Why in news?  Siruguppa in Ballari district could soon become a breeding center for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustards (GIBs)

Great Indian Bustards

• Heaviest flying bird endemic to the Indian subcontinent
• State Bird of Rajasthan
• Distribution
  • Arid and semi-arid grasslands
  • Shared habitat with Blackbuck
  • Largest population in Rajasthan – Desert National Park
  • Other areas – Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh
• Protection
  • IUCN status : Critically Endangered
  • Schedule 1 of Wild life Protection Act, 1972
• Threats – Infrastructure development like Roads and electric power lines in the desert

What is decided in Karnataka:

• Ranebennur hosted significant number of GIB , which declined eventually
• Siruguppa is considered to be one of the most promising sites for these grassland birds and could house a ‘source population’ centre in three to four years
• Project to be approved by Karnataka Mining Environment Restoration Corporation (KMERC)