Bengaluru: Great news! Indian Bustard sighted again
Unfortunately, the Karnataka Forest Department has done nothing for the conservation of these birds.
Ballari: The Great Indian Bustard, a majestic bird on the verge of extinction , has been sighted by naturalists again, giving renewed hope of its survival in the state.
Three birds, a male, female and a four-month old chick, were sighted on Sunday by wildlife conservationist, Santosh Martin, president of the Society for Wildlife and Nature Conservation (SWAN), Abdul Samad Kottur and naturalists, Sonia Martin, Ajith Paul and Anand Kundargi.
The group embarked on the Bustard rediscovery project after the state government declared the bird extinct in 1998 in the aftermath of a huge number perishing in the Ranebennur sanctuary.
The search began in early 2000 and it took a couple of years for the team to understand the bird’s behaviour. In 2006 it saw a group of six Bustards in Sirguppa Taluk and put the birds back on Karnataka’s map.
Since then there have been regular sightings and the Bustard now seems to be making a successful comeback. The semi- arid grasslands of Siruguppa offer a perfect habitat for the breeding and survival of these magnificent birds.
Unfortunately, a huge area was brought under irrigation, destroying their habitat in early 2000. But interestingly, the birds have adapted to the changing landscape, according to Mr Martin.
Unfortunately, the Karnataka Forest Department has done nothing for their conservation so far, although it had promised to start a conservation programme in Sirguppa some time ago, the naturalists regret.