Latest news with #RajasthanForestDepartment
News18
a day ago
- General
- News18
Sindoor, Sophia: Rajasthan Names Great Indian Bustard Chicks After Milestones, Officers Of Operation
Last Updated: "By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park The border state of Rajasthan is finding a unique way to honour the armed forces after Operation Sindoor – naming rare Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks born under a conservation project in Jaisalmer after key officers and significant milestones linked to the operation. 'By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with the story of national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park. This year alone, 21 chicks have hatched under the Project GIB initiative, including seven in May and the latest one on June 1. Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. THE NAMES The naming began with a chick born on May 5 being called ' Sindoor ' after the military operation. Others followed: 'Atom' (May 9) signifies the mission's strategic power; 'Mishri' (May 19) honours an undercover cyber intelligence officer; 'Vyom' (May 23) is named after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and 'Sophia' (May 24) is dedicated to Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the two officers led the official media briefing of the operation. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation," Gupta added. THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD The Great Indian Bustard has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. Presently, fewer than 150 remain in the wild, most of them in Rajasthan. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. Till date, the centres have successfully hatched and nurtured 65 chicks. The newly born chicks are being gradually trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey. With PTI Inputs First Published: June 08, 2025, 12:44 IST
News18
a day ago
- General
- News18
Sindoor To Sophia: Rajasthan Names Great Indian Bustard Chicks After Key Officers Of Operation
Last Updated: "By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park The border state of Rajasthan is finding a unique way to honour the armed forces after Operation Sindoor – naming rare Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks born under a conservation project in Jaisalmer after key officers and significant milestones linked to the operation. 'By giving chicks these names, we are connecting the story of wildlife conservation with the story of national courage," said Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer of Desert National Park. This year alone, 21 chicks have hatched under the Project GIB initiative, including seven in May and the latest one on June 1. Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. The naming began with a chick born on May 5 being called ' Sindoor ' after the military operation. Others followed: 'Atom' (May 9) signifies the mission's strategic power; 'Mishri' (May 19) honours an undercover cyber intelligence officer; 'Vyom' (May 23) is named after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and 'Sophia' (May 24) is dedicated to Colonel Sophia Qureshi, the two officers led the official media briefing of the operation. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation," Gupta added. THE GREAT INDIAN BUSTARD The Great Indian Bustard has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. Presently, fewer than 150 remain in the wild, most of them in Rajasthan. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. Till date, the centres have successfully hatched and nurtured 65 chicks. The newly born chicks are being gradually trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- General
- Indian Express
Sindoor, Vyom, Sofiya – newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard chicks in Jaisalmer get names that ring a bell
Operation Sindoor has become a symbol of national pride, and its legacy now lives on in an unexpected way — through the naming of newly-hatched Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chicks. To honour the heroes involved in the operation, the Rajasthan Forest Department has named four chicks born in May 2025 after Operation Sindoor and the individuals associated with it. The GIB, a critically endangered species found primarily in Western Rajasthan, is the focus of conservation efforts by the Ministry of Environment. Brijmohan Gupta, Divisional Forest Officer at Desert National Park, told The Indian Express, 'This is our way of remembering those who stood against the enemies. In May 2025, eight chicks were born. We named four of them: 'Sindoor' after Operation Sindoor, 'Vyom' after Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, 'Mishri' in honour of an undercover intelligence officer, and 'Sophia' after Colonel Sofia Qureshi. Our goal is not just to increase the bird population but also to connect wildlife conservation with national interest.' Operation Sindoor was launched early May 7 by the Indian military to destroy nine terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Subsequently, India responded strongly to Pakistan's attempts to target its military and civilian areas with drones, missiles and other weapons. 'It's not just about saving a bird, it's about preserving the values that define us as a nation,' Gupta added. At present, there are 65 GIBs at the Centre for Great Indian Bustard Conservation in Jaisalmer. In 2025 alone, 21 chicks were born through captive breeding programmes. The National Conservation Breeding Programme continues to work toward saving the species, whose global population is estimated to be fewer than 150, most of them in Rajasthan. Once found across India's grasslands, the GIB has been pushed to the brink of extinction due to habitat loss, poaching, and infrastructural threats like power lines. To counter this crisis, Project GIB was launched in 2018 as a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, the Wildlife Institute of India, and the Rajasthan Forest Department. The breeding centres at Sudasari and Sam are equipped with AI-enabled surveillance, temperature-controlled incubators, and sensor-based monitoring systems. This advanced infrastructure ensures real-time tracking of egg conditions and chick health. The newly-born chicks are trained in semi-natural enclosures to help them adapt to wild conditions. The eventual goal is their reintroduction into open desert landscapes, where their survival and breeding in the wild will mark a turning point in India's conservation journey. Gupta said the department's next focus is to enhance survival rates and reduce infant mortality. AI monitoring has already improved outcomes, allowing for early intervention and round-the-clock care. The team also involves local communities to foster a sense of shared responsibility for protecting this critically endangered species.
