"GIB Soft Release Centre Inaugurated in Kachchh Amid Grassland Conservation Push"
Jump-start technique
replacing infertile wild GIB eggs with viable captive-bred eggs for wild females to rear
Soft Release Centre
facility that gradually acclimatises captive-reared birds to wild conditions before full release
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Under Indian law, it receives the highest protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which prohibits hunting and prescribes the most stringent penalties. Internationally, it is listed under Appendix I of CITES, banning commercial trade.
The species was once distributed across arid and semi-arid grasslands from Punjab to Tamil Nadu. Today, the last viable wild population is almost entirely confined to Rajasthan's Thar desert, with a small isolated remnant in Gujarat's Kachchh district. Within Rajasthan, the Desert National Park, spanning the districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer, is the single most important GIB habitat. Human habitation exists within the park, which complicates protection efforts. The Gujarat population, centred on the Lala–Rawa landscape of Kachchh near Naliya, is critically small and has been the focus of intensive intervention.
The GIB shares its Critically Endangered or Vulnerable status with species such as the Musk Deer, Red Panda, and Asiatic Wild Ass, a grouping that matters for conservation prioritisation. By contrast, species like Cheetal, Blue Bull, and Hanuman Langur are not endangered and do not receive the same level of protection. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, is the nodal scientific institution for GIB population assessments, habitat evaluations, and recovery planning.
Grassland ecosystems cover nearly 24% of India's land area but remain among the most degraded and under-conserved ecosystems in the country. Unlike forests, grasslands lack a dedicated national policy framework, which means GIB habitat is routinely converted to agriculture or renewable energy infrastructure without adequate safeguards.
The GIB's decline is driven by two overlapping forces. Historically, grassland conversion to agriculture and hunting caused the population collapse. Today, the primary threat is collision with overhead power transmission lines. The species has poor frontal vision and cannot detect wires in time to avoid them. Solar and wind energy expansion in the Thar region has intensified this threat by adding new overhead infrastructure within critical GIB habitat. The Supreme Court of India has been seized of this issue, with petitions seeking underground cabling in GIB zones.
India's recovery programme has three main pillars. First, captive breeding: eggs are collected from wild nests and hatched under controlled conditions at breeding centres in Rajasthan. Second, the 'jump-start' technique: infertile eggs laid by wild GIB females are replaced with viable eggs from the captive breeding programme, allowing wild females to incubate and rear chicks naturally. …
With reference to India's 'Desert National Park', which of the following statements are correct?
1.It is spread over two districts.
2.There is no human habitation inside the Park.
3.It is one of the natural habitats of 'Great Indian Bustard'.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?
With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements is/are correct?
1.It is spread over the districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan.
2.There is no human habitation inside the Park.
3.It is one of the natural habitats of the Great Indian Bustard.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Consider the following pairs:
Species — Conservation Status (IUCN)
1.Great Indian Bustard — Critically Endangered
2.Red Panda — Endangered
3.Asiatic Wild Ass — Vulnerable
4.Cheetal (Spotted Deer) — Least Concern
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
With reference to the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), consider the following statements:
1.It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
2.Desert National Park, which is one of its natural habitats, is spread over the districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer.
3.The 'jump-start' technique involves replacing infertile wild GIB eggs with viable eggs from the captive breeding programme.
4.The Gujarat Action Plan targets a minimum viable population of over 50 birds in the Lala–Rawa landscape.
How many of the above statements are correct?
Consider the following statements about the MISHTI programme:
1.MISHTI stands for Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats and Tangible Incomes.
2.It is implemented exclusively by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
3.It combines mangrove restoration with coastal livelihood support for local communities.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
The 'Miyawaki method' of afforestation, recently used in the Sayara Van Kavach initiative in Kachchh, is best characterised by which of the following?
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