From setting aside designated grasslands to conservation breeding facility, the government and Bishnoi community, known for its dedication to flora and fauna, besides other concerned individuals are toiling to save the species now confined only to Jaisalmer, writes Deepanwita Gita Niyogi
Once found in states like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Haryana, the Great Indian bustard is now limited only to Rajasthan. Currently, there are two sets of population found in Jaisalmer district of the state. One is in the Desert National Park, which is a protected area. The other one is found in Pokhran, where India conducted a series of nuclear tests in May 1998.
“Though Pokhran is an Indian army base, the Great Indian bustard also uses the area as its habitat. They breed here and come out in the winter season,” said Sujit Shivaji Narwade, the deputy director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). According to Narwade, who is based in Rajasthan, the society has set aside a grassland for the protection of the Great Indian bustard, which is a critically endangered species.
Land use changes due to agricultural activities and a focus on renewable energy like solar have impacted the habitat of the species. Over a phone conversation, Narwade said that the local Bishnoi community, who resides in and around Pokhran, supported the society’s conservation efforts.
“The community liked the idea that the BNHS wanted to conserve the bird and protect its habitat in Jaisalmer. So, many of them showed willingness to work with the society. In this regard, around 35 hectares of land was set aside for the bird’s protection and fenced,” Narwade added.
As almost all the areas inhabited by the Great Indian bustard are overgrazed, this particular patch owned by the Bishnois at Khetolai is now under protection. After two years, BNHS will allow some amount of grazing to control the extent of overgrown grasses. It is a small, but a major habitat for the species.
Over the years, the population of the Great Indian bustard declined due to several reasons. The birds collide with power lines as a result of poor frontal vision and meet with death. There are ground disturbances, such as the presence of human beings and dogs. These are direct threats as the birds lay eggs on the ground which make them vulnerable. The Great Indian bustard also reproduces slowly.
Conservation on a local level by setting aside lands in some designated places in Jaisalmer is vital for conservation. To ensure a natural habitat for the birds, BNHS has not grown any kind of grass on its own. The idea is to study how regeneration will take place here. The birds need vegetation which is conducive to them. The species prefers grasslands which are considered wastelands in India.
Protection in place
Efforts are on to conserve the Great Indian bustard at the government level too. Jaisalmer Deputy Conservator of Forest (wildlife) Ashish Vyas spoke about the conservation breeding project. “As the bird’s population declined, it became a critically endangered species. Conservation breeding works as an insurance policy that if anything goes wrong in the wild, the programme will help sustain the population of the Great Indian bustard.”
According to Vyas, there are at present 45 chicks at the two conservation breeding centres, one at Sam in Jaisalmer and the other one is in Ramdeora. A survey conducted in 2017-18 by the Wildlife Institute of India and the forest department of Rajasthan found there were about 128 birds in the wild.
Individual efforts
Apart from conservation efforts, a few committed individuals are also trying to protect the Great Indian bustard. One is Oishimaya Sen Nag, who is covering a story for BNHS as a science communicator. This is a great way to spread awareness about the species.
“The Pokhran Field Firing Range is an important habitat area for the bird. But the areas nearby it are unprotected. The entire region is a mosaic of villages, croplands and grasslands. This gives rise to disturbances. But the Bishnoi community is ever ready for conservation,” said Sen Nag, who is a conservation storyteller.
In the 16h century, Guru Jambheshwar taught the Bishnois 29 principles, and of them, six are related to environmental conservation. Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi attended a conference organised in Madhya Pradesh’s Bhopal in January. Belonging to the Bishnoi community, he is a resident of Dholia village in Jaisalmer.
“I was interested in the conservation of the species. In 2014, I attended a seminar in Jodhpur. I was trained there on how to carry out wildlife rescue operations. After that, I took my task seriously and carried out anti-poaching awareness, patrols and rescues,” Bishnoi said. According to him, high-tension power lines pose a threat to the Great Indian bustard. On his part, Bishnoi documents all kinds of threats faced by the species.
On an individual level, Sumit Dookia runs a conservation project in Jaisalmer. Dookia explained that there is a greater focus on community initiatives outside protected areas where people are engaged in pastoral and farm activities.
“Through the Ecology, Rural Development & Sustainability (ERDS) Foundation, registered in 2019, local residents are urged to protect the bird which showed signs of decline from the 1980s and 90s. Through the help of the Great Indian bustard, mitras like Pemani, who record sightings, information is used to find out how the species is faring outside the protected area,” Dookia said.
