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 at Desert National Park in Rajasthan. This initiative is part of a decade-long conservation program aimed at saving the critically endangered species from extinction.
Why it matters
This marks a critical milestone in wildlife conservation efforts to restore the population of one of the world's rarest birds.
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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