In a significant development for the conservation of wildlife in Pakistan, the Great Indian Buardería in critical danger, known locally as Bhakhar, has shown promising signs of population recovery in the Cholistan desert, according to Punjab’s wildlife authorities.
Wild life experts estimate that the global population of the Great Buso India is between 80 and 90, with approximately 30 to 35 that are believed to inhabit the Pakistan Cholistan region. This fragile recovery is the result of improved conservation efforts, continuous field monitoring and the creation of a dedicated public wildlife reserve.
“This bird is now restricted to Cholistan’s desert in Pakistan and Rajastán in India,” confirmed the wildlife conservator Syed Rizwan Mehmood.
He documented rare video images and photographs of the species during a recent field survey.
“The sighting and documentation of its presence confirm its continuous survival in Pakistan. It is a great advance.”
Bahawalpur Chief Subdirector of Wildlife Syed Ali Usman Bukhari emphasized the role of dedicated habitat protection to help the recovery of the bird.
“A public wildlife reserve designated in Cholistan has been established specifically to protect the Great Indian Square. Strengthened conservation measures have led to a gradual increase in the population of this native species,” he said.
The Great Indian Buardería (Ardeotis Nigriceps) appears as “in critical danger” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which makes it one of the most threatened bird species in southern Asia.
Once it is in large quantities throughout the Indian subcontinent, the species is now limited to fragmented habitats in India and Pakistan due to the loss of habitat, hunting and human disturbance.
Recognized for its distinctive appearance, the great Indian renewal is among the heaviest flying birds in the world. The males can weigh up to 15 kilograms, stand approximately one meter high and have an size of more than two meters. The bird is easily identified by its brown, black and white plumage and a prominent black patch on the neck.
It puts only one egg per year, resulting in an extremely low reproduction rate that makes each individual crucial for the survival of the species.
According to the International Commerce Convention of Endangered Species (CIT), all the international trade of the species is strictly prohibited. At the national level, the AVE enjoys legal protection, with all forms of hunting or trade prohibited.
Unlike Houbara Bustard more commonly directed, which has faced a significant pressure from hunting by foreign hawks, the Gran Search India has been largely saved due to its rarity and the strict sanctions imposed on offenders.
Conservationists are still cautiously optimistic. “The progress we are seeing in Cholistan is encouraging, but the species remains on the edge,” said a wildlife official. “We must maintain and expand protection efforts, raise awareness and safeguard critical habitats if we want to avoid extinction.”
