Fri Feb 07 18:41:08 UTC 2025: ## Endangered Great Indian Bustard Found Dead in Rajasthan Breeding Center
**Jaisalmer, Rajasthan –** A critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, the state bird of Rajasthan, was found dead at a breeding center in Jaisalmer’s Sudasari village. The five-year-old female bird, one of only 45 housed at the center, was discovered with a head injury.
Deputy Forest Conservator Bujmohan Gupta confirmed the death, stating that a post-mortem was conducted and samples have been sent to laboratories in Bareilly and Dehradun for analysis. While a preliminary investigation suggests the bird may have collided with its cage, the exact cause of death remains undetermined pending the lab results. The bird was subsequently cremated according to protocol.
The Great Indian Bustard, one of the world’s heaviest flying birds, has seen its population plummet by 75% over the last 30 years, according to the Wildlife Institute of India. The species, almost exclusively found in India, faces numerous threats including hunting, collisions with power lines and vehicles, and attacks by dogs. The remaining population is concentrated primarily in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Jaisalmer currently holds a significant portion of the remaining population, with 128 birds in the wild and 44 now remaining in the breeding center following this latest death. The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (India) highlights the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect this critically endangered species.
First Piper 