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The Rajasthan government is formulating a long-term plan to save its state bird,- The Great Indian Bustard(GIB) from extinction in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Additional chief secretary, wildlife and forests, Nihal Chand Goyal said the department has asked the WII to come out with a long-term plan of action to save the critically endangered state bird from extinction.

Humane Society International (India), Wildlife Institute of India and Rajasthan fo rest department are conducting a dog population survey on the outskirts of Jaisalmer as controlling the population of stray dogs is critical to the survival of the Great Indian Bustard. The dog census is being carried out in the critical GIB habitat in the Thar region of Rajasthan.

The Wildlife Institute of India has also commissioned Humane Society International, India, to survey and then draw a plan to manage the dog population through sterilisation in the Thar region.

At present, the Wildlife Institute of India is also implementing the Recovery Actions for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard programme in collaboration with the state forest departments and other NGOs and with support from the Union ministry of environment, forests & climate change. Goyal said a conference of experts will be organised in December first week to chalk out the further course of action.

Source: The Times of India