JAISALMER: A significant breakthrough has been achieved under Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB), the conservation initiative aimed at saving one of India's most critically endangered bird species, the Great Indian Bustard (Godawan).
As part of the “Jumpstart Intervention” programme in Rajasthan, three chicks have been successfully hatched in natural conditions, strengthening ongoing conservation efforts.
With these latest hatchings, the total number of GIB in conservation breeding centres has increased to 94. The current breeding season is still underway, and experts expect more chicks to hatch in the coming weeks.
Union minister for environment, forest and climate change, Bhupender Yadav shared the encouraging news on Monday through a post on X. He stated that three new chicks were successfully hatched in the last few days, one from a wild-collected egg and two from eggs laid in captivity.
All three chicks have now been inducted into the conservation breeding programme.
The minister further informed that during the fourth year of the captive breeding programme, a total of 26 chicks have hatched so far. Of these, 18 were produced through artificial insemination, four through natural breeding, and four from wild-collected eggs. This achievement is expected to provide a major boost to GIB conservation efforts in India.
He also highlighted that under the Jumpstart Intervention in Rajasthan, three chicks have been successfully raised in the wild as replacements for eggs collected from natural habitats.
The primary objective of this initiative is to enhance the genetic diversity of the founder population and reduce the risk of egg and chick losses due to predation in the wild.
Wildlife conservation experts believe that the combined use of captive breeding and jumpstart techniques is playing a crucial role in the recovery of the critically endangered GIB.
These efforts are not only increasing the captive population but are also helping strengthen the species’ long-term survival prospects in its natural habitats.
Following the latest hatchings, the total population of GIB in conservation breeding centres has reached 94 birds.
As the breeding season continues, experts remain optimistic about the birth of more chicks, which could further accelerate conservation efforts for one of India’s rarest and most threatened bird species.
