New Delhi, March 18 -- Once found in states like Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Haryana, the Great Indian bustard is now limited only to Rajasthan. Currently, there are two sets of population found in Jaisalmer district of the state. One is in the Desert National Park, which is a protected area. The other one is found in Pokhran, where India conducted a series of nuclear tests in May 1998.

"Though Pokhran is an Indian army base, the Great Indian bustard also uses the area as its habitat. They breed here and come out in the winter season," said Sujit Shivaji Narwade, the deputy director of the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS). According to Narwade, who is based in Rajasthan, the society has set aside a grassland for the protection of the ...