Two male Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park

Why in News?

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav released two male Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) into the wild at Sam in the Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on 4 October 2026. The release marks a transition in India’s GIB conservation programme from establishing a viable conservation-breeding population towards rewilding and strengthening the species in its natural habitat.

The Bustard Recovery Programme is a collaborative initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Rajasthan Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), with technical collaboration from the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and funding support from National CAMPA.

About Great Indian Bustard

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is an agro-grassland bird endemic to the Indian Subcontinent and is locally known as Godawan in Rajasthan. It is classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List and belongs to the family Otididae. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the male possessing a conspicuous gular pouch that plays an important role in mating displays. It is an omnivorous bird.

The Bustard Recovery Programme focuses on conservation breeding, habitat management, threat mitigation, habitat restoration and community engagement. The GIB facilities at Sam and Ramdevra currently house 97 birds, including 40 originating from wild-laid eggs and 57 bred in captivity.

A novel “jumpstart” approach has also contributed to conservation efforts. Under this approach, captive-laid eggs placed in wild nests were accepted by incubating females, resulting in the hatching of six chicks in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat. The experience gained from the recent release will be used to refine protocols for future rewilding efforts.

The Thar Desert of Rajasthan is the principal remaining habitat of the GIB in India. The current viable population is estimated at around 100–125 individuals, with the majority occurring in Rajasthan. Small populations are also found in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

Desert National Park (DNP)

The Desert National Park (DNP) covers about 3,162 sq km, of which approximately 1,900 sq km lies in Jaisalmer district and 1,262 sq km in Barmer district. Khejri (Prosopis cineraria) is commonly found in the region and is particularly revered and protected by local communities, including the Bishnois.

The Thar Desert supports a diverse range of flora and fauna despite being one of the world’s smaller deserts. It is notable as the natural habitat of Rajasthan’s state bird—the Great Indian Bustard, state animal—the Chinkara, state tree—the Khejri, and state flower—the Rohida.

Sources: PIB, BNHS & UNESCO

CLICK HERE: UPSC PRELIMS & MAINS CURRENT AFFAIRS BASED WEEKLY TEST (ENG & HINDI)

CLICK HERE FOR GS TIMES PRAHAR UPSC GS MAINS TEST SERIES 

CLICK HERE: DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS QUIZ (FOR ALL EXAMINATIONS)