Changed Habit of laying Two Eggs observed in Great Indian Bustards

• 20 Aug 2022

Scientists working ex situ breeding of Great Indian Bustard (GIB) - a Critically Endangered birds species has discovered new trend of laying two eggs in Desert National Park (DNP) of Jaisalmer district.

• The GIBs showed this habit after consuming extra protein rich diet during the monsoon season.
• This is important because all experts have been reporting a single set of eggs by the GIB over the course of more than a century of natural history.
• The scientists cite reason of abundant natural fodder for birds when there is excessive rainfall in the DNP. By mid-August, rainfall in Jaisalmer district exceeded 20 mm.
• Since the gib, which is the state bird of Rajasthan, primarily survives on reptiles, gerbils, grasshoppers, large insects and locusts, a rich amount of feed was produced this year, providing additional protein to endangered birds, who have doubled their clutch size.
• GIB is now found only in small numbers in western Rajasthan, while Gujarat claims that there are few females left in its Banni Grassland Reserve.