Great Indian Bustard

Why in News ?

• The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued Draft Central Electricity Authority (Construction of Electric Lines in Great Indian Bustard Area) Regulations, 2023, making mandatory for electric lines to be underground or overhead through the ‘Great Indian Bustard (GIB) Area’.

About Great Indian Bustard

• The State bird of Rajasthan, is considered India’s most critically endangered bird.
  • Population is confined mostly to Rajasthan and Gujarat. Small populations occur in Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Threats :

• Threats due to collision/electrocution with power transmission lines, hunting , habitat loss and alteration as a result of widespread agricultural expansion, etc.

Protection Status :

• IUCN red List: Critically Endangered
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES): Appendix1
• Convention on Migratory Species (CMS): Appendix I
• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I

 Measures to Protect GIB :

• Project Great Indian Bustard:
• It has been launched by the Rajasthan government with an aim of constructing breeding enclosures for the species and developing infrastructure to reduce human pressure on its habitats
• Species Recovery Programme:
  • It is kept under the species recovery programme under the Integrated evelopment of Wildlife Habitats of the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Practice Questions for Prelims

Mains Practice Question

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