In a significant development for the preservation of wildlife in Pakistan, the critically threatened large Indian Bustard, locally known as Bhakhar, has shown promising signs of population adjustment in the Cholistan Desert, according to the Punjab Wildlife authorities.
Wildlife experts estimate the global population of the large Indian Bustard to be between 80 and 90, with approx. 30 to 35 are assumed to inhabit the Cholistan region of Pakistan. This fragile improvement is the result of improved conservation efforts, continuous field monitoring and the creation of a dedicated public wildlife reserve.
“This bird is now limited to the Cholistan Desert in Pakistan and Rajasthan in India,” confirmed Wildlife Conservator Syed Rizwan Mehmood.
He documented rare video recordings and photographs of the species during a recent field survey.
“The sight and documentation of its presence confirms its continued survival in Pakistan. It is a major breakthrough.”
Bahawalpur Vice President Wildlife Ranger Syed Ali Usman Bukhari emphasized the role of dedicated habitat protection in helping the bird’s improvement.
“A designated public wildlife reserve in Cholistan has been set up specifically to protect the great Indian Bustard. Strengthened conservation measures have led to a gradual increase in the population of this native nature,” he said.
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis Nigriceps) is listed as “critically threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), making it one of the most endangered bird species in South Asia.
Once the species was found in large numbers across the Indian subcontinent, the species is now limited to fragmented habitats in India and Pakistan due to the loss of habitats, hunting and human disturbance.
The great Indian Bustard is known for its distinctive appearance and is among the heaviest flying birds in the world. The males can weigh up to 15 kg, stand about a meter high and have a wing buckle over two meters. The bird is easily identified by its brown, white and black plumage and a prominent black patch on the neck.
It only lays one egg a year, resulting in an extremely low breeding speed, making any individual crucial to the species’ survival.
According to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), all international trade in the species is strictly prohibited. Domestic, the bird enjoys legal protection, with all kinds of hunting or trade prohibited.
Unlike the more commonly targeted Houbara Bustard, which has been subjected to considerable pressure from hunting from foreign falcons, the great Indian Bustard has been largely spared because of its rarity and the strict sanctions imposed on offenders.
Conservation men remain gently optimistic. “The progress we see in Cholistan are encouraging, but the species remains on the brim,” said a wildlife official. “We need to maintain and expand protective efforts, raise awareness and protect critical habitats if we are to prevent its extinction.”
