Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into wild in Rajasthan under conservation efforts

Environment & Biodiversity Conservation · 17 October 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

Worth reading — 1 past UPSC question on this theme (Prelims GS-1 2022); also both a Prelims fact and a Mains debate.

2-minute summary

In October 2026, the Union Environment Ministry, along with the Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), successfully released two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards (GIB) into the wild at Desert National Park in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This rewilding milestone marks the culmination of nearly a decade of ex-situ conservation breeding efforts aimed at restoring the population of one of India's most critically endangered bird species. The released birds were nurtured at dedicated conservation breeding centers located at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer. As of October 2026, these facilities house a total of 97 GIBs—40 hatched from wild-collected eggs and 57 bred entirely in captivity. The conservation breeding program achieved significant reproductive milestones, recording 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026. While 86 birds are being retained for ongoing captive reproduction, 11 have been identified for wild release. The initiative represents a crucial transition from ex-situ breeding to active rewilding, though long-term species survival remains threatened by overhead power line collisions and grassland habitat loss.

Why it's in the news

The Union Environment Minister released two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, on October 4, 2026. This marks India's first formal rewilding step for the critically endangered species under a collaborative initiative between MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department, and WII.

Facts to remember

Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is classified as 'Critically Endangered' on the IUCN Red List.
Great Indian Bustard is listed under Schedule I of India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, granting it the highest level of legal protection.
The GIB conservation breeding program is a joint collaboration of MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
Desert National Park is located in the Jaisalmer and Barmer districts of Rajasthan within the Thar Desert ecosystem.
As of October 2026, the GIB conservation breeding facilities at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer maintain a population of 97 birds.

Background and context

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), once widely distributed across the arid and semi-arid grasslands of India, has suffered a catastrophic population decline of over 75% in recent decades. Today, fewer than 150 individuals survive in the wild, primarily in Rajasthan's Thar Desert. The primary causes of decline include severe habitat fragmentation due to conversion of grasslands into agriculture, degradation of semi-arid ecosystems, predation of eggs by free-ranging dogs and invasive species, and above all, fatal collisions with overhead high-tension power lines installed for solar and wind energy projects in Rajasthan and Gujarat. To prevent imminent extinction, the MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) established ex-situ conservation breeding centers at Sam and Ramdevra in Jaisalmer in 2019 under the 'Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats' scheme. Eggs collected from wild nests were artificially incubated, establishing a founder population. Following successful captive reproduction, the program has transitioned into its rewilding phase.

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 citizen to protect and improve the natural environment, including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.

Committees and reports

Supreme Court Expert Committee on GIB Protection — Appointed by the SC to assess the feasibility of undergrounding power lines versus installing bird diverters in priority and potential GIB habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

Government schemes

Species Recovery Programme under Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (IDWH) — Provides financial and technical assistance for specialized recovery plans of 22 critically endangered species, including the Great Indian Bustard.

International organisations

IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) — Categorises the Great Indian Bustard as 'Critically Endangered' (CR) in its Red List of Threatened Species.
CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) — Lists the Great Indian Bustard under Appendix I, prohibiting commercial international trade.
CMS (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species / Bonn Convention) — Lists the GIB under Appendix I, obligating range states to protect habitat and remove obstacles to migration.

Previous UPSC questions on this theme

Prelims GS-1 2022 — With reference to Indian laws about wildlife protection, consider the following statements : 1. Wild animals are the sole property of the government. 2. When a wild animal is declared protected, such animal is entitled for equal protection whether it is found in protected areas or outside. 3. Apprehension of a protected wild animal becoming a danger to human life is sufficient ground for its capture or killing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ? (a) 1 and 2 (b) 2 only (c) 1 and 3 (d) 3 only

Mains practice: Ex-situ conservation techniques like captive breeding and rewilding offer a lifeline for critically endangered species, yet their long-term success hinges on in-situ habitat restoration. Discuss with reference to the Great Indian Bustard recovery project.

The recent release of captive-bred Great Indian Bustards (GIB) into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, marks a landmark shift from ex-situ breeding to rewilding. With fewer than 150 wild individuals remaining, this joint effort by MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII) provides vital momentum to species recovery.

• Legal and Ecological Framework:

The GIB is protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and listed as 'Critically Endangered' by the IUCN. Under Constitutional provisions of Article 48A (DPSP) and Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duties), the state and citizens are mandated to safeguard endangered fauna.

