Study Maps 60,000 Sq Km High-Density Corridor for Lesser Florican

Wildlife researchers and conservationists mapped a 60,000 square kilometre high-density corridor across western and central India for the critically endangered Lesser Florican. Utilizing advanced satellite telemetry tracking, the study traced the bird’s extensive 206,000 square kilometre migration flyway, revealing critical roosting and breeding habitats across multiple Indian states that require urgent statutory protection.

The Lesser Florican (Sypheotides indicus), locally known as Kharmor, is the smallest bustard species native to the Indian subcontinent. The bird is known for its spectacular aerial breeding displays during the Indian monsoon. Population levels have plummeted due to habitat loss, agricultural intensification, grassland degradation, and power line collisions, bringing the species to the brink of extinction.

The study identified key high-density habitat clusters in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The species is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List and under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The telemetry study logged over thousands of tracking points, emphasizing that nearly 70% of their migratory corridor falls outside designated protected area networks.

Environment questions frequently target IUCN status, endemic bird corridors, and conservation initiatives in India. In Prelims, candidates can expect questions on the IUCN status of grassland birds like the Lesser Florican and Great Indian Bustard. In Mains GS Paper III, this tracking data provides evidence for policy recommendations on linear infrastructure safeguards and grassland management.