Bustards 'shocked' to extinction in Rajasthan

The population of the highly endangered Great Indian Bustard is depleting in Rajasthan due to poaching and electrocution in the vast stretches of Thar.

A recent survey by the Jaisalmer-based Bustard Conservation Society shows that only a little over 24 birds, incidentally the state bird of Rajasthan, are left in the wild. Ornithologists say lack of serious conservation efforts have pushed numbers to the point of no return.

Within a period of only fifteen months, villagers from Jaisalmer district have found half a dozen Bustard carcasses strewn across the landscape. "We found dead birds in Kanoi, Mokla, Ramdevra, Khetolai, Dholia, and recently in Lawarki villages," says Mal Singh, former Wildlife warden and founder of the Bustard Conservation Society. "Few were found under or near high tensions wires. All carcasses were discovered a few days after the bird's death, and thus we were unable to ascertain the actual cause of death – whether it's by electrocution or poaching."

Ornithologists say bustards fly at an elevation low enough to get entangled in high tension wires. "These birds fly at a maximum elevation of fifty feet and in the past, we have seen them get electrocuted," said one expert, "Some high tension wires pass through the bustard habitat in Jaisalmer. The matter was brought up before successive governments, but no action was taken."

The second threat, and a major one, to the birds is posed by poachers. "Being a sparsely populated district, it becomes easy for the poachers to hunt Bustards and other wildlife," says Singh. "Some carcasses we have found were hit by poachers, but managed to fly away and die out of their reach. There are many so-called experts but not enough has been done by officials sitting in the state capital. The forest department has failed over the years to take action towards conservation of these birds."

Tragic End

“Being a sparsely populated district, it becomes easy for poachers to hunt these birds. The carcasses that we have found have been hit by poachers but managed to fly away and die out of their reach,” an official said.