Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into wild in Rajasthan under conservation efforts
The Indian government has released two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild in Rajasthan. This marks a milestone in a decade-long conservation effort to save the critically endangered species.
Why it matters
This is a significant achievement for biodiversity conservation and the use of captive breeding to prevent species extinction.
Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday (October 3, 2026) released two male Great Indian Bustards into the wild at the Desert National Park in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer, marking a significant first step in rewilding the captive-bred birds.
In a post on X, Mr. Yadav said the milestone was the outcome of nearly a decade of unwavering dedication by our scientists, researchers, and ground staff to help the Great Indian Bustard, a critically endangered bird, reclaim the deserts of Rajasthan.
The released birds were raised at facilities in Jaisalmer's Sam and Ramdevra.
He added, "I thank PM Shri @narendramodi ji for his continued guidance, encouragement and constant support in ensuring our scientific community can work for the conservation of all our species, including the Great Indian Bustard."
The conservation programme is a collaborative initiative of the Union Environment Ministry, the Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
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