Habitat improvement and conservation breeding of the Great Indian Bustard and integrated approach. Progress Report April 2019-March 2020

Abstract

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is critically endangered with 100-150 individuals left, largely in Jaisalmer (Rajasthan) and very small populations in Kutch (Gujarat), Sholapur (Maharashtra), Ballari (Karnataka) and Kurnool (Andhra Pradesh). The species has suffered 90% reductions in number and range, over the last five decades, due to prevalent habitat loss and human induced mortalities compounded with its slow life history traits. The Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) formulated the National Bustard Recovery Plans in 2013 based on scientific consultation, and initiated the Project “Habitat Improvement and Conservation Breeding of Great Indian Bustard” in 2016 with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) as the nodal agency along with State Forest Departments and partner NGOs as collaborators. This project aims at recovering the species from extinction through holistic approach of conservation breeding, applied research, outreach and pilot habitat management. This report presents the project activities undertaken between 2018-19. 1. The Tripartite Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB) and Lesser Florican conservation breeding and research program was signed between MoEF&CC, Rajasthan Government and WII to operationalize conservation breeding of the GIB under the guidance of a Steering Committee, with facilitation of Rajasthan Government and funding of MoEF&CC. Based on the preliminary surveys carried out by the Project team, two sites – Sorsan, Baran District and Ramdevra, Jaisalmer District were finalized for establishing the Conservation Breeding Center in consultation with the concerned agencies and construction is under progress in Ramdevra. The project team was trained in husbandry practices and veterinary care at the International Fund for Houbara Conservation (IFHC), Abu Dhabi. To utilize the GIB breeding season in 2019-20, as a fully functional pilot project the first GIB Conservation Breeding Center has been established at Sam, Jaisalmer that currently houses ten hand-reared GIB chicks from wild collected and artificially hatched eggs in close collaboration with Rajasthan Forest Department and technical support of International Fund for Houbara Conservation / Reneco. 2. Under the applied research component, three GIB females were radio tagged in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer for understanding bird movements, identifying critical habitats for conservation planning, prioritizing power lines for mitigation, and searching nesting sites for conservation breeding program. Birds have been transmitting data for months from Jaisalmer and Kachchh and providing hitherto unknown basic information on GIB space use and ranging patterns. The average travel distances were similar between the two tagged birds in Thar and almost double than that of Kachchh. Bird home ranges ranged between 76 km2 in Kachchh to 124 km2 in Jaisalmer. The core usages for birds ranged between 13–29 km2 in Jaisalmer and 15 km2 in Kachchh. Movements were located mostly within protected enclosures that corroborate the recommendation of National Bustard Recovery Plans that enclosures of 10-20 km2 can accommodate the birds’ ecological needs to a great extent, if they are managed scientifically. This action supplemented with power line mitigation in the areas surrounding enclosures is necessary to restore potential habitats across the species’ range, wherever feasible. The National Lesser Florican survey was jointly conducted by the project team with partner agencies in July - September 2018 that yielded an estimate of 426 (174–805 95% CI) male territories (conservatively 220 + 38) across the range; highlighting the critical status of this species for urgent conservation efforts. Investigation on patterns of bird community structure in relation to land-use driven habitat changes in the arid grasslands of Thar suggested that although primary 2 grassland habitat is essential to save the full spectrum of the regional species pool, low-impact land-uses can act as important secondary habitats for conservation of bird species. Assessment of factors that shape vegetation in the arid zone of India in Thar, Jaisalmer showed a 62% loss in the vegetation types to agriculture and settlements highlighting the need to delineate conservation areas based on requirements of faunal species of interest and its habitat requirements before a complete wipe-out of vegetation structure types occur. Molecular analysis of GIB biological samples revealed that genetic differentiation between GIB subpopulations was low to moderate and level of gene flow between Rajasthan and Gujarat subpopulations was high. From bird carcass surveys under power lines in Kachchh, we estimated carcass encounter rates of 0.27 (0.14 SE) and 0.25 (0.06 SE) per km per month for high- and low- tension power-lines and mortalities of ~22,000 birds (all species) annually in ~1100 km2 GIB habitat emphasizing the need for immediate power line mitigation measures. Preliminary investigation of soil and GIB food samples revealed presence of organophosphate pesticides in GIB habitat in and around Rollapadu Wildlife Sanctuary, Andhra Pradesh. 3. As part of social engagement, our team surveyed villages in Jaisalmer district to assess livelihood concerns and conservation attitude of the local population. We intend to involve the locals as stakeholders in GIB conservation to create goodwill, and these social surveys will help in developing outreach programs. Additionally, customized nature education programmes in 22 schools, skill development workshop for responsible nature tourism to local youth and forest department staff, awareness program to sensitize locals and tourists on grassland and GIB conservation at Desert festival, Jaisalmer were conducted. Publicity materials such as posters, tshirts, caps, books, bags, brochures for power agencies and other stakeholders were prepared and widely disseminated. The team met with representatives of various private and government power agencies as well as senior government officials, media and legal fraternity to sensitize them on the critical issue of power line mitigation for GIB conservation. We also conducted training workshops on population, habitat and threat surveys involving Forest Department staff and volunteers in bustard range states. 4. Under pilot habitat management, 801 dogs from 23 villages in/around DNP were sterilized in collaboration with Humane Society International (HSI)- India and Rajasthan Forest Department. Analysis of data collected from population surveys of dogs and other nest predators in/around DNP is under progress. Preliminary analysis showed that the proportion of unsterilized dogs is still very high in villages. Pigs and desert foxes were the most abundant nest predators in/around DNP. Preparations are underway to relocate nest predators from GIB breeding enclosures in DNP. Meetings with the local community to manage a portion of their land in GIB-friendly manner, and interactions with power agencies and bird diverter suppliers for marking critical power lines were held. More bird diverters for power lines have been procured for installation with the help of power agencies in Thar.