Threats & Solutions
Why Bustard Conservation Needs Urgent Action
The Great Indian Bustard is on the brink of extinction, with fewer than 150 birds left in the wild. These iconic grassland birds face multiple, man-made threats that reduce survival and breeding success. To save them, we must act now with targeted, science-based solutions.
Critically Endangered
IUCN Red List Status
<200 Birds
Current population in India
Since 2016
Bustard Recovery Program
What's Pushing the Species to the Edge
Power-line Collisions
Habitat Loss
Fragmentation
The Power-line Crisis
Transmission lines crossing bustard habitat create invisible death traps. The birds’ poor frontal vision and heavy build make them especially vulnerable to high-speed collisions.
- Limited ability to see and avoid overhead wires
- Heavy birds require long approach for takeoff
- High collision rates documented in multiple studies
Power infrastructure through bustard habitat
Policy Backdrop :
India’s Supreme Court ordered bird-safe power infrastructure in priority GIB areas (diverters immediately; undergrounding where feasible), with scope refined in 2024. Work now focuses on clearly mapped priority zones for maximum conservation impact.
Conservation Challenges & Solutions
Each threat facing the Great Indian Bustard requires targeted, science-based solutions. Here's
how we can address the most critical challenges.
Collisions with Power Lines
Overview
Overhead power lines are one of the biggest killers of bustards. With poor frontal vision and low flight, they often fail to detect wires — leading to fatal accidents that directly threaten already small populations.
Solutions
- Undergrounding wires in critical habitats to eliminate collision risk.
- Installing bird diverters and markers on existing lines to increase visibility.
- Mapping and rerouting high-risk lines using bustard movement data.
- Monitoring collision hotspots and working with power utilities to reduce risks.
Habitat & Grassland Management
Overview
Bustards depend on healthy grasslands for nesting, feeding, and breeding. Habitat loss, degradation, and conversion to agriculture or infrastructure leave them with shrinking and fragmented spaces.
Solutions
- Restoring native grasslands by removing invasive species and reseeding.
- Implementing sustainable grazing policies that balance livestock and conservation.
- Securing and expanding protected reserves in key range areas.
- Promoting low-intensity farming and bustard-friendly crops in buffer zones.
Conservation Breeding & Rewilding
Overview
With critically low breeding success in the wild, ex-situ conservation (captive breeding) is a vital lifeline for bustard recovery.
Solutions
- Captive breeding programs to raise chicks from wild-collected eggs.
- Artificial insemination to improve genetic diversity.
- Gradual reintroduction of captive-bred birds into restored grasslands.
- Long-term monitoring and research to refine breeding and release strategies.
Community Co-existence
Overview
Lasting bustard recovery depends on people and nature thriving together. Conservation must support sustainable local livelihoods while protecting the species.
Solutions
- Involving communities in grassland management through education and shared stewardship.
- Promoting bustard-friendly farming incentives and alternative income sources.
- Training local volunteers to help monitor and patrol bustard habitats.
- Raising awareness to reduce poaching, disturbance, and negative perceptions.
How You Can Help
Every effort counts in saving the Great Indian Bustard. You can make a difference in multiple ways.
Donate
Support conservation programs
directly.
Volunteer
Join awareness campaigns, field monitoring,
or education projects.
Spread the Word
Share our mission and bring more people
into the cause.
- Together, we can bring the Great Indian Bustard back from the edge of extinction.