For the first time, captive-bred Great Indian Bustard will set foot in the wild
2-minute summary
The conservation of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has entered a historic phase with the pilot release of captive-bred chicks into the wild at Desert National Park (DNP) in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This marks the official launch of the 'rewilding' phase of Project GIB, which has been in place since 2013 to recover the flagship grassland species. Two male chicks, aged four to six months and fitted with radio transmitters, are being released into protected enclosures. Currently, only 120 to 150 GIBs remain in the wild, primarily in Rajasthan. The species faces severe threats from habitat loss, predator depredation, and collisions with overhead power lines from renewable energy projects. To prevent extinction, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) has successfully bred 98 bustards in captivity since 2019 using artificial incubation and captive mating. The timing of the release is aligned with the post-monsoon abundance of insects, which serves as natural feed for the chicks.
Why it's in the news
For the first time in conservation history, captive-bred Great Indian Bustards are being released into the wild in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. This pilot initiative marks the transition of Project GIB from captive breeding to active rewilding.
Facts to remember
- The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is classified as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List.
- The wild population of the Great Indian Bustard is estimated to be between 120 and 150 individuals, with approximately 130 residing in Rajasthan.
- Project GIB was initiated in 2013 for the long-term recovery of this flagship grassland species.
- The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) operates GIB conservation breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- The Supreme Court of India has directed that overhead power lines in GIB priority areas must be converted to underground cables by December 2027.
Background and context
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB) is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world and serves as an evolutionary flagship species for India's arid grassland ecosystems. Once common across eleven Indian states, its population has collapsed due to habitat loss, agricultural expansion, and hunting. In recent decades, the rapid expansion of solar and wind energy projects in the Thar Desert has emerged as the single greatest threat, as the heavy birds with poor frontal vision frequently collide with overhead power transmission lines. To prevent imminent extinction, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Rajasthan Forest Department established a conservation breeding program in 2019. By collecting wild eggs and artificially incubating them, scientists built a founder captive population of nearly 100 birds. The program has also successfully tested the 'jumpstart' method, replacing infertile wild eggs in Gujarat with viable captive-bred eggs, setting the stage for this historic rewilding phase.
Constitutional provisions
- Article 48A — Directs the State to endeavor to protect and improve the environment and to safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country.
- Article 51A(g) — Imposes a Fundamental Duty on every citizen of India to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
Committees and reports
- Supreme Court-appointed Committee on GIB Power Line Undergrounding — Tasked with assessing the feasibility of undergrounding high-voltage power lines in Rajasthan and Gujarat to prevent GIB collisions.
Government schemes
- Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) — A centrally sponsored scheme under which the Great Indian Bustard is identified as one of the species for the recovery programme for critically endangered species.
International organisations
- Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) — The GIB is listed in Appendix I of the CMS, and was the official mascot (Gibi) for the CMS COP13 held in Gandhinagar, India, in 2020.
Previous UPSC questions on this theme
- Prelims GS-1 2020 — With reference to India's Desert National Park, which of the following statements are correct ? 1. It is spread over two districts. 2. There is no human habitation inside the Park. 3. It is one of the natural habitats of Great Indian Bustard. Select the correct answer using the code given below : (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
Mains practice: The conservation of the Great Indian Bustard highlights the complex trade-off between India's green energy transition and biodiversity preservation. Discuss the challenges and suggest a balanced policy framework to resolve this conflict.
The Great Indian Bustard (GIB), a critically endangered species with fewer than 150 individuals remaining in the wild, has become the focal point of a unique environmental conflict. The Thar Desert, which is the GIB's last viable habitat, is also India's primary hub for solar and wind energy generation, creating a direct clash between climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
• **Key Challenges in GIB Conservation:**
* **Infrastructure Collisions:** Due to their heavy body mass and lack of frontal vision, GIBs are unable to detect overhead power lines in time, leading to fatal collisions. This has emerged as the leading cause of non-natural mortality.
