Gujarat, 2 other states likely to get GIB breeding centres

The Union minister for forest and environment, Bhupendra Yadav, has asked Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka governments to send a proposal to set up breeding centres for conservation of GIBs in their respective states, reports Himanshu Kaushik.

During the meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), the minister proposed to establish breeding centres, and has directed the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to prepare a framework for the same. These centres would be different from the one in Rajasthan.

There is now a ray of hope for the conservation of the Great Indian Bustard (GIB).

Union minister for forest and environment, Bhupendra Yadav, has asked the Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka governments to send a proposal to set up breeding centres for Conservation of GIBs in their respective states.

During the meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL), the minister proposed to establish breeding centres, and has directed the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to prepare a framework for the same.

These centres would be different from the one in Rajasthan.

Officials said that during the meeting it was also instructed that wherever there is need for a male GIB, it must be translocated and if a state requires females, it must be given the same.

The breeding centre in Rajasthan has about 28-odd birds, and one male can easily be moved to Gujarat. The state does not want to lose the opportunity and will soon propose the centre in Gujarat.