GIB dies of head injury during flight at captive breeding centre

Jaisalmer: A female Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Rajasthan's state bird, died at the Wildlife Institute of India's breeding facility in Jaisalmer's Desert National Park (DNP) Thursday night after suffering a head injury during a flight within the centre's enclosure. The bird's death is being considered a significant setback to the joint conservation efforts.
The 5.5-year-old bird was born in 2019 at the Sudasari breeding centre. A post-mortem examination conducted Friday revealed head injuries, with experts suggesting cardiac trauma following impact as a possible cause of death.
"The bird suffered a head impact while flying in the enclosure, leading to hemorrhage and death," said DFO (DNP) Brajmohan Gupta.
Samples have been sent to a laboratory in Dehradun for further analysis to determine the exact cause. This loss impacts the already vulnerable population of GIBs in the region. According to official figures, Jaisalmer now houses 172 bustards, with 128 in the wild and 44 in captivity across two breeding centers - 28 in Ramdevra and 16 in Sudasari.
This isn't the first casualty faced by the species in the region. In Sept 2020, another female bustard died after colliding with high-tension power lines near Degray Oran, nearly 50 km from Jaisalmer, prompting environmentalists to establish a memorial in its honour.
Wildlife Institute of India and DNP officials have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the latest death. Following protocol, the deceased bird received a ceremonial cremation after sample collection.