LAHORE, Sept 17: A recent survey by the Houbara Foundation International Pakistan and the Punjab Wildlife and Parks Department has found that only 200 Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) are left in the world.

The week-long survey in Cholistan, which documented this critically endangered species, has claimed that exceptional decline in population of the bird is because of heavy hunting and habitat fragmentation.

A press release by the foundation said the importance of conservation of this vanishing species from the point of view of a balanced ecosystem could not be over-stressed and demanded that the habitat, which stood lush green with tall grasses at this time of the year, needed to be declared sanctuary for wildlife and protected against destruction.