About Great Indian Bustard (GIB):
- Known locally as Godawan, it is a large terrestrial bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent.
- It is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.
- Habitat and Distribution:
- It is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with its remaining population concentrated mainly in India.
- Its core population survives in the Thar Desert, mainly in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan.
- Other important habitats occur in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
- The bird is primarily found in dry grasslands and scrublands, which are rapidly declining due to agricultural expansion and development.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered.
