Science, Discovery, Tech and Environment · 30 March 2026
Endangered Steppe Eagles extend Rajasthan stay as Middle-East conflict disrupts traditional flyway
Exam-focused facts from the 30 March 2026 current affairs briefing.
Key facts
- The steppe eagle is classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss, power-line collisions, human persecution and illegal trafficking.
- Over 2,000 steppe eagles have been recorded in recent surveys at Jorbeer Conservation Reserve near Bikaner and Desert National Park near Jaisalmer.
- Jorbeer Conservation Reserve and Desert National Park are included in the Global Action Plan for Conservation of the Steppe Eagle 2026–2035 approved under the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species.
- Ongoing conflict and increased aerial activity in Iran and Iraq are pushing the eagles away from traditional wintering zones toward the Thar Desert in Rajasthan.