Great Indian Bustard

Category: Environment and Ecology — Endangered Species

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is one of India's most threatened large bird species and a major priority for grassland conservation.

Key facts

  • Habitat: Dry grasslands and semi-arid open landscapes.

  • Major stronghold: Rajasthan, particularly the Desert National Park landscape.

  • Other historical or limited populations have occurred in parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

  • It is a large, ground-dwelling bird that feeds on seeds, insects and other small animals.

  • It is threatened by habitat loss, fragmentation, disturbance, low reproductive rates and collisions with overhead power lines.

Conservation

  • It is protected under India's wildlife conservation framework.

  • Conservation measures include habitat protection, breeding programmes, monitoring and efforts to reduce power-line collision risks.

  • The species is the focus of targeted conservation initiatives in India.

UPSC key pointers

  • Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps.

  • IUCN status: Critically Endangered.

  • Rajasthan is its principal remaining stronghold.

  • Grassland is a valuable ecosystem, not simply degraded or unused land.

  • Power-line collisions are a major conservation concern for this species.