Jaisalmer: The Jaisalmer unit of the forest department would host events Thursday to commemorate the day when Great Indian Bustard (GIB), or Godawan, was declared Rajasthan’s state bird. Forest and Environment Minister Sanjay Sharma is expected to attend the main event and announce May 21 as “Godawan Diwas,” marking the date in 1982 when the species was officially recognised as the state bird amid concerns for its declining population.Wildlife experts said conservationists had long sought annual recognition of the date. Senior wildlife biologist Dr Sumit Dookia said the ERDS Foundation recently proposed dedicating May 21 to the species, linking it to its official recognition by the state. In response to the challenges to GIB conservation, the Rajasthan govt launched “Project Great Indian Bustard” in 2013, focusing on protection and habitat preservation, alongside community engagement and conservation breeding efforts initiated in 2019.Deputy Conservator of Forests BM Gupta said the state govt announced in Vidhan Sabha two years ago to celebrate May 21 as ‘Godawan Diwas’. Gupta stressed the importance of continued awareness and commitment to preserving the GIB, a symbol of Rajasthan’s ecological heritage. To engage the public, educational competitions, including quizzes, speeches, and essays, have been organised at Utkarsh Jain Bhawan in Jaisalmer. Statues of the Godawan will also be unveiled in the Sudasari area. The GIB has significantly declined due to habitat loss and infrastructure expansion. By 2011, its population fell below 300, prompting the IUCN to classify it as ‘critically endangered’. The latest census indicates only 41 remain in the wild, with threats including collisions with renewable energy structures.
