Sci. & Tech.
Task force to be set up for conservation of Great Bustard

New Delhi, Oct. 7 (PTI): Concerned over the declining population of Great Bustard, the heaviest flying bird found in the country, the Ministry of Environment and Forest has decided to set up a task force for conserving the endangered species.

The bird has been declared "critically endangered" in the International Union for Conservation of Natural Resources (IUCN)'s Red list.

"The task force will prepare a proposal for Project Bustard on the lines of Project Tiger and Project Elephant and formulate in-situ programmes for the birds," B R Sharma, Director of Central Zoo Authority, told PTI here.

The decision was taken at a workshop held recently and attended by Environment Ministry officials and wildlife experts from NGOs who felt that poaching and habitat destruction were the main causes for the dwindling population of the bird.

"The experts agreed to have in-situ and ex-situ conservation plan for these large brown and white majestic birds found in arid and semi-arid grasslands of the country," Sharma added.

The Great Bustards are among a few birds found only in India and their number at present stands at 1,000.

Sci. & Tech.

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