Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), Critically Endangered, Project Great Indian Bustard (Project GIB), Desert National Park, Kutch Bustard Sanctuary, Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, IUCN Red List, Wildlife Protection Act 1972
Habitat and Distribution, Ecological Significance, Threats to Survival, Conservation Efforts, Policy and Legal Framework, Role of Communities in Conservation
May 1, 2025
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The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a large, ground-dwelling bird native to the Indian subcontinent. Once widespread across India and parts of Pakistan, its population has now dwindled to critically low numbers, primarily confined to regions in Rajasthan and Gujarat. As of early 2025, the global population of the Great Indian Bustard is estimated to be between 200 and 250 individuals, with approximately 182 individuals in India, including 34 at breeding centers. Recognized for its distinctive appearance and ecological importance, the Great Indian Bustard has become a symbol of the challenges facing grassland ecosystems in India. Its conservation is of paramount importance, not only for biodiversity but also for maintaining the health of grassland habitats.
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
CITES: Appendix I (International trade is prohibited except under exceptional circumstances)
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Listed in Appendix I (species threatened with extinction)
Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (provides highest level of legal protection)
Table of content
Globally, there are about 26 species of bustards. These birds are generally found in dry open plains and steppes. Some important bustard species and their distribution are:
Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps): Endemic to the Indian subcontinent; critically endangered.
Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus): Endemic to India; critically endangered.
Bengal Florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis): Found in the Gangetic plains and northeastern India; critically endangered.
Houbara Bustard (Chlamydotis undulata): Found in Central Asia and Middle East; migratory populations visit India during winters.
MacQueen’s Bustard (Chlamydotis macqueenii): A migratory species that winters in western India.
Among these, three bustard species are native to India — Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican, and Bengal Florican — and are listed as Critically Endangered in the IUCN Red List.
Historically, the Great Indian Bustard was found across the Indian subcontinent, spanning regions in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Today, its presence is largely restricted to isolated pockets in Rajasthan and Gujarat, with smaller populations in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh. The bird primarily inhabits arid and semi-arid grasslands, open country with thorn scrub, and tall grass interspersed with cultivation.
As a flagship species of India's grassland ecosystems, the Great Indian Bustard plays a crucial role in indicating the health of these habitats. Its presence reflects the overall biodiversity and functioning of the grassland environment. Protecting the Great Indian Bustard also ensures the conservation of numerous other species that share its habitat, thereby maintaining ecological balance.
The Great Indian Bustard faces several critical threats:
Habitat Loss and Degradation: Conversion of grasslands into agricultural fields, industrial development, and infrastructure projects.
Collisions with Power Lines: Overhead power lines in the bird's habitat have resulted in fatal collisions.
Predation and Disturbance: Predation of eggs and chicks by animals, along with human activities.
Slow Reproduction Rate: GIBs lay very few eggs and require prolonged parental care, which significantly reduces their reproductive success.
Delayed Maturity: The bird takes about 3–4 years to reach sexual maturity, which slows down population recovery.
High Mortality Risks: With ongoing threats like electrocution and habitat encroachment, the mortality rate remains high even in protected zones.
Project Great Indian Bustard (Project GIB): Launched by Rajasthan in 2013, focusing on habitat protection, breeding grounds, and local community involvement.
Species Recovery Programme: Implemented under the Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats scheme by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
Firefly Bird Diverters: Installed on power lines to make them visible to birds like the GIB, reducing collision risk.
Artificial Hatching Programme: Conservation breeding started in 2019; eggs collected from the wild have led to successful hatching and rearing of 29 GIBs at two centres in Rajasthan. The Bustard Recovery Programme has achieved a significant milestone with the birth of the first captive-born chick of 2025 on March 9 at the Sam Conservation Centre in Jaisalmer.
Conservation Breeding Facility: Set up jointly by MoEFCC, the Rajasthan government, and Wildlife Institute of India at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
Protected Areas: Includes Desert National Park (Rajasthan), Kutch Bustard Sanctuary (Gujarat), and Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary (Andhra Pradesh).
Legal Protection: Listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Supreme Court Ruling (2021): Directed conversion of overhead power lines to underground cables in priority habitats.
Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Highest level of protection for endangered species.
Environment Protection Act, 1986: Enables government action for environmental and wildlife habitat protection.
Biological Diversity Act, 2002: Encourages sustainable and equitable use of biological resources, including grasslands.
The Prime Minister chaired a National Board for Wildlife meeting in March 2025, emphasizing the urgent need for a National Great Indian Bustard Conservation Action Plan and task force to enhance conservation efforts.
Desert National Park:
It is situated on the western border of India within the Jaisalmer & Barmer Districts of Rajasthan.
Great Indian Bustards, Rajasthan State animal (Chinkara), State tree (khejri) and State flower (Rohida) are found naturally at this park.
It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980 and National Park in 1992.
Kutch Bustard Sanctuary:
The Kutch Bustard Sanctuary is located near Nalia in the Kutch district of Gujarat, India.
It is the smallest sanctuary in the country, spread over just two square kilometres. The sanctuary, also known as the Lala-Parijan sanctuary, was declared in July 1992 primarily to safeguard the endangered Great Indian bustard.
The sanctuary is home to three species of Bustards: the Great Indian bustard, lesser floricans, and the Macqueen bustard.
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The Great Indian Bustard stands as a critical symbol of the fragility and richness of India’s grassland ecosystems. Its dwindling numbers reflect the urgent need to prioritize habitat protection, mitigate anthropogenic threats like infrastructure development, and strengthen species recovery programs. Conservation of the Great Indian Bustard is not only a matter of protecting a bird species but also of preserving India’s natural heritage and ecological integrity. Its success story — or failure — will likely shape future wildlife conservation strategies across the subcontinent.