* **Habitat Fragmentation:** The conversion of open, arid grasslands into intensive agricultural fields and renewable energy parks deprives the bird of its nesting and foraging grounds.
* **Slow Biological Recovery:** GIBs have an extremely low reproductive rate, laying only one egg every 1-2 years, which is highly vulnerable to free-ranging predators like desert foxes and stray dogs.
• **The Policy Conflict:**
* Under **Article 48A** of the Constitution, the State must protect wildlife. However, India's commitment to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030 necessitates rapid transmission line expansion in Rajasthan. The Supreme Court's directive to underground power lines by December 2027 represents a critical judicial intervention to balance these competing green priorities.
• **Way Forward:**
* **Zoning and Categorization:** Demarcate 'priority' and 'potential' GIB areas, enforcing mandatory undergrounding of low-voltage lines in priority zones while allowing overhead lines with state-of-the-art bird flight diverters in potential zones.
* **Grassland Restoration:** Declare and protect grassland habitats under the **Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH)** scheme, treating grasslands as productive ecosystems rather than 'wastelands'.
* **Community-Led Conservation:** Engage local communities in predator control and eco-tourism, ensuring that GIB protection yields direct economic benefits.
In conclusion, India's pursuit of renewable energy must not occur at the cost of species extinction. Achieving **SDG 15 (Life on Land)** alongside **SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy)** requires a scientifically guided, co-existence model where infrastructure planning is ecologically sensitised.
Prelims practice questions
Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Great Indian Bustard (GIB): 1. It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. 2. It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 3. The species is endemic only to the state of Rajasthan in India. How many of the statements given above are correct?
- Only one
- Only two
- All three
- None
Answer: B. Statement 1 is correct: The GIB is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Statement 2 is correct: It is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, receiving the highest level of legal protection. Statement 3 is incorrect: While the largest population (~130 birds) is in Rajasthan, small populations of 5-6 individuals also exist in Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka; hence, it is not endemic only to Rajasthan.
Q2. With reference to the Desert National Park (DNP), consider the following statements: 1. It is spread across the two districts of Jaisalmer and Barmer in Rajasthan. 2. It is a natural habitat for the Great Indian Bustard. 3. There are no human habitations or villages located inside the boundaries of the park. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A. Statements 1 and 2 are correct: DNP is located in Jaisalmer and Barmer districts and is the primary natural habitat of the GIB. Statement 3 is incorrect: Unlike many other national parks, Desert National Park has several human habitations and villages located inside its boundaries, with local communities playing a key role in its ecosystem.
Q3. In the context of wildlife conservation in India, the term 'jumpstart method' recently seen in the news is best described as:
- A rapid afforestation technique using drone-dropped seed balls in arid zones.
- The immediate administration of oral vaccines to wild populations during disease outbreaks.
- Replacing infertile eggs of wild birds with viable eggs from captive-breeding centres.
- The translocation of apex predators to control the population of invasive herbivores.
Answer: C. The 'jumpstart' method was successfully deployed by WII scientists in Kutch, Gujarat, where infertile eggs laid by wild female GIBs were replaced with viable eggs from Rajasthan's captive-breeding centre to ensure successful hatching and survival in the wild.
Revision flashcards
- What is the protection status of the Great Indian Bustard under the IUCN Red List and the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972? Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Which two districts of Rajasthan encompass the Desert National Park, the primary habitat of the Great Indian Bustard? Jaisalmer and Barmer districts.
- In October 2026, which conservation breeding centres managed by the Wildlife Institute of India prepared captive-bred GIB chicks for wild release? The breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
- What deadline did the Supreme Court set in its orders for burying renewable energy power lines underground in areas outside the Desert National Park? December 2027.
- Why does the Great Indian Bustard have an exceptionally slow natural population recovery rate? It has a low reproduction rate, laying only one egg every 1-2 years, and its ground nests are highly vulnerable to predators.