2 months ago
1
A Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick was calved successful Gujarat’s Kutch aft a decennary done the the jumpstart approach, a caller conservation initiative, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced connected Saturday (March 28, 2026).
This is the archetypal specified inter-State inaugural successful the country. Execution of the inaugural successful Gujarat, which had nary anticipation of having a fertile ovum with lone 3 pistillate GIBs surviving successful the grasslands of Kutch, took an arduous 770-kilometre-long, halt-free roadworthy travel to transport an incubated egg.
In a large trans-State conservation effort, a captive-bred GIB ovum from the conservation breeding programme successful Rajasthan was transported by roadworthy for implicit 19 hours successful a handheld portable incubator and was successfully replaced successful the nest of a pistillate GIB connected March 22. The pistillate GIB, which was tagged successful August 2025, had earlier laid an infertile egg.
The pistillate completed the incubation of the fertile ovum and the chick successfully hatched connected March 26, the Minister said. The tract monitoring squad is observing the young chick being reared by its foster parent successful its earthy habitat. Mr. Yadav described this arsenic a important accomplishment successful the betterment of the critically endangered species.
The jumpstart effort, coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) on with the State Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the Wildlife Institute of India was planned a twelvemonth back.
The Project GIB, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi successful 2011 to conserve the Great Indian Bustard successful its earthy habitats, including Gujarat, was formally launched successful 2016. The task has been making dependable advancement successful strengthening conservation and betterment efforts for the species, Mr. Yadav noted successful a societal media post.
The Minister informed that the fig of birds successful conservation breeding centres astatine Sam and Ramdevra successful Rajasthan has reached 73, with the summation of 5 caller chicks during the existent breeding season. He added that India is present moving up towards the rewilding of birds arsenic portion of semipermanent conservation planning.
Mr. Yadav stated that this effort is among respective steps being taken to revive GIB populations and reflects India’s beardown committedness to wildlife conservation. He congratulated each scientists, tract officers, and wildlife enthusiasts progressive successful the effort and expressed anticipation for the endurance of the chick, stating that the authorities remains committed to leaving nary chromatic unturned to marque the conservation endeavour successful.
