Government of Gujarat Must Act Proactively to Save the Great Indian Bustard!

Great Indian bustard

In Gujarat, the great Indian bustard population is down to the last few individuals in the state and the clock is ticking away fast to save the species. Ever since the disappearance of an all-breeding male bustard, the bustard population in Gujarat has comprised of mainly 16 female birds. Now, it has been four months since the male disappeared and, despite the breeding season just around two weeks away, the state's forest department has yet to either find him or work on a backup plan. There are thoughts that the male bustard must have flown to the Pakistan side of the Kutch border, where a flock of bustards lives. According to Deputy Conservator of Forest (DCF) B.J Asari, one of the workers saw the male about four months ago and the department's teams are trying to find him. He further added that they hope to find the male bustard as soon as the breeding season is coming. Although environmental factors may have affected the existence of the great Indian bustards, government inaction sped up the pace at which the birds are disappearing from the face of the Earth. In Gujarat, several bustards have been electrocuted by high-tension power lines passing through the Kutch Bustard Sanctuary. Despite requests, the state government is yet to go for underground lines. Ashok Chaudhary, an environmentalist from Kutch, stated that the only way to know whether the missing male bustard is around or has disappeared is after this year's breeding season. He further added that the state government must act aggressively to protect the species by moving power lines underground. While castigating the government's failing efforts, environmentalist Devesh Gadhvi stated that in order to continue breeding of the species, there is no choice but to bring a male bustard from neighboring Rajasthan.

Great Indian bustard in Kutch

It really frustrates and angers me that hardly anything has been done to save the great Indian bustard from the brink of extinction. This magnificent bird has been reduced drastically to 16 female birds in Gujarat and an only male bird has been missing for four months. But what really aggravates me is that Gujarat's forest department and bureaucrats have a very laid-back attitude towards the current status of the bustards. They cannot see that these birds are standing on a precipice towards extinction in their native homeland. I cannot take anymore of this! And neither can environmentalists and various citizens concerned about the future of the bustards. I strongly urge the government of Gujarat to take proactive steps in saving the great Indian bustard from extinction. This includes setting up a breeding center, which has never been done in all these years. All I have seen and the public has seen is nothing but talks about establishing a breeding center, but no absolute concrete proof that such work is being done. This has got to change! Furthermore, I strongly urge the governments of Gujarat and Rajasthan to move high-tension power lines underground because as long as the lines stay up, the birds will continue to move closer and closer to extinction. I would highly recommend searching for the missing male bustard and at the same time, Gujarat should put in a request with Rajasthan for a male bustard. I'm completely aware that Rajasthan's bustards would take time to adjust to the environment of Kutch, but the situation has come to a point where drastic measurements are required. And one of these measurements that should be implemented is establishing breeding centers for the great Indian bustard. Time is running out for this magnificent bird and it is high time for the government of Gujarat to take serious action; no questions asked!

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