GIB (Great Indian Bustard)

 GIB (Great Indian Bustard)

Due to the rapid concretisation of the lands and urbanisation, the shelter places of the animals, birds etc. are getting diminished and these creatures are finding it very difficult to survive and some species are becoming extinct.  Looking at this grave situation, the local Governments have swung into action and taken steps to declare some of the Wldlife and Bird Sanctuaries all over the country to preserve the rare species of Animals and Birds.

The Great Indian Bustard (Maldhok) is one of such rarest birds of Indian Sub continent. The Bird is found only in some parts of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh States. The respective State Governments have declared the sancturies for the Great Indian Bustard.( Nannaj GIB Sanctuary – Solapur )

 The Government of Maharashtra declared Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in 1979 with the sole objective of conserving the rarest species of Great Indian Bustard which are endangered with extinction. The sanctuary consists of the area of North Solapur, Madha, Mohol and Karmala Talukas of Solapur District and Karjat, Shrigonda, Newasa Talukas of Ahmednagar District covering a total area of 8496.44 sq.kms.This bird has been included in the Schedule-1 of Wildlife Act 1972 and accordingly due protection has been given to this bird. The headquarters of the sanctuary are Nannaj of Solapur District and Rehekuri of Ahmednagar District.

 

•The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) or Indian bustard is a bustard found on the Indian subcontinent.

•A large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs, giving it an ostrich like appearance.

•This bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds.

•GIB is a primarily terrestrial birds with adult males as tall as 122 cm and weigh 11-15 kg and adult females reach up to 92 cm and weigh 4-7 kg,

•GIB lays one egg every 1-2 years and the success rate of these eggs is 60-70 per cent.

•However, this rate has been reduced to 40-50 per cent due to predators like fox and dogs.

Rapid decline

•Till 1980s, about 1,500-2,000 Great Indian Bustards were spread throughout the western half of India, spanning eleven states.

•However, with rampant hunting and declining grasslands, their population dwindled.

•2011- IUCN Critically endangered list

•As per a report by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) only 150 GIBs are left in India, out of which around 90 per cent are found in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

•The GIBs are dying at the rate of 15 per cent annually due to collision with high voltage