Great Indian Bustard chick born via Operation Egg Transfer
Why in the news
A bustard chick hatched in Kutch for the first time in about ten years, thanks to an inter-state egg transfer in March 2026.
Key facts
- Event: GIB chick born in Kutch district, Gujarat, after a decade-long gap.
- Method: Operation Egg Transfer, a foster-parenting strategy.
- Why needed: no male GIBs in Kutch, so local females laid only unfertilised eggs.
- Who: Forest Departments of Gujarat and Rajasthan, with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) as technical partner.
How the transfer worked
- A fertilised egg was carried for 19 hours from Rajasthan to Kutch in a specialised portable incubator holding precise temperature and humidity.
- It was swapped with an unfertilised egg in a wild nest at Abdasa while the female was away.
About the Great Indian Bustard
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Ardeotis nigriceps |
| Local name | Ghorad (Gujarat and Maharashtra) |
| Role | Flagship species of grasslands; Guardian of the Grasslands |
| IUCN status | Critically Endangered |
| Population | Fewer than 150 worldwide, mostly in Desert National Park, Rajasthan |
| Legal status | Schedule I, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 |
It is among the heaviest flying birds in the world.
Supporting institutions
- WII: autonomous body under MoEFCC, headquartered in Dehradun; India’s premier wildlife research and training institution.
- Desert National Park: main GIB stronghold in the Thar Desert across Jaisalmer and Barmer; also home to Blackbuck and Indian Gazelle.
Threats
- Conversion of grassland to farming and solar or wind projects.
- Collisions with power lines, as the bird has poor frontal vision.
- Ground nests attacked by stray dogs and foxes.
- Slow breeding, with one egg per year.
Exam angle
- IUCN status: Critically Endangered.
- Legal cover: Schedule I, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- WII: Dehradun, under MoEFCC.
- Flagship species protects the whole grassland ecosystem.