Written by PPL Newsroom• October 5, 2026• 12:04 pm• Nature & Wildlife

Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Jaisalmer

India’s first release of captive-raised Great Indian Bustards at Desert National Park begins a pilot that will shape how more birds are returned to the wild.

Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav on Sunday released two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards into a designated enclosure in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It is the first major step from breeding the species under human care to returning it to its natural habitat. The bird is critically endangered, so every successful release matters.

The numbers behind the release

According to the environment ministry, the breeding facilities at Sam and Ramdevra house 97 birds. Of these, 40 came from eggs laid in the wild and 57 were bred in captivity. Eighty-six are kept for captive reproduction, and 11 have been set aside for release. The two birds freed on 4 October are part of that group of 11.

The breeding effort is producing results. The programme recorded 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026. A second approach, which the Press Information Bureau calls “Jumpstart”, placed eggs from the captive programme in wild nests. Eight chicks hatched from them, six in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat.

The Great Indian Bustard stands about 1.2 metres tall and weighs up to 15 kg. It is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List. Power lines are among the major threats, because the large birds have limited manoeuvrability in flight.

A cautious, monitored start

The recovery programme began in 2016. It is run by the Union environment ministry, the Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). The International Fund for Houbara Conservation provides technical collaboration, and National CAMPA provides funding. Mr Yadav said: “After 9 years of dedicated effort, we have arrived at this glorious moment of rewilding them.”

The ministry describes this release as a pilot. Lessons from it are expected to shape protocols for future releases. According to ETV Bharat, GPS tags will record the birds’ location, movement, flight, food search, safe havens and natural behaviour. Mr Yadav said the birds will be monitored for behaviour and diet, to check that they adjust to the ecosystem. Based on the outcome, the WII will decide whether to release more birds.

What this means for India

The Great Indian Bustard is one of India’s most threatened birds, and Rajasthan is among its most important remaining habitats. This release tests whether birds raised in captivity can survive in the desert. The results will guide future releases of the other 9 birds earmarked for release. Reports say Rajasthan has developed nearly 200 sq km of protected grassland habitat. Even so, power lines remain a known hazard, so the birds’ survival will depend on safe habitat as well as on breeding.

What happens next

The two males are now under observation, and the ministry has said it will continue to look after the remaining birds. The key question is whether they find food, stay safe and settle into the landscape. The answers will decide how quickly the other birds in the programme follow.