The ‘Great Indian Bustard (GIB)’ (Ghorad) is frequently seen in the news in the context of wildlife conservation efforts in western India. Consider the following statements regarding this species:
- Currently, the highest surviving wild population of the Great Indian Bustard in India is located in the semi-arid grasslands of Gujarat.
- It is a long-distance migratory bird that travels from Central Asia to the Indian subcontinent to escape harsh winters.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
Correct answer: D
Explanation
Statement 1 is wrong because the largest surviving wild population of the Great Indian Bustard is in Rajasthan, mainly in the Jaisalmer area of the Thar Desert, not Gujarat, which holds only a handful of birds. Statement 2 is also wrong, since the GIB is a resident, non-migratory bird and does not travel from Central Asia to escape winters.