Great Indian Bustard

GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD

The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) or Indian bustard is a bustard found in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan.

 Once common on the dry plains of the Indian subcontinent, as few as 250 individuals were estimated in 2011 to survive. 

The species is critically endangered by hunting and loss of its habitat, which consists of large expanses of dry grassland and scrub.

The great Indian bustard is a large ground bird with a height of about a metre. It is unmistakable with its black cap contrasting with the pale head and neck.

The Ministry of Environment and Forests prepared a species recovery programs in 2012 for three species of bustard; the great Indian bustard, the Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) and the lesser florican (Sypheotides indicus). These programs remain to be finalised and executed by the state wildlife departments