Release date Oct 15, DNP Jaisalmer. Four birds - 2 male 2 female, age 18 months, bred at Sam Conservation Breeding Centre run by Wildlife Institute of India, Rajasthan Forest Dept, MoEF. Each with satellite tag, wing-tag. On Oct 22, male GIB-04 signal stationary, team found carcass near fox burrow, neck bite. Predation, not power line.
Why one death matters: GIB Ardeotis nigriceps, weight 12-15 kg male, wingspan 2.5m, cannot take off quickly, nests on ground, lifespan 12-15 years, one egg per year. Population 1960s: 1,500 across 11 states. Now 128 counted 2025 - 110 in Rajasthan (Desert National Park, Pokhran), 15 in Gujarat Naliya, 3 in Maharashtra Solapur, zero in MP Karera where last seen 2018. IUCN Critically Endangered, Schedule I Wildlife Protection Act.
Main killer not fox, but overhead power lines. WII study - GIB has narrow binocular vision 30 degrees, looks down for prey, does not see wires ahead. 18% annual mortality from collision. In Thar, 30,000 km transmission lines planned for solar - Bhadla 2,245 MW, Fatehgarh 2,000 MW - all in GIB habitat. Supreme Court order April 2021 in MK Ranjitsinh vs Union - ordered undergrounding in 13,000 sq km priority, 29,000 sq km potential - compliance 4% - Power Ministry says cost Rs 18,000.
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Breeding centre - eggs collected from wild - female lays one, collect, she re-lays. Incubator 28 days, chick hand-raised with puppet to avoid human imprint, 6 months. Cost per chick Rs 18 lakh. Since 2019, 48 chicks hatched, 24 survived. California condor model - from 22 to 500 in 40 years, but required banning lead ammunition. GIB needs banning power lines
Second batch Jan 2027 - 12 birds - will have predator aversion training - WII will expose to fox scent, dog bark, use mild shock. Also will release in enclosure first, 1 hectare fox-proof.
Community: Bishnoi community in Sam, Ramdevra protects nests - Lohawat Bishnoi youth prevented cattle grazing near nest 2024, no compensation. If GIB extinct, Bishnoi faith loses symbol.
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Economics: Grassland labelled wasteland in Wasteland Atlas, given for solar, mining. India's grassland area fell 31% 2005-2015. Need Grassland Policy - Rajasthan draft pending 3 years.
Fox death teaches: captive birds naive. Wild birds know to peck fox eyes. Captive don't. Like cheetah project - 20 imported, 8 died.
India must choose: 500 GW renewable target vs 130 birds. Both needed - underground cables cost 6x overhead but bird worth.
Tags: #GreatIndianBustard #DesertNationalPark #Rajasthan #Wildlifelnstitute #PowerLines #SolarVsBiodiversity #Bishnoi #CriticallyEndangered #CaptiveBreeding #Grasslands