The great Indian bustard is a large bird found in India and the Indian subcontinent that is critically endangered. Unfortunately, these majestic birds are illegally hunted for multiple reasons, putting immense pressure on the remaining small populations.
The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a large bird native to the Indian subcontinent. These birds can reach up to 1 m in height and weigh between 10-16 kg. The male great Indian bustard has a whitish neck and underparts with a black crown and body. The female and juvenile birds are smaller and lack the black coloration.
Once widespread across India and the grasslands of Pakistan, the great Indian bustard is now critically endangered with only an estimated 150 individuals left in 2018 as per the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). These remaining birds are found primarily in western India in the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
The major threats facing the great Indian bustard are habitat loss, hunting, collision with power lines, and disturbance. However, hunting remains a key threat driving the precipitous decline of this species.
Why are great Indian bustards hunted?
There are several reasons why great Indian bustards are illegally hunted:
Hunting for meat
The great Indian bustard is hunted as a source of meat. The large size of these birds provides substantial meat. Bustard meat is considered a delicacy in some areas where the birds are found. The hunting for meat may be opportunistic by local communities or part of organized poaching to sell bustard meat on the black market.
Hunting for sport
Wealthy hunters have illegally targeted great Indian bustards as trophies given the rarity of this endangered species. The bustard’s large size and majestic appearance makes it a prized target for sport hunting. Even though bustard hunting has been banned in India since the 1970s, some hunting still occurs illegally.
Hunting for use in traditional medicine
Various body parts like flesh, bones, and organs of the great Indian bustard are used in traditional Asian medicine. They are believed to have medicinal properties that can cure various ailments, though there is no scientific evidence supporting this. Poachers hunt and kill bustards to supply body parts to the black market for use in traditional medicine.
Hunting by local communities for retaliation and conflict
In some areas, local communities occasionally hunt and kill great Indian bustards in retaliation for the birds preying on their crops or poultry. Though such conflict hunting is not the main threat, it stems from a lack of community engagement and awareness about bustard conservation.
Hunting for feathers
The great Indian bustard has long, ornamental black and white feathers which are prized by some tribal communities for use in ceremonies and rituals. These feathers are sometimes harvested from poached bustards.
Effects of hunting on great Indian bustard populations
The hunting of great Indian bustards has severely affected their populations which are already vulnerable given the other threats they face:
- The great Indian bustard is close to extinction with only about 150 individuals left in the wild as per 2018 estimates. Hunting poses a major threat to wiping out the remaining populations.
- Hunting results in skewed sex ratios as male bustards are more sought after. With fewer males left, the reproductive rate declines further.
- Widespread hunting decimates local bustard populations as they have a low reproductive rate. Females only lay 1-2 eggs per year.
- Hunting pressure fragments the remaining bustard populations into smaller, non-viable groups.
- The loss of adult birds from poaching impacts the social structure and survival skills passed on to younger bustards.
Conservation efforts to protect the great Indian bustard
Recognizing that hunting is a major threat, several conservation efforts are focused on protecting great Indian bustards:
Strengthening legal protection
The great Indian bustard is protected under India’s 1972 Wildlife Protection Act which bans hunting and trafficking of this endangered species. Punishments include prison time and monetary fines. Stricter enforcement of these laws by forest and law enforcement officials can deter poaching.
Increasing security in key habitats
Stepped up patrolling is being done in the desert national parks and grassland habitats where most of the remaining bustards are found. This security presence helps prevent poaching activity.
Community engagement programs
Awareness programs are educating local communities living close to bustard habitats about the importance of protecting this species. This improves community participation in reporting illegal hunting. Livelihood support also reduces incentives for poaching.
Captive breeding initiatives
Captive breeding centers have been setup to grow bustard populations in a protected setting. The Rajasthan government is establishing a captive breeding center with technical support from the Wildlife Institute of India and the IUCN.
Habitat conservation and restoration
Efforts are ongoing to protect and restore arid grassland habitats favored by great Indian bustards through measures like removing invasive species, curbing grazing, and planting native vegetation. This reduces human-bustard conflict and opportunities for poaching.
The way forward
Saving the great Indian bustard from extinction will require concerted efforts on multiple fronts to curb the hunting and trade of this endangered species. Along with strong legal protections, community-based conservation initiatives and habitat management will be critical. Captive breeding can play a supportive role but the long-term survival of Indian bustards depends on preserving wild populations in their native grassland habitats. The extinction of this iconic species would represent a major conservation failure and loss of India’s natural heritage.
References
Reports
- Dutta, S., Rahmani, A. R., Gautam, P., Kasambe, R., Narwade, S., Narayan, G., & Jhala, Y. V. (2013). Guidelines for preparation of State Action Plan for Resident Bustards’ Recovery Programme. Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun and Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India. New Delhi.
- IUCN. (2018). Saving the Great Indian Bustard from the brink of extinction. IUCN, International Union for Conservation of Nature.
Research studies
- Dutta, S., Rahmani, A. R., & Jhala, Y. V. (2011). Running out of time? The great Indian bustard Ardeotis nigriceps–status, viability, and conservation strategies. European Journal of Wildlife Research, 57(4), 615-625.
- Habib, B., & Rahmani, A. R. (2004). Chronology and causes of extinction of the Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps (Vigors) from the Thar Desert of Western Rajasthan, India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society, 101(3), 444-452.
News articles
- Mohan, V. (2016, September 1). The great Indian bustard may soon go extinct. The Times of India. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/The-great-Indian-bustard-may-soon-go-extinct/articleshow/53940880.cms
- Sahgal, B. (2019, July 20). On the brink of extinction: Call to conserve the Great Indian Bustard. The Week. https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2019/07/20/On-the-brink-of-extinction-Call-to-conserve-the-Great-Indian-Bustard.html