Two captive-bred great Indian bustards released in Rajasthan national park

Environment & Ecology / Wildlife Conservation · 5 October 2026 · Based on Indian Express (original report)

2-minute summary

In a major boost to wildlife conservation, two captive-bred male great Indian bustards (GIB) were released into the wild at Rajasthan's Desert National Park by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. The birds were raised at conservation breeding centres in Ramdevra and Sam, Jaisalmer, established under Project GIB. With only about 150 individuals surviving in the wild, this rewilding initiative marks the first step in a long-term species recovery programme. From 2019 onwards, wild-collected eggs were artificially incubated, and chicks hand-reared, leading to successful captive reproduction yielding 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026. Out of 98 captive-bred birds currently in these facilities, 11 have been earmarked for initial release. Alongside captive breeding, the project emphasizes habitat restoration, including the creation of 200 square kilometres of fenced grassland enclosures inside the national park to protect prime breeding areas from anthropogenic pressures and infrastructure hazards like power transmission lines.

Why it's in the news

Two captive-bred great Indian bustards were successfully released into the wild in Rajasthan's Desert National Park for the first time, marking a major milestone in the long-term species recovery programme for one of India's most critically endangered birds.

Facts to remember

Only about 150 great Indian bustards remain in the wild.
The first captive-bred great Indian bustards were released in Rajasthan's Desert National Park.
The conservation breeding facilities for the project are located at Ramdevra and Sam in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
Captive reproduction produced 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026.

Background and context

The great Indian bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), one of the heaviest flying birds, is endemic to the Indian subcontinent, with its remaining viable population largely restricted to the Thar Desert in Rajasthan. Classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, the species has suffered a catastrophic population decline due to habitat loss, conversion of grasslands to agriculture, stray dogs, and fatal collisions with high-voltage power transmission lines crisscrossing its arid habitat. To arrest this decline, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), along with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and the Rajasthan Forest Department, initiated Project GIB. This included setting up specialized conservation breeding centers where wild eggs were artificially incubated, and chicks hand-reared to establish a founder population for future rewilding.

Constitutional provisions

Article 48A — Directs the State 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 Indian citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife, and to have compassion for living creatures.

Government schemes

Project GIB (Great Indian Bustard Recovery Programme) — A species recovery program involving ex-situ conservation breeding centers, artificial incubation, hand-rearing, and subsequent rewilding into fenced grassland habitats.

International organisations

International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) — Classifies the Great Indian Bustard under its Red List as Critically Endangered.

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: Ex-situ conservation and captive breeding are increasingly being deployed as tools for wildlife management in India. Discuss the challenges involved in rewilding captive-bred critically endangered species like the Great Indian Bustard.

Introduction:

With only about 150 Great Indian Bustards (GIB) remaining in the wild, the recent release of captive-bred male GIBs into Rajasthan's Desert National Park marks a critical milestone in India's ex-situ wildlife conservation efforts under Project GIB.

Dimensions of Rewilding Challenges:

• Behavioural and Survival Deficits: Captive-reared birds often lack natural foraging instincts, predator avoidance behaviours, and social integration skills, making post-release survival in arid ecosystems precarious.

• Habitat Fragmentation and Degradation: The GIB's natural grassland habitat in the Thar has shrunk dramatically due to agricultural expansion, industrialization, and overgrazing, limiting viable reintroduction sites.

• Infrastructure Hazards: High-voltage overhead power transmission lines crossing desert landscapes remain a leading cause of mortality for heavy-flying birds like the GIB, necessitating underground cabling or bird diverters.

• Disease and Genetic Management: Maintaining a healthy founder population in ex-situ facilities at Ramdevra and Sam requires rigorous veterinary protocols to prevent inbreeding depression and contagious avian pathogens.

Way Forward:

• Habitat Protection: Expand fenced grassland enclosures (such as the 200 sq km reserves in Jaisalmer) and restore native scrub vegetation involving local communities.

• Mitigation of Linear Infrastructure: Implement time-bound undergrounding of priority power transmission lines in GIB habitats as directed by the Supreme Court.

• Scientific Monitoring: Scale up long-term telemetry studies by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) to track released birds and refine future reintroduction protocols.

Conclusion:

Integrating ex-situ breeding with rigorous in-situ habitat restoration, guided by Article 48A and Article 51A(g) of the Constitution, is vital to ensure the long-term survival of specialized grassland species and achieve land degradation neutrality.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Great Indian Bustard and its conservation: 1. The Great Indian Bustard is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. 2. The Desert National Park in Rajasthan is one of the primary natural habitats of the species. 3. The captive breeding and rewilding initiative for the species is implemented in conjunction with the Wildlife Institute of India. How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Answer: C. All three statements are correct. The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered, Desert National Park in Rajasthan is its prime natural habitat, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) is actively involved in the conservation breeding and rewilding program.

Q2. With reference to India's Desert National Park, consider the following statements: 1. It is spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts in Rajasthan. 2. There is no human habitation inside the park. 3. It is a major site for the ex-situ breeding and rewilding of the Great Indian Bustard. 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: C. Statement 1 is correct: Desert National Park is spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts. Statement 2 is incorrect because unlike many other protected areas, there are traditional human habitations and villages inside the park boundary. Statement 3 is correct as it is the primary release site for captive-bred Great Indian Bustards.

Q3. Which of the following best describes the primary objective of ex-situ conservation breeding programmes implemented for critically endangered wildlife species in India?

To permanently maintain wild species in controlled zoological gardens for commercial tourism and public display.
To establish a viable founder population through captive reproduction for eventual rewilding and natural habitat recovery.
To replace natural evolutionary processes entirely by relying exclusively on artificial incubation and cloning.
To relocate endangered fauna from tropical ecosystems to high-altitude temperate protected reserves.

Answer: B. Ex-situ conservation breeding aims to build a captive founder population through controlled reproduction to supplement dwindling wild populations via carefully managed rewilding programmes. Option A describes commercial zoos; option C is biologically inaccurate; option D describes translocation rather than ex-situ breeding.

Revision flashcards

What is the IUCN Red List status of the Great Indian Bustard? Critically Endangered.
Which national park in Rajasthan is famous as the primary natural habitat of the Great Indian Bustard? Desert National Park, spread across Jaisalmer and Barmer districts.
Which scientific institution is primarily assisting with the telemetry studies and conservation breeding for the Great Indian Bustard as of October 2026? Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
In what month and year were the first captive-bred great Indian bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park? October 2026.
Why is ex-situ captive breeding combined with rewilding essential for the survival of the Great Indian Bustard? Because wild populations have dwindled to around 150 individuals, making direct supplementation necessary to prevent extinction.