# Great Indian Bustard conservation efforts in India > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/great-indian-bustard-conservation-efforts-in-india > Updated: 2026-10-03T12:26:43.000Z. Sources: 17. Developments: 2. Conservation efforts for the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard have expanded across western India. In Gujarat, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav reviewed habitat management in the Naliya region of Kachchh, where officials inaugurated a Soft Release Centre and reported the restoration of 11 square kilometers of grassland. Efforts there included the installation of 30 kilometers of predator-proof fencing and a ‘jump-start’ intervention using viable eggs to replace infertile ones in the wild. In Rajasthan, the rewilding program has transitioned toward augmenting the species in its natural habitat. Following the inauguration of a new rewilding aviary at the Godawan Conservation and Breeding Centre in Ramdevra by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav released captive-bred male bustards into the Sam Desert National Park in Jaisalmer. This collaborative initiative involves the Union Environment Ministry, the Rajasthan Forest Department, and the Wildlife Institute of India. Current facilities in Sam and Ramdevra house 97 birds, including those bred in captivity. Officials noted that conserving the Great Indian Bustard, which serves as an ‘umbrella species’ for the Thar ecosystem, provides broader ecological and economic benefits through eco-tourism. ## Claims - Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma virtually inaugurated a new rewilding aviary at the Godawan Conservation and Breeding Centre in Ramdevra. (corroborated by 2 sources) - The Rajasthan Forest Department announced the release of ten captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild. (single source) - Ten Great Indian Bustards are scheduled for release on October 3 and 4. (single source) - Birds will be released in Ramdevra and Sudasari within the Desert National Park. (single source) - The Great Indian Bustard is a critically endangered species and the official bird of Rajasthan. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-03: Great Indian Bustard rewilding begins in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan India has begun rewilding the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard in Rajasthan, releasing captive-bred birds into Jaisalmer's Desert National Park following a decade of conservation breeding. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rajasthan-inaugurates-rewilding-aviary-for-great-indian-bustard ### 2026-09-13: Bhupender Yadav reviews Great Indian Bustard conservation in Gujarat Indian Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav reviewed Great Indian Bustard conservation efforts in Gujarat, inaugurating a soft release centre and noting successful chick survival in the wild. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/bhupender-yadav-reviews-great-indian-bustard-conservation-in-gujarat --- Cite as: Great Indian Bustard conservation efforts in India. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/great-indian-bustard-conservation-efforts-in-india