Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

Radheshyam Pemani Bishnoi, a 28-year-old wildlife conservationist from Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, tragically lost his life in a road accident while on an anti-poaching mission. He was a key figure in the GIB Community Conservation Programme.

About the Great Indian Bustard (GIB)

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is a large ground-dwelling bird native exclusively to the Indian subcontinent. It mainly inhabits dry grasslands and scrubland areas, which are rapidly diminishing due to expanding agriculture and infrastructure development.
The bird’s main population, numbering around 100 individuals, is found predominantly in the Thar Desert, especially within the Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan. Across India, the total population is critically low, estimated at roughly 100–150 birds.

Physical Features

The Great Indian Bustard ranks among the heaviest birds capable of flight. It has a horizontal stance with long, bare legs and resembles an ostrich in its general shape.
Key characteristics include:

• A distinctive black patch on the forehead
• A pale-colored head and neck
• Brownish plumage with patterns of grey, black, and brown on its wings
  Both males and females are similar in size, with the heaviest individuals weighing up to 15 kg (33 pounds). The bird typically lives for 12 to 15 years.

Breeding and Diet

Great Indian Bustards breed during the monsoon season, laying a single egg directly on the bare ground, which leaves the nest vulnerable to predators and accidental damage.
Their diet is opportunistic and varies with seasonal availability, including:

• Grass seeds
• Insects such as grasshoppers and beetles
• Occasionally small rodents and reptiles

Conservation Status

• Listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List
• Protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the highest protection category in India
• Included in Appendix I of CITES, reflecting its status as threatened with extinction and banning international trade