Press Trust of India
| Jodhpur Last Updated at March 19, 2019 10:35 IST
After
antelopes, dogs have emerged as a major threat to the endangered Great Indian
Bustard, inspite of conservation and breeding projects underway in the state to
stop the bird, one of the heaviest flying birds, from being extinct.
According
to wildlife enthusiasts, the bird is falling prey to stray dogs in desert areas
of Jaisalmer, where the number of the canines has seen a spurt.
"These
dogs have emerged as a major threat to conservation efforts. They kill the
birds and even destroy their eggs," said Radheshyam Pemani, a wildlife
enthusiast from Pokhran.
He said
dogs routinely attack the birds in evening, when they come out to feed.
The
weight of the bird which can be up to 15kg proves fatal for it
when dogs attack. If the bird is alert, it takes a flight away from dogs
but a delay weakens its chances of survival.
Until
1980s, up to 2000 Great Indian Bustards could be found in western India,
reports say. But due to rampant poaching and dwindling grasslands, their
population declined rapidly.
In 2011,
the International Union for Conservation of Nature categorised
the bird as "critically endangered".
A
petition is being heard in the Rajasthan High Court for the safety and
conservation of the endangered bustard, with a focus on identification and
elimination of the threats to its life.
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