Artificial Insemination Breakthrough Offers Hope for Great Indian Bustard

The successful hatching of a great Indian bustard chick through artificial insemination marks a promising step in the fight against this critically endangered bird's extinction, while ongoing habitat loss and human interventions pose significant challenges for its future.

In a remarkable development for wildlife conservation, experts in India have achieved a significant breakthrough in efforts to save the critically endangered great Indian bustard. Recent efforts have led to the first successful artificial insemination of the species, resulting in the hatching of a chick at a breeding centre in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.

The process involved training a male bustard to produce sperm without mating and then using this sperm to impregnate a female located approximately 200 kilometers away. This success is being celebrated as a critical milestone that opens the door for the establishment of a sperm bank for this imperiled species, whose population has dramatically dwindled from over a thousand in the 1960s to roughly 150 today.

Naturalists point out that habitat loss due to agricultural expansion, poaching, and deadly encounters with power lines have heavily impacted bustard numbers. Currently, the greatest populations are concentrated in Jaisalmer. Conservationists argue that the region's prime real estate for renewable energy firms poses a significant dilemma for local wildlife.

Sumit Dookia, a conservation ecologist with nearly a decade of experience studying the great Indian bustard, describes the bird as one of India’s largest flying birds, capable of weighing between 15 to 18 kilograms. Once more widespread across the country, the bird is now primarily confined to Rajasthan, with a few found in Karnataka and Gujarat.

The great Indian bustard plays a crucial role in its ecosystem, preying on pests such as rodents and snakes. However, its unique physical traits, particularly its poor frontal vision and large size, render it vulnerable to collisions with power lines, which could be deadly.

Reproductive habits further complicate its survival; the bustard only lays a single egg at a time, investing two years in raising the offspring. With such low reproduction rates and threats from environmental changes, conservationists have ramped up efforts. Collaborations between state and federal governments have resulted in the establishment of conservation breeding centres, leading to a total of 45 birds, including 14 chicks bred in captivity.

Unfortunately, these birds face challenges when it comes to rewilding, as they are domesticated to such an extent that they have lost essential survival instincts. Additionally, the combination of lost habitat and reduced migratory patterns has fostered concerns about inbreeding among the limited population.

Despite the ongoing efforts, a recent Supreme Court ruling has sparked apprehension among conservationists. The court overturned a previous order mandating the underground relocation of power lines in bustard habitats, favoring corporate interests and renewing discussions about the balance between development, climate change, and biodiversity preservation. Ecologist Debadityo Sinha emphasized the complexities of these intersecting issues, suggesting that thoughtful action is critical for securing the future of both the great Indian bustard and broader ecosystems.

As the debate over conservation strategies continues, one thing remains clear: preserving the natural habitat of the great Indian bustard is essential for its survival, as well as for balancing human and environmental interests in the region.