BARMER/JAISALMER, Aug. 3 -- After achieving landmark success in the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has embarked on another ambitious mission-to study and protect raptors in the Thar Desert. In collaboration with the Rajasthan forest department, WII has rolled out a comprehensive research program titled "Raptor Ecology in the Thar Desert," aimed at understanding the ecological dynamics, movement patterns, breeding behaviour, and threats faced by birds of prey such as eagles and vultures in this fragile arid ecosystem. The program forms part of WII's Avian Scavenger Ecology initiative. Under the project, for the first time in the Thar region, scientists have introduced GPS transmitter-based telemetry to track six key raptor species-Red-headed Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, Egyptian Vulture, Indian Vulture, Tawny Eagle, and Laggar Falcon. Brij Mohan Gupta, deputy forest officer at the Desert National Park (DNP), Jaisalmer, confirmed that the project has been officially approved. "Permission has been granted to conduct the research titled 'Understanding the Status and Spatial Ecology of Breeding Raptors in the Jaisalmer District of Rajasthan,'" he said. According to Gupta, the study will focus on capturing, tagging, and collecting biological samples-including less than 10ml of blood, oral swabs, and tissue samples-from six individuals of each of the targeted species. Officials said that the project has achieved significant breakthroughs. On July 27, an Egyptian Vulture was fitted with a GPS transmitter in DNP, Jaisalmer. Earlier, on July 21, a Tawny Eagle was also tagged. Both birds are healthy and actively ranging across the park. In an official statement, WII announced, "In another successful tagging exercise, an Egyptian Vulture was fitted with a GPS transmitter as part of Wildlife Institute of India's Avian Scavenger Ecology project in the Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. One more step towards improving our understanding of raptor ecology in the Thar Desert." Wildlife experts have hailed the initiative as a game-changer. Professor Shyam Sundar Meena said, "This data will play a transformative role in conservation planning and bolster India's efforts to safeguard its raptor species."...