There may be a new ray of hope for the conservation of critically endangered Great Indian Bustards in the country. For the first time ever, a unique experiment has been launched by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) along with Maharashtra Forest Department to fit the bird with solar-powered platform terminal transmitter (SPT).
The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) has granted permission for three birds including two females and one male, of which the latter has already been fitted with the equipment. The purpose of the study is to know more of its ecology and habitat which is expected to help in its conservation.
The sources in the Ministry informed that Maharashtra has been granted permission from the MoEF to conduct the experiment under ‘Tracking movement of GIBs in Maharashtra’ project. The total project cost is `37 lakh. The cost of each SPT is `4 lakh. After results of monitoring, two more GIBs, possibly from Nanaj or Umred or wherever found, will be fitted with this equipment, said the sources. The transmitter is expected to function for three to five years.
According to VK Sinha, additional principal chief conservator of forests (APCCF), ecotourism & wildlife administration the male GIB fitted with the equipment at Asti in Warora. There are eight to nine GIBs in Warora and Bhadravati area. The WII scientists, including Bilal Habib and Gautam Talukdar,
besides two expert trappers along with forest personnel were at their job since the past 15 days.
After a survey, a spot four to five km from Ashti on Marda Road was finalised to conduct the operation. It was kept a secret to avoid unnecessary disturbance to the bird, which is very shy in nature. On Wednesday, at 5.30 pm, the bird was swiftly trapped and within 15 minutes it was released after fitting the SPT, said Sinha. Prior to this, barring sightings there was no seasonal information about the bird, he added.
The bird has been listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, and has been granted highest level of protection. Not more than 30 birds must have been left in the wild in the State.
Dr Asad Rahmani, ornithologist has welcomed the step saying that it will help in knowing how far do these birds disperse or migrate. This information will be extremely useful for planning long-term conservation strategy.
“For example, Nannaj grassland in Solapur in Maharashtra is well protected but most of the time, the GIB is found outside, and sometime they are not seen for months. Where do they goIJ We do not know. Are they dying outsideIJ Are they being killed outsideIJ” he questioned, adding that this satellite tracking study should have been done 15 years ago, but anyway it is still not too late.