Waterhole survey: Godawan population rises in Jaisalmer.

May 29, 2024

Waterhole survey: Godawan population rises in Jaisalmer

WATERHOLE SURVEY RESULTS

In a recent waterhole census, 64 Great Indian Bustards, also known as ‘Godawans,’ were spotted in Jaisalmer district. The survey, conducted from May 23 to May 24, saw 21 birds in the Ramdevra region and 43 in the Sudasari, Gazai Mata, Jamra, Chouhani, Sipla, and Barna areas.

WILDLIFE CENSUS DETAILS

This annual wildlife census, timed with Vaishakh Purnima, involved 42 water points set up in the Desert National Park (DNP) area. A total of 84 forest officials monitored these points for 24 hours. Besides the Great Indian Bustard, the survey also recorded over 1000 Chinkaras, 30 Desert Cats, 150 Foxes, and more than 100 Vultures.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SURVEY

The sighting of 64 Great Indian Bustards marks a significant increase from the 42 birds recorded in 2022. This improvement highlights the effectiveness of conservation efforts and the importance of the waterhole survey method in tracking and protecting wildlife populations.

CONSERVATION EFFORTS

The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered, with fewer than 200 remaining in the Indian subcontinent. It is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is listed in Schedule I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Conservation efforts have been underway for years to increase the Godawan population. A breeding centre at Sam Rajasthan in Jaisalmer, established in 2019 as part of a joint effort between the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Rajasthan Forest Department (RFD), and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), has shown promising results. Currently, there are approximately 182 Godawans, including 34 at the breeding centres.

FUTURE STEPS

Continued focus on breeding programs and habitat conservation is essential to ensure the survival of the Great Indian Bustard. The positive results from the waterhole survey underscore the importance of these initiatives in reviving the population of this critically endangered species.

SRIRAM’s