Fri. Mar 29th, 2024

Has this ever occurred to us, what makes a specie extinct?

All you need is to be hit by Human perils, possessing an extremely high risk of extinction due to rapid population declines of 80-90% over the previous 10 years (or three generations) and an impending population size of fewer than 50 individuals worldwide.

Additionally if the Government and Scientific community cares less to help the specie, its an absolute endgame.

Nobody knows how many species of plants, animals, fungi, viruses and bacteria exist on Earth. The latest estimate may put that number at 2 billion.

Although at some pace, Extinction is normal but this gets changed most likely at some point.

One thing is certain: The western black rhinoceros, the Tasmanian tiger, the woolly mammoth or the last male Northern White Rhino have breathed their last on this planet that has been corrupted by a specie called Homo Sapiens.

Our birds at risk?

According to “The state of the world’s birds” report, at least 40 percent of bird species worldwide (3,967) have declining populations, only 44 percent that are stable (4,393) with 7 percent that are increasing (653) and 8 percent with unknown trends.

The curious case of Great Indian Bustard:

Once being prefered to become India’s national bird, this largest flying bird by the name great Indian bustard (GIB) is now even fluttering its best for survival and with dearth of any Political or General will, its revival looks beset with difficulties and almost impossible.

GIB had garnered the support of famous Ornithologist Salim Ali to be made our National Bird but it lost the race for attracting unintentional embarrassing misspelling of its name.

His target was to channel the required public attention towards a specie that stood “in the greatest need of protection” because of public apathy or “direct human persecution”.

Alas, it currently has negligible support for its fading life.

Conservation Status that GIB has been conferred:

  • Listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act 1972
  • Listed in CMS(Convention on Migratory Species) Convention
  • Appendix I of CITES
  • Critically Endangered‘ on the IUCN Red List
  • Critically Endangered‘ in the National Wildlife Action Plan (2002-2016)

Also identified for the recovery programme under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India.

Population and Distribution:

GIB and it’s falling numbers

From an estimated 1,260 in 1969 getting decimated to just 300 in 2008 recording a decline of about 75 percent then.

At present, with more than 90% of its population decline, total GIBs are estimated to be 150 across Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

WII(Wildlife Institute of India) report has noted that “GIB prefers open grasslands and agricultural fields of sorghum, groundnuts, and pigeon pea.”

Preserving habitats through Indian government’s focus on welfare and conservation projects of large mammals like tiger, lion, and elephants has not helped the GIBs either.

Challenges to its survival:

1. GIB face persistent threats like industrialisation and mining.

2. GIBs are large and bulky in size, have poor frontal vision and usually take low flights which often results in mortality due to collision with electricity transmission lines.

3. Habitat loss due to common belief of categorising Grasslands as wasteland and their diversion, leaves GIBs with no place to thrive.

4. Neglect of state institutions due to classification of ‘grasslands’ as ‘wastelands’
Irresponsible wildlife clearances for diversion of forest areas from either the GIB’s habitat or adjacent areas for non-forest purposes eg recent Air Force’s (IAF) strategic Naliya air base.
Desertification, plantation of exotic & invasive species in grassland ecosystems, conversion of grasslands to agriculture lands due to irrigation, Canaling etc.

5. Decline of Natural/GIB-friendly agrarian practices.

Difficulties with specie multiplication:

An adult GIB takes years to reach reproductive maturity and has a very low rate of fertility.
They breed once every two years and it is a very shy and delicate bird.

As the Natural reproduction looms in danger, GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD has a trick at play, that their eggs look like stone befooling the hunting animal.

Their bleak survival is further threatened by stray dogs which attack the bustard’s eggs and young ones.

How does noise affect the GIB

For mating and courtship practices, the male GIB inflates his ‘gular’ or neck pouch (near the neck) that produces a large booming sound which reverberates across the grassland upon touching the ground.

This informs the GIB female of male’s exact location in the vast expanse of the grassland and facilitates reproduction.

With the human created Noise pollution overpowering almost every other noise in the neighborhood, it becomes difficult for the GIBs to contact each other.

How have Authorities responded to the looming crisis?

This apathy towards GIBs was not always known.

Back in 1970s, public outcry accelerated when Arab royalty came to India for hunting of the bustard.

Postal stamp of GIB by India

Following this and a case in Court, a GIB postal stamp was issued and bustard range states established eight wildlife sanctuaries for its protection.

This felt apt and necessary but implementation failure blocked the path to glory.

In 2015, Environment minister Javadekar announced an assistance of Rs. 200 million (20 crore) for initiating a recovery programme for four endangered species – dugong, Gangetic dolphin, great Indian bustard, Manipur brow antler deer (Sangai) and wild water buffalo.

But in the same meeting, diversion of 134 hectares of forest land from the Kutch Desert Sanctuary in Gujarat for construction of Kutch branch canal was made.

Not the whole picture is gloomy:

Rajasthan government hosting 122 out of 150 GIBs found in India, said ‘No’ to an NHAI project that could have further doomed the species.

Rajasthan Govt’s GIB project

The Wildlife department undertook wire-fenced enclosures to save the grasslands and provide safe refuge.

But so far only 5% of the area of DNP(Desert National Park) has erected the enclosures as part of in situ conservation (conservation of species within their natural habitats and ecosystem).

The state government will setup two GIB captive breeding centres in Kota and Jaisalmer.
But in case of GIBs, Captive breeding is challenging, especially for such a large bird that gets easily injured by living in cages.

Issues can come in correctly incubating eggs, rearing chicks with the right diet and avoiding developmental problems.

There has been no proven record of successful artificial breeding in this case.
Such problems and challenges can be solved with time and expertise, that we lack in.

Use of Diverting signs for GIBs against High power transmission lines can help.
These specialised diverters sway and spin in the wind, reflecting sunlight and glow in the dark.

Supreme Court as a Saviour:

Supreme Court intervened on behalf of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustards and rebuked Central Government over the birds falling to death due to power lines running through their dwindling natural habitats in Gujarat and Rajasthan.

It has asked for relief measures on a priority basis, by either getting the Diverters installed along GIB routes with High Tension Lines or getting the low Voltage transmission lines underground.

Guidelines for the State Action Plan for Resident Bustard Recovery Programme” by WII works in this regard.

More People’s Engagement needed:

Folklore Museum and Desert Cultural Centre in Jaisalmer(part of Desert National Park) had tried to create awareness about the bustard amongst local community with the help of folk songs and dramas.

India is the only home of the Great Indian Bustard. And with the bird getting extinct, it will be Indian pride to become extinct.

GIB is commonly known as ‘Godawan‘ and ‘hoom‘ in local parlance, that absolutely rhymes with ‘doom‘.

It doesn’t become another ghost story, that’s entirely wrenching us to the core.

By Alaina Ali Beg

I am a lover of all arts and therefore can dream myself in all places where the World takes me. I am an avid animal lover and firmly believes that Nature is the true sorcerer.