Two New Chicks Mark Milestone in Great Indian Bustard Conservation Programme

India’s flagship conservation initiative for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard has achieved another significant milestone, with the hatching of two new chicks at a breeding facility in Rajasthan. The development marks the fourth year of the captive breeding programme under Project Great Indian Bustard and takes the total number of birds currently in captivity to 70.

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav shared the update on Friday, highlighting the progress made in the conservation effort. The announcement comes as a major boost for the survival of one of India’s most threatened bird species.

Breeding Success at Rajasthan Conservation Centre

According to the Minister, the two chicks were successfully hatched this week at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Rajasthan. One chick was born through natural mating, while the other resulted from artificial insemination, demonstrating the effectiveness of both breeding methods being used in the programme.

Describing the development as an important milestone, the Minister noted that the steady growth in the captive population reflects the progress of the conservation initiative launched to rescue the species from the brink of extinction.

Moving Towards Reintroduction in the Wild

The next phase of the programme will involve gradually reintroducing some captive-bred birds into their natural habitat. Minister Yadav stated that some chicks born this year will undergo “soft release” into the wild, marking a new and challenging stage for the conservation project.

Soft release is a carefully managed process in which captive-bred animals are gradually acclimatised to natural environments before full release, increasing their chances of survival.

Government Commitment to Wildlife Conservation

The Minister emphasised that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been actively strengthening wildlife conservation efforts. The progress in the bustard breeding programme, he said, demonstrates the country’s commitment to protecting endangered species and restoring fragile ecosystems.

He also congratulated officials of the Rajasthan Forest Department for their dedication and hard work in achieving this milestone.

Saving One of India’s Rarest Birds

The Great Indian Bustard is among the rarest and most endangered birds in the world, with only a small population remaining in the wild, primarily in parts of western India. Habitat loss, collisions with power lines, and other human pressures have pushed the species dangerously close to extinction.

The captive breeding programme under Project Great Indian Bustard was launched as an emergency conservation measure to secure a viable population and eventually rebuild numbers in the wild.

With the successful hatching of two new chicks and a captive population now reaching 70 birds, conservationists see renewed hope for the long-term survival of this iconic species of India’s grassland ecosystems.

Source: PIB