Population status and conservation of the great Indian bustard (Ardeotisnigriceps) in the desert national park of Rajasthan, India

Thar region is a unique arid ecosystem and it is also called as "The Great Indian Thar Desert” situated between 22°30’ N to 32°05’N and 68°05’ E to 75°45’E. It is one of the smallest deserts in the world, but exhibits unique habitats and biodiversity. This arid region of Rajasthan has two wildlife sanctuaries Desert National Park and Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary. It is home to the endangered wild species Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), Desert Cat (Felis silvestris) and Chinkara (Gazella bennetti) but the populations of these wild fauna have been declining over the last few decades due to destruction of habitats, indiscriminate hunting, and increase in feral dogs. Similarly the transformation of desert grassland into agriculture fields under irrigation schemes of Ghandhi Canal, drilling for gas and petroleum, mining, stone quarrying, industrial growth, power projects, expansion of roads, putting up electric poles, wind turbines and remaining grasslands are subjected to high grazing pressure from domestic livestock along with over-harvesting by local communities had intensified population declination. Consequently, the Rajasthan’s state bird Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has become enormously rare now. The field survey was conducted from January 2009 to December 2011through road and line transects.