Conservation Boost for the Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Current Event | 12 GIBs spotted at Desert National Park (DNP), Rajasthan. |
| GIB Population Status | - Critically endangered; 173 birds remaining (128 in wild, 45 in captivity). |
| - Found in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka. | |
| Conservation Efforts | - Listed as critically endangered by IUCN Red List in 2011. |
| - Rajasthan launched a ₹12.90 crore project in 2013; 45 chicks successfully bred in Sam and Ramdevra. | |
| - National Conservation Breeding Centre established in Jaisalmer in 2018. | |
| - Artificial insemination milestone achieved in October 2024. | |
| Habitat Protection | - Improving grasslands and fencing areas to protect from predators like desert foxes, cats, and mongooses. |
| GIB Details | - State bird of Rajasthan; flagship grassland species. |
| Protection Status | - IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered. |
| - CITES: Appendix I. | |
| - CMS: Appendix I. | |
| - Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I. | |
| Desert National Park | - Located in Jaisalmer & Barmer, Rajasthan. |
| - Houses GIBs, Chinkara (State animal), Khejri (State tree), and Rohida (State flower). | |
| - Declared UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and National Park in 1992. |