Published: 29 March 2026ANI / Deccan Chronicle / Manorama YearbookRajasthan
Project Great Indian Bustard: Conservation-Breeding Count Reaches 73, Operation Egg Transfer Achieves Inter-State Breakthrough
In a significant conservation milestone, Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB) recorded two new chick hatchings at the Conservation Breeding Centre in Sam, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan — one through natural mating on March 10, 2026 and another through artificial insemination on March 12, 2026. With these additions, the captive population of the Critically Endangered species reached 70, marking the fourth consecutive year of the captive breeding programme's success.
In a pioneering inter-state effort, forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat — in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) — transported a fertilised egg from the Rajasthan breeding centre to Kutch, Gujarat, in a specialised portable incubator over a 19-hour road journey. The egg was subsequently incubated by a wild female bustard near Abdasa, Kutch, and a healthy chick hatched on March 26, 2026 — the first GIB birth in Gujarat's Kutch district in over a decade.
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), locally called 'Ghorad', is Schedule I protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. With fewer than 150 individuals estimated globally — the majority in Rajasthan's Desert National Park — the species faces existential threats from habitat loss, power line collisions, and slow reproduction (females lay only one egg per year). Officials announced that select captive-bred chicks will be soft-released into the wild in the coming months as the next phase of the recovery programme.
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Answer (50 words):
Project Great Indian Bustard's captive population reached 70 in March 2026 with two new chicks hatched at the Sam centre in Jaisalmer, marking four consecutive successful years. An Operation Egg Transfer moved a fertilised egg nineteen hours from Rajasthan to Kutch, producing Gujarat's first bustard hatchling in over a decade.
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CoverageRajasthanTypeProjectSubjectScience & TechnologyExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourceANI / Deccan Chronicle / Manorama Yearbook
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The Great Indian Bustard, locally called 'Ghorad', is protected under which Schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972?
Explanation · Correct answer AThe Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), locally called Ghorad, is Schedule I protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, with the highest level of legal protection.
Frequently asked questions
What milestone did Project Great Indian Bustard reach in March 2026?
In March 2026, Project GIB's captive breeding population reached 70 birds, a significant conservation milestone, after two new chicks hatched at the Sam Breeding Centre in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
What is 'Operation Egg Transfer' and what was its significance?
Operation Egg Transfer involved transporting a fertilised GIB egg over 19 hours from Rajasthan to Gujarat's Kutch region, where it successfully hatched — marking the first GIB birth in Kutch in a decade and a pioneering inter-state conservation effort.
What is the conservation status of the Great Indian Bustard under Indian and international law?
The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, providing it the highest level of protection in India. It is also listed in CITES Appendix I, restricting its international trade.
Where is the primary captive breeding facility for the Great Indian Bustard located?
The primary GIB captive breeding facility is the Sam Breeding Centre located in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. It plays a central role in Project GIB's conservation efforts.
What is the estimated wild population of the Great Indian Bustard?
The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered with an estimated wild population of fewer than 130 individuals, making captive breeding and conservation programmes like Project GIB critically important.