• Role and Achievements of Ex-Situ Conservation:

The Sam and Ramdevra breeding facilities in Rajasthan currently house 97 birds, successfully producing 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026 through artificial incubation. Ex-situ breeding preserves genetic diversity, prevents total species collapse, and creates a reservoir population for eventual reintroduction into historical ranges.

• In-Situ Challenges Threatening Rewilding:

Rewilding success is severely constrained by field threats. Overhead high-tension transmission lines serving solar and wind parks in Rajasthan cause high adult mortality due to GIBs' limited frontal vision. Additionally, semi-arid grassland ecosystems face degradation from agricultural expansion, invasive alien flora like Prosopis juliflora, and egg predation by free-ranging dogs.

• Energy-Environment Policy Dilemma:

While the Supreme Court in 2021 mandated undergrounding power lines in priority GIB habitats, technical and financial constraints raised by power producers led to the constitution of an SC Expert Committee in 2024 to balance renewable energy targets with species protection.

Way Forward:

1. Mandate high-flight bird diverters on existing power lines and mandate underground cables in core GIB priority zones.

2. Declare key grassland corridors around Desert National Park as Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) with community-managed grazing practices.

3. Engage local communities ('Gopalaks') in nest monitoring and predator control through financial incentives.

Restoring in-situ habitats alongside ex-situ rewilding is essential to achieve SDG 15 (Life on Land) and secure a sustainable future for India's flagbearer of arid grasslands.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Consider the following statements regarding the Great Indian Bustard and its conservation efforts: 1. The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. 2. The Desert National Park, a primary wild habitat of the bird, spans across the states of Rajasthan and Gujarat. 3. The conservation breeding program for the species is a joint initiative involving the Wildlife Institute of India and the Rajasthan Forest Department. How many of the above statements are correct?

Only one
Only two
All three
None

Answer: B. Statement 1 is correct: The Great Indian Bustard is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Statement 2 is incorrect: The Desert National Park is situated exclusively in Rajasthan (spanning Jaisalmer and Barmer districts), not Gujarat. Statement 3 is correct: The conservation breeding project is a collaborative effort between MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department, and Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Q2. With reference to species conservation laws and international frameworks in India, consider the following statements: 1. Under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, species listed in Schedule I are granted the highest degree of legal protection. 2. India is a signatory to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), under which the Great Indian Bustard is listed in Appendix I. 3. Ex-situ conservation measures completely remove the legal requirement to designate Protected Areas for endangered species. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3

Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct: Schedule I of the WPA, 1972 provides maximum legal protection against hunting and trade. Statement 2 is correct: India is a party to CMS (Bonn Convention), and GIB is included in Appendix I. Statement 3 is incorrect: Ex-situ conservation complements in-situ habitat protection; it does not replace or eliminate the statutory requirement to designate Protected Areas.

Q3. Which of the following best describes the ecological role of the Great Indian Bustard in its natural habitat?

A keystone frugivore essential for tree seed dispersal in tropical moist evergreen forests
An indicator species for freshwater wetlands that regulates invasive aquatic plant growth
A flagship species for arid grassland ecosystems that regulates pest and rodent populations
An apex carnivore that controls small mammal numbers across high-altitude Himalayan alpine meadows

Answer: C. The Great Indian Bustard is an umbrella and flagship species for arid and semi-arid grassland ecosystems. As an omnivore feeding on insects (like locusts), rodents, and seeds, it plays a vital ecological role in regulating agricultural pests in dryland habitats.

Revision flashcards

What is the legal conservation status of the Great Indian Bustard under India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972? Schedule I, granting it the highest level of legal protection against hunting, trade, and habitat disturbance.
Which autonomous institute under MoEFCC leads scientific captive breeding and wildlife research for species recovery in India? Wildlife Institute of India (WII), established in 1982 and headquartered in Dehradun, Uttarakhand.
Where were captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild in October 2026? At the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer district, Rajasthan, following breeding at Sam and Ramdevra centers.
How many Great Indian Bustards were housed across the Sam and Ramdevra conservation breeding facilities as of October 2026? 97 birds, comprising 40 hatched from wild-laid eggs and 57 bred in captivity.
Why are overhead power transmission lines considered the primary mortality threat to wild Great Indian Bustards? Due to narrow frontal vision and heavy body mass, bustards cannot spot power cables in flight time, causing lethal electrocution or impact collisions.