Ten captive-bred Great Indian Bustards (GIBs) are set to be released into their natural habitat in Rajasthan’s Jaisalmer on October 3 and 4 as part of an effort to rebuild the critically endangered species’ wild population, officials said.
Initially, the birds were proposed to be released in Gujarat’s Kutch region. Union environment, forest and climate change minister Bhupender Yadav is scheduled to witness the release of the state birds. Prior to their release into the wild, the birds have undergone extensive rewilding training in a specially designed tunnel at the conservation breeding facility, where they were trained to adapt to conditions similar to their natural environment while being kept away from human interference. However, following consultations with experts, the plan was changed to the Thar Desert, the species’ natural habitat. Ramdevra and Sudasari were subsequently identified as suitable sites for the first phase of the release.
An interim facility was first established at Sam in Jaisalmer before a modern conservation breeding centre was developed at Ramdevra.
The Integrated Great Indian Bustard Conservation Project was launched in 2016, followed by a large-scale conservation breeding programme in Rajasthan in 2019. However, the exact number that will be released directly into open habitat will be decided after a final technical assessment by WII scientists. Ten birds at the conservation breeding centres are currently healthy and considered ready for release. The birds will be scientifically monitored after release to track their movements, behaviour, habitat use, adaptation and survival in the wild. The monitoring will help conservationists assess how captive-bred birds respond after being returned to their natural environment.
