Great Indian bustard

The great Indian bustard belongs to the bustard family, Otididae. It is a large, mostly terrestrial bird adapted to open country, where it walks and forages across grassland and other sparsely vegetated habitats. The sexes differ in size and appearance. Its ground-nesting life history and use of broad open landscapes make it vulnerable to disturbance and changes in habitat, while its low reproductive rate limits how quickly a depleted population can recover. Detailed current population estimates vary by source and survey year; older counts should not be treated as present-day totals.

The species once occurred across a wider area of the Indian subcontinent, but its distribution has contracted substantially and populations are now highly restricted and fragmented. BirdLife International classifies it as Critically Endangered, citing its small population and rapid decline. An Indian government statement in 2022 reported an estimate of about 150 birds nationwide, with most in Rajasthan and fewer than ten in each of several other states; this is a dated estimate, not a current census. The continuing need for updated, comparable surveys is important when describing the species’ status.

Habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation have reduced the open landscapes on which the bustard depends. Roads, infrastructure and changing land use can further divide or disturb these areas. Overhead power lines present a particularly serious collision hazard: the Wildlife Institute of India’s 2021 project report describes monitoring of power-line mortality and the deployment of bird diverters as a pilot mitigation measure. BirdLife International has also highlighted collisions with power lines as a major threat. These risks require site-specific responses, since the location and design of infrastructure determine its effects on birds and other wildlife.

India’s recovery work has included protected-area management, habitat research, population monitoring and conservation breeding. The Wildlife Institute of India, state forest departments and partner organizations have coordinated field and breeding activities. The 2021 project report describes a captive-breeding facility at Sam in Jaisalmer, research using tracking devices to identify important areas, and trials of bird diverters near power lines. The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change reported in 2022 that conservation breeding was part of a broader programme intended to support both captive population development and in-situ conservation. Breeding programmes can provide an insurance population, but they cannot replace protection and restoration of suitable habitat in the wild.

Measures discussed for reducing collision risk include marking wires with bird diverters and considering undergrounding or rerouting lines in high-priority bustard habitat. BirdLife reported in 2021 on an Indian Supreme Court direction concerning power lines in bustard habitat, alongside interim diverter measures. The court proceedings and implementation context are complex and have continued to evolve; this article summarizes the conservation issue rather than treating any single news account as a complete statement of current law. Planning infrastructure around mapped habitat, monitoring mortality and evaluating mitigation effectiveness are central to balancing energy development with species recovery.