Great Indian Bustard Conservation and Politics Should Not Mix!

Great Indian bustard

In India, conservation of various endangered species are known to be subjected to political influence especially when the species are seen by public as "charismatic" and have a special place in the general mindset of people. For example, the Asiatic lion is widely regarded by many as a representative of Narasimha and is linked to the Lion Capital of Ashoka. However, its conservation is subject to political influence when it comes to translocation outside Gujarat. This is seen when the state governments of Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh are at each others throats with Madhya Pradesh calling for lions to be brought into the state to start its own population and Gujarat arguing that the big cats are part of the state's heritage. But now, there is another endangered species that has become subject to political influence: the great Indian bustard. This was recently seen when Gujarat requested Rajasthan to lend one of its male bustards in an effort to revive its population, which is mostly comprised of six females. Gujarat's decision to make this request comes from when the state's only male bustard went missing last December and the government's hope was lost regarding the male's return in the mating season, which ended in June. The government of Rajasthan, in response, refused to lend one of its male bustards to Gujarat. Principal chief conservator of forests Shyamal Tikadar was told that Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani made a proposal at a state wildlife board meeting that Gujarat should get a male bustard from Rajasthan or that female bustards from Gujarat be sent to Rajasthan for breeding. On the other hand, Rajasthan's forest and environment minister Sukhram Bishnoi denied receiving any formal proposal from the Gujarat government and that the state would still refuse such a proposal. Instead, he suggested that Gujarat should capture all six female bustards and send them to Rajasthan for breeding. A senior officer involved with Rajasthan's bustard project added that the state's former BJP government, as well as current Congress government, was reluctant to give its bustard eggs to Gujarat for captive breeding. In addition, because of Rajasthan government's resistance, the captive breeding center which was to be established in Gujarat was shifted to Rajasthan. WII expert Y.V Jhala, who is linked with the captive breeding center, also agreed with the refusal to send a male bustard to Gujarat. However, unlike what Gujarat and Rajasthan governments said, Dr. Jhala indicated that Gujarat has not addressed the issue of overhead high-tension power lines in bustard habitat and called for the state to move all power lines underground or sending a male bustard will not serve any purpose.

A great Indian bustard in flight

It really frustrates me that the conservation of a critically endangered species like the great Indian bustard has become subjected to political influence. This majestic bird is on the precipice of extinction and little has been done to save it, let alone an establishment of a captive breeding center in Rajasthan. Even though officials of the Gujarat Forest Department proposed to move high-tension power lines underground, the state government has been negligent and nothing has been done. Even with no male bustard left in Gujarat, the government has not addressed the issue. This has got to change! I strongly urge the government of Gujarat to take decisive action in preventing any further depletion in the state's bustard population. This means either moving all power lines underground or transferring the female bustards to Rajasthan for captive breeding. While I strongly agree that major conservation efforts require political will, it should not go to the extent where two or more state governments constantly argue with one another or make up excuses on political grounds regarding the plight of an endangered species in focus. This especially applies to the great Indian bustard and other species that are on the brink of extinction. Although the government of Rajasthan indicated that it has established a captive breeding center for the bustards as a reason to why it is reluctant to hand over one of the male birds to Gujarat, I'm guessing there could be other reasons as well. One of the reasons being that the bustard is Rajasthan's state bird and is therefore part of the state's heritage. This is similar to the argument Gujarat government made regarding the translocation of lions outside the state. But as long as governments of Gujarat and Rajasthan continue to be at each others throats over the conservation of bustards this way, these majestic birds will keep dwindling until they vanish into history. This is why I strongly urge both the governments to please refrain from arguing with one another and focus on providing support to conservation efforts to save the great Indian bustard, such as captive breeding and moving power lines underground. This especially applies to the government of Gujarat, which has not done anything to help save the bustard in the state. The clock is ticking and there is absolutely no room for negligence!

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