BANGALORE: Karnataka is one among six states which has been selected for conserving the Great Indian Bustard, which is on the verge of extinction. The Ministry of Environment of Forests has directed a dedicated expert committee to prepare a dedicated action plan for its conservation and submit it by the end of this month.According to a rough estimate, there are only around 300 birds in the entire country due to dwindling forest cover as well as human confrontation. The other five states are Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where the GIB seems to be surviving, said a member of the committee. The expert committee includes the Chief Wildlife Wardens of all six states along with senior forest officials. A member of the team said, “Generally two strategies have been planned for improving the natural habitat and making it congenial for birds; secondly, creating an ideal habitat for its protection from predators. Other strategies include steps for artificial breeding, studies on capacity building and training people.”Expressing concern over the dwindling GIB population, Dr M H Swaminath, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), said in 1980-89 the bird could be spotted easily in the state.Loss of habitat and change in the cultivation pattern has been one of the major reasons for the dwindling in the numbers of GIBs. He said, “The GIBs generally dwells on arid and semi-arid grasslands and feeds on grass seeds, insects, grains and pulses (which are grown at a height less than 0.5 m). However, over the years the habitat, especially at Ranebennur Sanctuary have been destroyed. The adjacent agricultural area which used to be a part of GIB habitat area was turned into sunflower cultivation land.”
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