India begins process to rewild captive-bred Great Indian Bustards in Jaisalmer
In a major milestone for the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on...
In a major milestone for the conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday initiated the process for releasing captive-bred GIBs into the wild at the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer.
The process will culminate in the release of two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards from a soft-release facility into their natural habitat on Sunday. The initiative marks a major transition in India’s GIB recovery programme after nearly a decade of conservation breeding, scientific research and habitat management.
The event was held during Wildlife Week 2026. Rajasthan Forest and Environment Minister Sanjay Sharma, along with senior officials of the Union and state governments, also attended the programme.
Yadav and CM Sharma reviewed the progress of the GIB Conservation Breeding Centres at Ramdevra and Sam and inaugurated a newly developed Rewilding Aviary. A brochure documenting the decade-long journey of GIB conservation in the Rajasthan landscape was also released.
From Conservation Breeding to Rewilding
The GIB conservation programme began with efforts to establish a viable captive-breeding population and has now reached the stage of reintroducing captive-bred birds into their natural habitat.
The release has been planned in a carefully controlled manner, with limited human presence at the site to minimise disturbance to the birds. The experience and scientific data generated through the pilot release will be used to progressively refine protocols for future releases.
The programme has also seen a successful expansion from Rajasthan to Gujarat, where a conservation and soft-release facility has been established at Naliya in Kutch.
Addressing the gathering, CM Sharma described the rewilding of the state bird as a matter of pride for Rajasthan. He said coordinated efforts by the Union and state governments had helped bring the GIB, an important part of the Thar’s cultural heritage, back from the brink of extinction.
He also highlighted the financial support extended by the Rajasthan government for the GIB Conservation Programme and other conservation initiatives across the state.
GIB Conservation a Global Example
Yadav said the Thar Desert has a deep emotional and cultural connection with the Great Indian Bustard and credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for the progress achieved under the conservation programme.
The Union Minister commended officials of the Environment Ministry and Rajasthan Forest Department, scientists from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and local communities for their efforts in bringing the programme to the rewilding stage.
Yadav also highlighted the potential economic benefits of GIB conservation for local communities through eco-tourism. Beyond its ecological importance as an umbrella species of the Thar ecosystem, the GIB plays a significant role in grassland conservation, land degradation neutrality and as an important stopover for migratory birds along the Central Asian flyways.
New Rewilding Aviary at Ramdevra
During his visit, Yadav reviewed the incubation and breeding facilities and interacted with officials and scientists involved in the conservation programme.
The newly developed Rewilding Aviary at Ramdevra measures 160 metres by 64 metres by 14 metres. It has been constructed by the Rajasthan Forest Department through the Rajasthan State Road Development and Construction Corporation Ltd. (RSRDC) with a sanctioned budget of ₹9.25 crore from the Rajasthan government.
The facility was developed in consultation with experts and scientists from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and WII.
Its large, pillar-less design provides captive-bred GIBs with unobstructed flight space, allowing them to strengthen their flight muscles, adapt to natural conditions and develop natural behaviours before their eventual release into the wild.
97 Birds at Conservation-Breeding Facilities
The Bustard Recovery Programme is a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Rajasthan Forest Department and WII, with technical collaboration from the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and funding support from National CAMPA.
Under the ongoing National Action Plan, conservation efforts include captive breeding, scientifically informed habitat management, threat mitigation, habitat restoration and community engagement.
The GIB conservation-breeding facilities at Sam and Ramdevra currently house 97 birds. Of these, 40 originated from wild-laid eggs and 57 were bred in captivity. As many as 86 birds are being maintained for captive reproduction, while 11 have been earmarked for release into the wild.
The breeding programme produced 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026.
‘Jumpstart’ Approach Boosts Recovery Efforts
Scientific interventions under the programme have also included the novel ‘jumpstart’ approach, under which captive-laid eggs are placed in wild nests and accepted by incubating females.
Through this method, six chicks have been hatched in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat, providing another tool for strengthening the species’ recovery.
Habitat restoration has been pursued alongside captive breeding. The Rajasthan Forest Department has established approximately 200 square kilometres of fenced grassland enclosures inside the Desert National Park. Long-term telemetry studies by WII have identified these areas as prime breeding habitats for the species.
Conservation measures for the Great Indian Bustard are also being guided by the Supreme Court of India’s judgment, based on recommendations of the Expert Committee constituted for the purpose.
The planned release of the captive-bred birds marks the next critical stage in the GIB recovery programme. Besides augmenting the species in its natural habitat, the initiative is expected to generate scientific evidence that will help India refine and strengthen protocols for the reintroduction of captive-bred birds into the wild.
Public awareness and outreach activities were also organised across Rajasthan ahead of the Union Environment Minister’s visit to the GIB conservation facilities in Jaisalmer.
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