New Strategy to Help GIBs Hatch and Thrive Wild

NEW STRATEGY TO HELP GIBs HATCH AND GROW IN THE WILD

Why in the News?

  • Wildlife officials in Rajasthan have initiated a new conservation strategy for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) to support wild hatching.
  • Move from captivity: The new method shifts from captive breeding at Desert National Park (DNP) to natural incubation in the wild.
  • WII recommendation: The protocol follows advice from the Wildlife Institute of India, allowing use of five eggs annually for this purpose.

New Strategy to Help GIBs Hatch and Thrive Wild

New Egg-Handling Strategy

  • Egg replacement: Real eggs are temporarily swapped with gypsum dummy eggs to avoid disturbing mother birds.
  • Safe incubation: Original eggs are incubated under controlled conditions to avoid predation and weather risks.
  • Natural return: Once near hatching, eggs are returned to original nests, ensuring wild upbringing.

Significance for Conservation

  • Behavioural integrity: Prevents disruption of maternal instincts, unlike past captive-only rearing methods.
  • Sensitive technique: Offers a science-backed solution to raise chicks in the wild, supporting natural behaviours.
  • Critically endangered: With under 200 birds left, the Great Indian Bustard needs urgent conservation innovations.

GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD (GIB)

● Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps, among the heaviest flying birds in the world.

● Status: Listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List.

● Habitat: Native to semi-arid grasslands; now mostly restricted to Rajasthan and parts of Gujarat.

● Threats: Includes habitat loss, power line collisions, and predation.

● Conservation focus: Project Godawan and Desert National Park are key to India’s GIB recovery efforts.