Captive-bred Great Indian Bustards to be released into the Wild at Rajasthan's Desert National Park Jaislamer
Rajasthan's state bird, the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB), is set to take a significant step towards returning to its natural habitat. During Wildlife Week 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma participated in the commencement of the process to release two captive-reared GIBs into the wild from a soft-release facility in Jaisalmer's Desert National Park.
This release marks the beginning of a new phase in India's decades-long efforts to save the species from extinction. Until now, the primary focus had been on establishing a healthy captive population. The program has now shifted towards 'rewilding'—enabling birds raised under controlled conditions to gradually adapt to life in the wild.
Yadav and Sharma also inspected conservation facilities at Ramdevra and Sam and inaugurated a new 'rewilding aviary' (a large bird enclosure). This massive, pillar-less aviary—measuring 160 meters by 64 meters and standing 14 meters high—was constructed at a cost of ₹9.25 crore. It provides ample space for the birds to strengthen their flight muscles and develop natural behaviors before their release.
This conservation program, jointly run by the Union Ministry of Environment, the Rajasthan Forest Department, and the Wildlife Institute of India, has made significant progress. The facilities at Sam and Ramdevra currently house 97 GIBs; of these, 57 were captive-reared, while 40 hatched from eggs collected from the wild.
Under this program, 24 live chicks were produced in 2025 and 29 in 2026. Scientists have also adopted a "jump-start" method, in which eggs laid in captivity are placed in wild nests accepted by breeding females; this approach has resulted in the hatching of eight chicks in Rajasthan and Gujarat.
A fenced grassland area of approximately 200 square kilometers within Desert National Park is also being developed as a breeding habitat. It is hoped that the rewilding program will provide valuable scientific insights for releasing the birds into the wild in the future, while also aiding in grassland conservation and creating opportunities for eco-tourism and local communities.