The Great Indian Bustard
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NAGPUR: At a time when the Great Indian Bustard
(GIB), the majestic grassland bird popularly called as Maldhok, is
facing extinction, the sighting of two GIBs in Mandwa near Bhiwapur
tehsil has thrilled bird lovers and conservationists.
The sightings triggered a wave of excitement, as these birds have been sighted after a gap of four years (2009). Honorary district wildlife warden for Nagpur, Rohit Karoo claimed that the birds were very much there but they could not be caught on camera as these very shy birds.
Nagpur forest division claimed that during its annual GIB monitoring exercise since 2009, not a single GIB was sighted. However, on Monday, Gajanan Ingle, a farmer, sighted a male and a female.
Ingle, who has been regularly monitoring these birds, informed Karoo and GIB conservationist Gopal Thosar. While the male flew away, Era Wegad, an avid bird watcher, could photograph the female.
Karoo denied claims that the there was no sighting of GIBS in the area. "The department needs to change the annual monitoring exercise from August to November, the month when these birds have been sighted," Karoo said.
"In last four years, I've sighted GIBs in the area six times. As grasslands have vanished, these birds have made farmlands their homes. We plan to felicitate Ingle for his contribution," Karoo added.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified GIBS as a critically endangered bird.
Thosar said that human interference is causing problems for GIBS. Since 2006, there have been no reports of breeding of these birds. The GIB lays only one egg in a year and that too on the ground. "The female may not incubate the egg due to disturbance. Also, since the egg is laid on the ground other animals eat it," said Thosar.
"The lifespan of a GIB is 15-17 years and no breeding of these endangered birds may lead to its extinction. Addition of new population is necessary for their long-term survival," said Thosar. He called for regular monitoring of the birds.
The sightings triggered a wave of excitement, as these birds have been sighted after a gap of four years (2009). Honorary district wildlife warden for Nagpur, Rohit Karoo claimed that the birds were very much there but they could not be caught on camera as these very shy birds.
Nagpur forest division claimed that during its annual GIB monitoring exercise since 2009, not a single GIB was sighted. However, on Monday, Gajanan Ingle, a farmer, sighted a male and a female.
Ingle, who has been regularly monitoring these birds, informed Karoo and GIB conservationist Gopal Thosar. While the male flew away, Era Wegad, an avid bird watcher, could photograph the female.
Karoo denied claims that the there was no sighting of GIBS in the area. "The department needs to change the annual monitoring exercise from August to November, the month when these birds have been sighted," Karoo said.
"In last four years, I've sighted GIBs in the area six times. As grasslands have vanished, these birds have made farmlands their homes. We plan to felicitate Ingle for his contribution," Karoo added.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified GIBS as a critically endangered bird.
Thosar said that human interference is causing problems for GIBS. Since 2006, there have been no reports of breeding of these birds. The GIB lays only one egg in a year and that too on the ground. "The female may not incubate the egg due to disturbance. Also, since the egg is laid on the ground other animals eat it," said Thosar.
"The lifespan of a GIB is 15-17 years and no breeding of these endangered birds may lead to its extinction. Addition of new population is necessary for their long-term survival," said Thosar. He called for regular monitoring of the birds.
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