Great Indian Bustard: first captive-bred release begins at Desert NP
Why in the news
On 3 October 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched the process of releasing captive-bred Great Indian Bustards (GIB) into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. The first two birds are scheduled to be released from the soft-release facility on 4 October.
Key facts
- Breeding centres: Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan hold 97 birds.
- Re-wilding aviary: a pillar-free 160 m x 64 m x 14 m aviary at Ramdevra lets birds build flight muscles; Rajasthan sanctioned ₹9.25 crore for it.
- Habitat: about 200 sq km of grassland is fenced inside Desert National Park.
- Funding: financial support from National CAMPA.
- The result follows about 10 years of conservation work.
Captive population at a glance
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Total birds in captivity | 97 |
| From wild-collected eggs | 40 |
| Bred in captivity | 57 |
| Identified for release | 11 |
| Kept for breeding | 86 |
| Chicks in 2025 / 2026 | 24 / 29 |
About the Great Indian Bustard
The GIB is a large grassland bird and is listed as Critically Endangered. The recovery effort is a partnership of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Rajasthan Forest Department, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the International Houbara Conservation Fund.
Exam angle
- Location: Desert National Park, Jaisalmer; centres at Sam and Ramdevra.
- Status: Critically Endangered; funded by National CAMPA.
- Partners include WII and the International Houbara Conservation Fund.