Telangana to launch conservation breeding of Indian Roller, seeks WII support
The Telangana government has decided to initiate a conservation breeding project for the Indian Roller, the State bird, following concerns over its declining population. The Forest Department has sought assistance from the Wildlife Institute of India.
Sangareddy: Aiming to improve the population of Indian Roller (Coracias benghalensis), the State bird of Telangana, the Telangana government has decided to take up conservation breeding of Indian Roller on the lines of conservation breeding projects of Great Indian Bustard taken up by Rajasthan and a similar conservation project of Vulture taken up the Punjab government.
The Telangana forest department wrote to Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun seeking the support of its scientists and experts, who were well-versed in taking up conservation breeding particularly of Indian Roller.
The government took the decision after the BJP MP Dr K Lakshman, who raised the issue of drastic decline of Indian Roller’s population in Parliament, requested the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy urging him to take up a conservation breeding project in Telangana.
Dr Lakshman raised the issue in the Parliament after the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) had listed the Indian Roller in near threatened category in October 2025 after the State Indian Birds-2023 and several other bird surveys found the alarming drop in its population.
Responding to Dr Lakshman’s letter, the Chief Minister asked the Principal Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), Vinay Kumar to take necessary action to improve the state bird’s population.
Acting on Revanth’s directions the PCCF (WL), Vinay Kumar wrote to the Director of WII, seeking them to prepare a detailed project, assuring to extend the logistical support. The sources in the forest department told Telangana Today, they had planned to take up the conservation breeding project in a forest block. Later, they will release the birds into the wild to normalise the Indian Roller’s population in Telangana.
In his letter to the Chief Minister, Dr Lakshman said that excessive use of pesticide, and rapid urbanisation took a toll on the bird’s population. Quoting various bird survey reports, he said that the population of Indian Roller declined to 2,000 in Telangana. The people of the State believe sighting of Indian Roller on Dasara festival will bring prosperity and fulfil wishes.