JAIPUR: A Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the state bird, was poached and killed during daytime on the link road to the Sam sand dunes near Barna village in Jaisalmer on December 20. An FIR has been lodged in this regard at the Khuri police station on the basis of a complaint by forest officials.
The 2011 Red List of birds, released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), has enlisted the GIB in the 'Critically Endangered' category, the highest level of threat. In India, the bird is now restricted to Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Rajasthan where it is the state bird.
"On December 20, some people came in two vehicles and shot dead a GIB in broad daylight. It was around 12 noon. A shepherd has seen the act and it was on his complaint that the forest and police officials jumped into action," a source said.
"Poaching of a GIB is far more critical than that of tiger. There are 1,700 tigers in India but just 150 GIBs. It is the rarest bird and is virtually on an extinction path," the source added.
The Khuri police station is trying to gather evidence for framing the case. Sources said a wing of the bird and blood stains were found on the road.
Sources said the apathy of the government towards the state bird may soon be the end of the GIB in Rajasthan. The winter count of the bird in the state was registered at 89, a mere shadow of the pride that the state held once for having more than half of the its entire population in the country.
According to IUCN, activities such as mining, stone quarrying, growth of industries, and power projects along with the expansion of roads, putting up electric poles, wind turbines and other infrastructures have increased the severity of habitat degradation and disturbance resulting in the disappearance of the bird.
