It was declared as a sanctuary in July 1992, specifically for the conservation of the great Indian bustard, the heaviest flying bird belonging to the avian family of Otididae.

[1][2][3][4][5] Several suggestions have been made to vastly increase the size of this sanctuary as it is a breeding ground of the endangered great Indian bustard.

The reason is that its ecological zone is much larger on account of anthropogenic and cattle population pressure that are considered as a ‘biotic threat’ to this omnivorous species.

[3][5] Of the twenty three species of the bustards found in the world, the magnificent, tall, long-necked great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is the only one to have been recorded as endangered according to the 2009 IUCN Red List Category (as evaluated by Bird Life International – the official Red List Authority for birds for IUCN).

As its natural habitat, it feeds on traditional agricultural produces such as bajra, juvar and other cereal crops and also on insects and reptiles.

The winter season is from middle of November to end of February and the average temperature recorded during the coldest month of January is 5 °C (41 °F).

[1][7] On the sanctuary’s northern border, large flocks of flamingos, herons, egrets, sandpipers and other birds have been sighted, particularly on the Kutch coast line.

[4] Conversion of farming land to grow cash crops, particularly cotton that experts feel affects the bird’s feeding requirements.

Currently the sanctuary legally covers only a tiny protected area of about 2 square kilometres of land which is fenced but is too small experts feel.

This is the reason that this sanctuary's ecological zone is much larger keeping in view the anthropogenic and cattle population pressure that are considered as a ‘biotic threat’ to omnivorous species like the bustards.

Presently, the Forest Department has acquired additional land of 1,700 hectares (4,200 acres) from a parastatal organization of the state government.