long-term scientific population recovery and conservation initiative for four critically endangered species of India began with a national launch workshop at the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) here on Monday. Senior forest officials from 16 States, wildlife researchers and representatives stressed on the need for implementing the broad long-term plan without further delay in order to strengthen the possibility of success in the endangered species recovery initiative for the brow antlered deer (Sangai) found only in Manipur, the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Ganga river dolphin and the Dugong.
Addressing the gathering as the chief guest on the occasion, the director general of forests and special secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Sharad Singh Negi said that with its 30 years of experience in wildlife and related conservation, the WII should now expand its network opening regional centres to enhance its mandate also for increasing its ex-situ tasks, he said.
Researchers and officials in the technical sessions made presentations of various aspects for conservation and population revival of the four selected species-the critically endangered GIB, the Sangai deer vulnerable to extinction in Manipur, the endangered Gangetic dolphin and critically endangered Dugong.
It was stated that one of the major threats to GIB (less than 200 birds wild population) are the overhead power lines which often cause fatalities of this rare bird. The GIB is a heavy bird which flies comparatively lower and has narrow front vision due to which it may not spot the overhead lines in time and fly into the power lines, often with deadly outcome.
Research teams will map the spatial risk of bustard collision with power lines to mitigate detrimental effects of power lines on GIB survival. Additionally, a national conservation breeding centre will be developed by WII to facilitate conservation breeding of the GIB to secure an insurance population for possible reintroduction in restored habitats in future. Similarly, the Sangai deer- found only in Manipur is vulnerable to extinction with a population of less than 100 individuals in the wild. The population of India’s national aquatic animal, the Gangetic dolphin has seen more than a 50 per cent decline in its population which is still declining.
The various measures planned for the Gangetic dolphin will be implemented by the WII along with State ForestDepartments and partner NGOs in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal. Speakers also elicited focus on the need for integrated conservation approach involving applied research participatory management and habitat protection which will be implemented by the WII and forest departments of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat in collaboration with partner NGOs.
Speaking on the occasion, the WII director VB Mathur said that in addition to its mandate of wildlife research, training and education the institute will also widen and enhance its work scope said Mathur while stressing that work needs to be started without delay on the long-term population recovery and conservation initiative.