Source: IE
Context: The birth of a Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick through artificial insemination at the Sudasari Breeding Centre in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer marks a significant step in the conservation of this critically endangered species.
Artificial Insemination of GIB:
- The chick was hatched on October 16, marking the first birth of a Great Indian Bustard through artificial insemination.
- A team from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) learned the technique from a similar project in Abu Dhabi, where artificial insemination is used to breed the houbara bustard.
- This initiative is part of the ongoing captive breeding program started in 2019, with the aim of eventually releasing bred GIBs into the wild.
About Great Indian Bustard:
- Scientific Name: Ardeotis nigriceps
- Distribution: Found mainly in the Thar Desert of Rajasthan, with a viable population of around 100-150 individuals.
- Habitat: Prefers dry grasslands and scrublands.
- Features:
- Among the heaviest flying birds, with males weighing up to 15 kg.
- Distinctive black crown, pale neck, and brownish body with marked wings.
- Diet: Opportunistic eaters, consuming grass seeds, insects, small rodents, and reptiles.
- Breeding: Lays a single egg during the monsoon season on open ground.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
- CITES: Appendix I
- Threats: Habitat destruction, power line collisions, and human interference.
Insta links:
