The Supreme Court sought the government’s response about evolving a “Project Great Indian Bustard” conservation programme like Project Tiger to bring attention to the risk faced by the Great Indian Bustard.
The court is hearing a series of petitions highlighting the numerous deaths of Great Indian Bustards due to power transmission lines criss-crossing their habitat in Gujarat and Rajasthan.
GIB is considered the flagship grassland species, representing the health of the grassland ecology. Its population is confined mostly to Rajasthan & Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh.
Under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, GIB is categorised as a Critically Endangered Bird.
– Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix 1 – Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I – Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I