CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Nashik: The majestic Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) are vanishing from sight, at least in the Nashik region. According to forest officials, not a single GIB has been spotted in the region since 2007.

Detailed explanation-2: -When the “national bird” of India was under consideration, the great Indian bustard was a proposed candidate (strongly supported by the Indian ornithologist Salim Ali), but dropped in favour of the Indian peafowl with at least one reason being the potential for being misspelt.

Detailed explanation-3: -Bhimashankar Sanctuary is famous for the highly endangered subspecies of the Indian Giant Squirrel Ratufa indica elphinstoni, locally known as Shekru. This is the state animal of Maharashtra.

Detailed explanation-4: -’Great Indian Bustard’ (Choriotis nigriceps) found in India and the adjoining regions of Pakistan. It is a large bird with a horizontal body and long bare legs giving it an ostrich-like appearance, this bird is among the heaviest of the flying birds. They are critically endangered due to lack of protection and hunting.

Detailed explanation-5: -great Indian bustard, (Ardeotis nigriceps), large bird of the bustard family (Otididae), one of the heaviest flying birds in the world.