Endangered Great Indian Bustard Takes Fresh Flight, But Experts Sound Alarm
India has successfully released two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild in Rajasthan, marking a milestone in conservation efforts. However, experts warn that the species and broader bird populations remain under severe threat due to habitat loss and other environmental pressures.
Why it matters
The survival of the Great Indian Bustard is a key indicator of the health of India's grassland ecosystems and the efficacy of national conservation policies.
As India celebrated a landmark conservation achievement with the release of two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild in Rajasthan's Desert National Park, scientists are simultaneously sounding alarm bells over the growing threats facing the country's birdlife.The birds are among those bred under a conservation programme jointly run by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, the Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India.Conservation centres at Sam and Ramdevra currently house 97 Great Indian Bustards. Of these, 40 originated from wild-laid eggs while 57 have been bred in captivity. Scientists produced 24 live chicks in 2025 and another 29 in 2026. Eleven birds have been selected for eventual release, with the first two now taking flight in the deserts of Rajasthan.A comprehensive new study published in the journal 'Indian Birds' warns that the country's avifauna or bird life is facing unprecedented pressures.
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