharna IFS Eco Warrior Awards 2025
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT