India’s conservation efforts for the Great Indian Bustard (GIB), one of the world’s most critically endangered birds, have achieved a major milestone. The captive breeding programme has successfully produced 98 chicks at the conservation breeding centres in Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer district, marking significant progress in the species’ recovery.

The achievement was reviewed during the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) held in Coimbatore. Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav announced that the conservation programme is now preparing to enter the rewilding phase, under which captive-bred birds will be released into their natural grassland habitats after careful scientific planning.

To improve the survival of released birds, authorities are establishing suitable infrastructure, post-release monitoring systems, and management protocols. The minister also commended the efforts of the Wildlife Institute of India and the forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat for implementing the programme successfully.

The review also highlighted the success of the second “Jump-Start” intervention at Naliya, Gujarat, where a Great Indian Bustard chick hatched on 21 May 2026 has successfully crossed the critical 40-day survival period, demonstrating the potential of assisted breeding techniques.

The Great Indian Bustard is listed as Critically Endangered, with Rajasthan supporting the last viable wild population in India. The success of the captive breeding programme and the planned rewilding of captive-bred birds represent an important step towards securing the future of this iconic grassland species.

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