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News: Pakistan has issued special permits to the Emir of Qatar and nine others to hunt 100 houbara bustards.
Facts:
- The houbara bastard lives in arid climates and comes in two distinct species, one residing in North Africa and the other in Asia.
- African Houbara is listed as Vulnerable in IUCN Red List
- Asian Houbara is listed as Critically Endangered in IUCN Red List
Additional Information
Types of Bustards Found in India
| Name | Characteristics | Geographical Extent | IUCN Status |
| Great Indian Bustard #State Bird of Rajasthan | Can be distinguished by its black crown on the forehead contrasting with the pale neck and headOne of the heaviest flying birds (weighing up to 15kgs)# Endemic to Indian subcontinent | Rajasthan (Desert National park), Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh in India and parts of Pakistan | Critically Endangered |
| Lesser Florican | # Smallest in the bustard family# Endemic to Indian subcontinent. | Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh | Endangered |
| Bengal Florican | Mostly black in colour with largely white wings# Endemic to Indian subcontinent | Terai and the Brahmaputra valley (Uttar Pradesh, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.)Considered to be extinct in Bangladesh. | Critically Endangered |
| MacQueen’s Bustard | Pale sandy in colour | Found in desert and steppe regions of AsiaWinter migrant to the desert regions of Rajasthan and Gujarat | Vulnerable |
- Great Indian Bustard, Lesser Florican and Bengal Florican – They are listed in Schedule I of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
