POWER THREAT TO THE BUSTARD
Why in the news?
Supreme Court reviews order to bury power lines in Great Indian Bustard habitat; Centre cites feasibility challenges amid conservation efforts.
source:toi
About the Great Indian Bustard Habitat Threat:
- Supreme Court reconsiders 2021 order to bury power lines in Great Indian Bustard (GIB) habitat.
- GIB, critically endangered with less than 150 individuals, faces mortal danger from power lines in Kutch and Thar deserts.
- Power lines pose risk due to birds’ limited frontal vision and large size, leading to collisions.
Key Features of Great Indian Bustard:
● Species: Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), Rajasthan’s State bird, critically endangered. ● Habitat: Mainly in Rajasthan and Gujarat, with smaller populations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. ● Threats: Faces risks from power line collisions, hunting (in Pakistan), habitat loss due to agriculture expansion. ● Reproduction: Slow reproductive rate, with few eggs laid and extensive parental care lasting almost a year. ● Protection Status: Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, listed in Appendix 1 of CITES and CMS, and under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. |