Great Indian Bustard: Conservation and Importance of Grassland Ecosystems

The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), locally known as Godawan, has returned to its traditional habitat at Nannaj Great Indian Bustard Sanctuary in Solapur, Maharashtra, after several years, following habitat-restoration efforts. The restoration initiative demonstrates the importance of conserving India’s open natural ecosystems (grasslands) rather than treating them as wastelands.

The species continues to receive intensive conservation attention. The Wildlife Institute of India’s Project Great Indian Bustard Annual Update Report 2024–25 identifies the GIB and Lesser Florican among India’s most threatened birds and emphasises habitat restoration, conservation breeding and scientific monitoring. 

About Great Indian Bustard

• Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps
• Common name: Great Indian Bustard
• Local name: Godawan
• IUCN status: Critically Endangered
• CITES: Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I
• Habitat: Open natural ecosystems, especially arid and semi-arid grasslands, scrublands and open agricultural landscapes.
• Distribution: Historically widespread across the Indian subcontinent, but its present distribution is highly fragmented.
• State Bird: Rajasthan
• It is among the heaviest flying birds and is adapted to India's dry open landscapes.

Current Population Status

The latest landscape-level assessment by the Wildlife Institute of India, conducted during October 2024–April 2025, estimated around 130 ± 21 GIBs in Rajasthan's Thar landscape. This was broadly comparable with the 2017–18 estimate of 128 ± 19 birds, indicating relative population stability in that particular assessment area, although habitat pressure remains severe. 

The WII's 2024–25 project report gives an estimated approximately 140 individuals globally, underscoring the extremely small population of the species. 

Major Threats

1. Collision with overhead power transmission lines – one of the most significant modern threats.
2. Habitat loss and fragmentation due to agriculture, infrastructure and other land-use changes.
3. Conversion and degradation of grasslands.
4. Disturbance during breeding season.
5. Predation and egg mortality.
6. Historical hunting and poaching.
7. Infrastructure expansion in its remaining habitat.

Why are Power Lines Particularly Dangerous?

The GIB has poor frontal vision and a heavy body, making it difficult to detect and manoeuvre around overhead power lines. Consequently, collisions with transmission lines can result in fatal injuries. 

This issue has also become an important example of the challenge of balancing biodiversity conservation with India's renewable-energy and transmission infrastructure requirements.

Supreme Court and Great Indian Bustard

• In 2021, the Supreme Court issued directions concerning undergrounding of power lines in GIB habitats and mitigation measures such as bird diverters.
• In March 2024, the Court reconsidered the blanket approach and constituted an expert committee to examine the scientific, technical and economic feasibility of power-line management while protecting the GIB.
• In December 2025, the Supreme Court issued further directions based on expert recommendations concerning priority areas, power lines and conservation measures in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Conservation Measures

1. Project Great Indian Bustard

Rajasthan launched Project Great Indian Bustard in 2013 for protection of the species and its habitat. The Desert National Park landscape is particularly important for the species.

2. Conservation Breeding Programme

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Rajasthan Forest Department and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change are involved in conservation breeding.

In June 2026, the captive stock reached 94 birds, with 26 chicks having hatched during the fourth year of the breeding programme. The programme uses both natural breeding and artificial insemination, along with wild-collected eggs.

3. Habitat Restoration

Current conservation planning includes:

• restoration of grasslands;
• removal of invasive weeds;
• grass plantation;
• food and water management;
• fodder plots;
• community participation;
• GIB-friendly farming practices.

MCQ — ENGLISH

Q1. With reference to the Great Indian Bustard, consider the following statements:

1. Its scientific name is Ardeotis nigriceps.
2. It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
3. It is listed in Appendix I of CITES.
4. Rajasthan is its State Bird.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 1, 2 and 3 only
(C) 2, 3 and 4 only
(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4

Explanation: The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN. It is listed in Appendix I of CITES and Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. It is also the State Bird of Rajasthan.

Q2. The Great Indian Bustard is primarily associated with which of the following habitats?

(A) Tropical evergreen forests
(B) Mangrove forests
(C) Arid and semi-arid open natural ecosystems and grasslands
(D) High-altitude alpine meadows

Answer: (C) Arid and semi-arid open natural ecosystems and grasslands

Q3. Consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?

(A) 1 only
(B) 1 and 2 only
(C) 2 and 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: (D) 1, 2 and 3