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In a remarkable development for wildlife conservation, experts in Rajasthan have achieved a significant breakthrough in the preservation of the critically endangered great Indian bustard. Recently, wildlife officials announced the successful hatching of a chick through artificial insemination, marking a pivotal moment for the species, which has seen its population plummet to around 150 individuals from over 1,000 in the 1960s.
The innovative effort took place in Jaisalmer city, where officials trained a lone adult male to produce sperm without mating. This sperm was then used to impregnate a female bustard housed at a different breeding facility about 200 kilometers away. Conservationists view this success as a potential stepping stone towards establishing a sperm bank that could further aid in the species' recovery.
The great Indian bustard, or 'Godawan' as it's known in Rajasthan, plays a crucial ecological role in controlling the populations of rodents and other pests. However, its survival is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and dangerous collisions with overhead power lines. With its resting habitat mainly concentrated in Jaisalmer, conservation officers urge the protection of these lands amidst competing demands from renewable energy developments.
Notably less recognized than the peacock, the great Indian bustard is one of India's largest flying birds, weighing between 15 kg and 18 kg. With a unique evolutionary trait of having excellent peripheral vision but poor frontal vision, the bustards often fail to notice power lines until it's too late, leading to fatal accidents. Additionally, their breeding habits complicate their survival prospects, as they lay only one egg at a time and nurture their young for an extensive duration. Natural threats from predators further decimate their eggs.
In response to declining populations, Rajasthan set up conservation breeding centers in 2018 and 2022, collaborating with the federal government and the Wildlife Institute of India. Researchers have gathered wild eggs for incubation, successfully cultivating a total of 45 birds across the centers, including the newly born chick. However, there are inherent challenges: the birds raised in captivity risk losing their survival instincts due to human imprinting, making their potential re-introduction into the wild problematic.
Compounding these challenges is the recent Supreme Court decision, which revoked an earlier mandate requiring the relocation of overhead power lines to protect bustard habitats. This decision has drawn ire from conservationists, who believe it creates a conflicting dynamic between renewable energy interests and biodiversity protection. Critics argue that an understanding of climate change should incorporate the need for robust measures to safeguard vulnerable species.
As renewable energy companies increasingly converge on Rajasthan due to low land costs, concerns rise regarding the cumulative impact of these developments on local ecology and wildlife. Experts, including conservation ecologist Sumit Dookia, stress that preserving the great Indian bustard's natural environment is crucial for its survival and, ultimately, the ecological balance in Rajasthan.
The future of the great Indian bustard hangs in the balance, as conservationists strive to create a path for recovery amid the urgent need for habitat preservation in a rapidly changing landscape.
In a remarkable development for wildlife conservation, experts in Rajasthan have achieved a significant breakthrough in the preservation of the critically endangered great Indian bustard. Recently, wildlife officials announced the successful hatching of a chick through artificial insemination, marking a pivotal moment for the species, which has seen its population plummet to around 150 individuals from over 1,000 in the 1960s.
The innovative effort took place in Jaisalmer city, where officials trained a lone adult male to produce sperm without mating. This sperm was then used to impregnate a female bustard housed at a different breeding facility about 200 kilometers away. Conservationists view this success as a potential stepping stone towards establishing a sperm bank that could further aid in the species' recovery.
The great Indian bustard, or 'Godawan' as it's known in Rajasthan, plays a crucial ecological role in controlling the populations of rodents and other pests. However, its survival is threatened by habitat loss, poaching, and dangerous collisions with overhead power lines. With its resting habitat mainly concentrated in Jaisalmer, conservation officers urge the protection of these lands amidst competing demands from renewable energy developments.
Notably less recognized than the peacock, the great Indian bustard is one of India's largest flying birds, weighing between 15 kg and 18 kg. With a unique evolutionary trait of having excellent peripheral vision but poor frontal vision, the bustards often fail to notice power lines until it's too late, leading to fatal accidents. Additionally, their breeding habits complicate their survival prospects, as they lay only one egg at a time and nurture their young for an extensive duration. Natural threats from predators further decimate their eggs.
In response to declining populations, Rajasthan set up conservation breeding centers in 2018 and 2022, collaborating with the federal government and the Wildlife Institute of India. Researchers have gathered wild eggs for incubation, successfully cultivating a total of 45 birds across the centers, including the newly born chick. However, there are inherent challenges: the birds raised in captivity risk losing their survival instincts due to human imprinting, making their potential re-introduction into the wild problematic.
Compounding these challenges is the recent Supreme Court decision, which revoked an earlier mandate requiring the relocation of overhead power lines to protect bustard habitats. This decision has drawn ire from conservationists, who believe it creates a conflicting dynamic between renewable energy interests and biodiversity protection. Critics argue that an understanding of climate change should incorporate the need for robust measures to safeguard vulnerable species.
As renewable energy companies increasingly converge on Rajasthan due to low land costs, concerns rise regarding the cumulative impact of these developments on local ecology and wildlife. Experts, including conservation ecologist Sumit Dookia, stress that preserving the great Indian bustard's natural environment is crucial for its survival and, ultimately, the ecological balance in Rajasthan.
The future of the great Indian bustard hangs in the balance, as conservationists strive to create a path for recovery amid the urgent need for habitat preservation in a rapidly changing landscape.
