Great Indian Bustard is one of the heaviest flying birds (weighing up to 15kgs). They inhabit dry grasslands and scrublands on the Indian subcontinent
Habitat: It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. It is found in Rajasthan (Desert National park), Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India and parts of Pakistan.
IUCN Red List: It is a critically Endangered species with less than 150 birds left in the wild.
Indian Wildlife (Protection)Act,1972: Schedule I
CITES: Appendix I
Threats:
Death by collision with infrastructure, particularly power lines and wind turbines,
Depletion of grasslands,
hunting,
development of mines and human habitation in and around their habitats among others.
Conservation Initiatives:
Project Great Indian Bustard: It was launched by Rajasthan Government with the objective of conservation of the remaining population of critically endangered Great Indian Bustard(Ardeotis nigriceps) locally called Godawan.
