Great Indian Bustard rewilding begins in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan

Great Indian Bustard rewilding Jaisalmer wildlife conservation Rajasthan

India has initiated a major rewilding effort for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav oversaw the release of captive-bred male birds into the Sam Desert National Park on Sunday.

The conservation project is a collaborative effort between the Union Environment Ministry, the Rajasthan Forest Department, and the Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Following nearly a decade of research and captive breeding, the program is transitioning from maintaining a breeding population to reintroducing birds into their natural habitat.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma also participated by virtually inaugurating a new rewilding aviary at the Godawan Conservation and Breeding Centre in Ramdevra. The facility is designed to support the rehabilitation and promotion of the species, which is locally known as the Godawan.

Currently, facilities in Sam and Ramdevra house approximately 97 birds. The rewilding initiative aims to bolster the species' population, which has been severely depleted by habitat loss, hunting, and power line collisions. Officials noted that the conservation of the GIB serves as an umbrella for the broader Thar ecosystem and offers potential eco-tourism benefits to local communities.

Entities

Bhajanlal Sharma · Bhupender Yadav · Bhupendra Yadav · Desert National Park · Great Indian Bustard · Rajasthan Forest Department · Wildlife Institute of India

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[● 2 SOURCES] Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma virtually inaugurated a new rewilding aviary at the Godawan Conservation and Breeding Centre in Ramdevra. www.devdiscourse.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Ten Great Indian Bustards are scheduled for release on October 3 and 4. indiaobservers.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Rajasthan Forest Department announced the release of ten captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild. indiaobservers.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] Birds will be released in Ramdevra and Sudasari within the Desert National Park. indiaobservers.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Great Indian Bustard is a critically endangered species and the official bird of Rajasthan. indiaobservers.com