Important Facts For Prelims
Important Facts for Prelims (17th December 2018)
- 17 Dec 2018
- 2 min read
Great Indian Bustard
- The population of Great Indian Bustard has significantly shrunk to less than 150 in five States (Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh). India is the only country that habitats the Great Indian Bustard.
Threats
- Hunting: The bird was a popular game bird and still is in some pockets.
- Agriculture: Habitat of bustards are categorised as ‘wastelands’, like most grassland habitats in India. The push to make these areas more ‘productive’ has seen an increase in irrigation facilities in these parts, resulting in the spillover of agricultural land into bustard habitats. Intensification of agriculture, including more pesticides, barbed-wire fences and new crops are endangering the birds’ survival.
- Development : Their habitat grassland are now sites for renewable power projects. New wind turbines and more power line affect the flight of Bustards as they have poor frontal vision and heavy bodies.
Markermeer Lake
- Markermeer is one of Europe’s largest Freshwater Lake and is located in the Netherlands.
- An artificial archipelago is being built on Markermeer Lake from the sediments in the lake to bring wildlife back.
- These islands are named as Marker Wadden Islands. These 'Marker Wadden' will form a unique ecosystem that will boost biodiversity in the region.
