Jaisalmer: India’s conservation programme for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is preparing to release captive-bred birds into the wild under its next phase of rewilding after the captive-breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district produced 98 GIB chicks. The development was shared by Union minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav in a post on his official X account Friday.The progress of the conservation programme was reviewed during the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL), held at the Central Academy for State Forest Service (CASFoS) in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Friday.“Extensive scientific preparations are underway to ensure the safe release of captive-bred birds into the wild. Necessary infrastructure, monitoring systems and management protocols are being put in place to maximise the birds’ chances of survival,” Yadav said.The minister also lauded the efforts of the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat for their role in scientific breeding, habitat management and continuous monitoring of the species.Highlighting another achievement, Yadav said the second “Jump Start” intervention carried out in Naliya, Gujarat, also succeeded. A Great Indian Bustard chick born under the initiative on May 21, 2026, has crossed the critical 40-day survival period, considered one of the most vulnerable stages in the bird’s life.The achievement is being viewed as an encouraging breakthrough in efforts to strengthen the species’ wild population. Wildlife experts said scientific captive breeding and the upcoming rewilding programme significantly improved the prospects for the recovery of the species.
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