Rising bird deaths near turbines:
India added 3.5 GW of wind power in early 2025, marking 82% annual growth, but a Wildlife Institute of India study raised concerns over rising bird deaths near turbines in Rajasthan’s Thar Desert, sparking debate on the ecological impact of renewables.
Findings from the WII Study (Thar Desert):
- Conducted over a 3,000 sq. km area in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- Studied 90 wind turbines and found 124 bird carcasses.
- Estimated 4,464 bird deaths per 1,000 sq. km per year.
- In control sites with no turbines, no bird deaths were recorded.
- Critically endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard are at risk.
- The study found raptors to be the most affected bird group.
- Collisions with both wind turbine blades and associated power lines were major causes.
