Picture used for representational functions solely. Picture:
A Nice Indian Bustard (GIB) The chick was born in Gujarat’s Kutch after a decade by way of the jumpstart strategy, a novel conservation initiative, Union Atmosphere Minister Bhupender Yadav introduced on Saturday (March 28, 2026).
That is the primary such inter-State initiative within the nation. Execution of the initiative in Gujarat, which had no chance of getting a fertile egg with solely three feminine GIBs surviving within the grasslands of Kutch, took an arduous 770-kilometre-long, halt-free street journey to move an incubated egg.
In a serious trans-State conservation effort, a captive-bred GIB egg from the conservation breeding program in Rajasthan was transported by street for over 19 hours in a handheld transportable incubator and was efficiently changed within the nest of a feminine GIB on March 22. The feminine GIB, which was tagged in August 2025, had earlier laid an infertile egg.
The feminine accomplished the incubation of the fertile egg and the chick efficiently hatched on March 26, the Minister stated. The sector monitoring workforce is observing the younger chick being reared by its foster mom in its pure habitat. Mr. Yadav described this as a big achievement within the restoration of the critically endangered species.
The jumpstart effort, coordinated by the Ministry of Atmosphere, Forest, and Local weather Change (MoEFCC) together with the State Forest Departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat, and the Wildlife Institute of India was deliberate a 12 months again.
The Venture GIB, envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2011 to preserve the Nice Indian Bustard in its pure habitats, together with Gujarat, was formally launched in 2016. The venture has been making regular progress in strengthening conservation and restoration efforts for the species, Mr. Yadav famous in a social media put up.
The Minister knowledgeable that the variety of birds in conservation breeding facilities at Sam and Ramdevra in Rajasthan has reached 73, with the addition of 5 new chicks in the course of the present breeding season. He added that India is now transferring forward in direction of the rewilding of birds as a part of long-term conservation planning.
Mr. Yadav acknowledged that this effort is amongst a number of steps being taken to revive GIB populations and displays India’s robust dedication to wildlife conservation. He congratulated all scientists, discipline officers, and wildlife fanatics concerned within the effort and expressed hope for the survival of the chick, stating that the federal government stays dedicated to leaving no stone unturned to make the conservation endeavor profitable.
Revealed – March 29, 2026 01:22 am IST