Scroll.in
28-04-2025
- Scroll.in
Elusive caracal caught on camera, renewing conservation efforts
On March 14, 2025, a surprising sight was captured in the heart of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve in Kota, Rajasthan. A rare and elusive member of the cat family – the caracal – was recorded by a camera trap for the first time in the region. Rajasthan's Forest Minister, Sanjay Sharma, shared a photograph of the caracal on social media and said, 'On this vibrant day of Holi, the Rajasthan Forest Department is excited to share the first photographic record of the caracal in Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve. The winter Phase IV survey of the tiger reserve recorded this camera trap image of the caracal. The strong protection regime of Mukundra Hills Tiger Reserve serves as an umbrella to protect elusive small cats like the caracal.' The rare sighting has renewed interest in the conservation of the caracal. 'All tiger reserves conduct three-spot surveys. The first is a sign survey, second is a transect line survey and the third is camera trapping. This winter was the first time that a Phase IV survey was carried out in the season, and this caracal was recorded,' said Muthu Somasundaram, Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) of Mukundra National Park. Somasundaram notes that the caracal might be dispersing from its nearest known range, which includes Ranthambore, Kailadevi, and Dholpur. 'The species typically has a large home range, so it's possible this individual moved in from Bundi or Kota. Interestingly, the camera trap image also includes a hare,' he added. The forest department now plans to increase the number of camera traps in the location the caracal was spotted and in the surrounding areas, to better understand its presence and range. 'Caracals are nocturnal animals, which makes them even harder to study. All the images we've captured so far have been during night time. The goal is to maximise the chances of capturing more images and learning about its movements,' Somasundaram told Mongabay India. Where the caracal roams The caracal has a deep-rooted historical presence in India. In 1616, Mughal emperor Jahangir reportedly hunted one near Ajmer. Alongside cheetahs, caracals were praised by royals for their agility and used in hunts, known by their Persian name siyah gosh (black-eared one). Today, there is no official estimate of India's caracal population; media reports suggesting around 50 individuals, are unsubstantiated. According to Dharmendra Khandal, co-author of the book Caracal: An Intimate History of a Mysterious Cat and Executive Director of Tiger Watch, caracals once ranged across 13 states but are now confined to Gujarat, Rajasthan, and parts of Madhya Pradesh. A study by Khandal and others documented 134 caracal records from 1616 to 2020. The species' range has shrunk drastically from 794,000 square kilometres pre-1947 to just 16,709 square kilometres in 2020 – a 95.95% decline. Globally listed as least concern by the IUCN, the caracal is considered near threatened in India and protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. This makes the first-ever camera-trap capture in Mukundra Tiger Reserve, all the more significant. Khandal noted that this is the first A-category (photographic) record of a caracal from Mukundra in two decades, despite camera trapping since 2012. The last known record from Mukundra dates to 1962. Until recently, such records were limited to Gujarat and a few districts in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. With recent confirmations from Bundi and now Kota, Rajasthan now has photographic evidence from six districts – an encouraging sign for caracal conservation. An earlier study by Khandal and his team, recorded 176 caracal images from 23 sites in Rajasthan between 2015 and 2020. Muthu Somasundaram pointed out that the semi-arid ecosystems of central Rajasthan and Gujarat suit the caracal's habitat needs. 'Regular camera trapping in protected areas like tiger reserves boosts the chances of detecting elusive species like the caracal, which might otherwise go unnoticed,' he said. Gobind Sagar Bhardwaj, Additional Director General of Forests (Project Tiger) and Member Secretary of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), told Mongabay India, 'The caracal's landscape lies in the Chambal region. I personally saw them two to three times in Ranthambore many years ago. Now that we have photographic records from Mukundra and Ramgarh Vishdhari, there is a need for a comprehensive study on the species to better understand its population, behaviour, and habitat.' As a member of the cat family, the caracal's presence is an indicator of a balanced and healthy ecosystem. These cats help regulate the populations of rodents and other small mammals, playing a crucial role in maintaining ecological stability. Outside protected areas Khandal also noted an important pattern – all caracal sightings in Rajasthan have occurred within tiger reserves. 'This suggests that these well-managed habitats offer safer conditions. Though Sariska hasn't had confirmed records since 2012, I believe caracals may still exist there,' he said. However, some suggest that potential habitats outside these protected areas should also be studied for their presence. Wildlife biologist Sumit Dookia pointed out that a 1999 record of Jalore district published by the Bombay Natural History Society, hints at the caracal's presence beyond reserves – indicating a need to revisit historical data to assess its wider distribution. Dookia said that while there's no scientific evidence of caracals in western Rajasthan outside reserves, locals occasionally report sightings. A recent video from Pakistan's Cholistan Desert – ecologically similar to western Rajasthan or Thar desert – suggests suitable habitat exists. 'I believe the Mukundra sighting hints at a possibly wider presence and immediate government-led conservation efforts is important for the species,' Dookia added. Need for baseline data In 2021, the National Board of Wildlife and Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change included the caracal in a plan to conserve 22 priority species. However, Dharmendra Khandal stressed the need for thorough scientific studies before taking action. Instead, Khandal suggests focussing on more studies to understand where caracals live, their food habits, habitat preferences, and population status. 'Solid baseline data is essential for crafting effective conservation strategies suited to India's semi-arid regions,' Khandal said. While the Mukundra sighting is promising, experts urge cautious optimism. Joy Gardner of the Jaipur-based nonprofit Hope and Beyond, cautioned against calling the recent Mukundra caracal recording as a breakthrough, noting that it was a chance capture from tiger-focused camera traps. 'No targeted efforts have been made to study caracals. We need focused surveys in deeper forest zones, where more individuals might be found,' he said. Shekhar Kolipaka, biosocial conservation researcher from Leiden University, echoed a similar sentiment, warning that caracals are struggling in degraded scrublands and need urgent, in-depth studies to assess their status in modern India.
