Gujarat to receive 4 Great Indian Bustard chicks from Rajasthan

According to a report by the Times of India, 4 chicks of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard (GIB) species will be brought from Rajasthan to Kutch, Gujarat, next month for conservation. These chicks include two males and two females. Following this relocation, the total number of GIBs in Gujarat will increase to 8. Currently, there are only 3 adult female birds in the grasslands of Naliya, Kutch, and since December 2018, not a single male GIB has been available in the state; therefore, the arrival of these male chicks is considered very significant.

These 4 new chicks will be kept for 4 to 5 months in a recently launched soft-release center in Naliya. Prepared according to the guidelines of the Wildlife Institute of India, this center has special arrangements to minimize human contact and maintain the birds' natural survival instincts. Additionally, the forest department is restoring grasslands in an 11 square km area affected by the invasive species Prosopis juliflora, and 30 km of predator-proof fencing has been installed to secure a 15 square km area.

It is noteworthy that a male chick was born in Kutch in May 2026 from an egg brought from Rajasthan. Officials hope that this male chick will become capable of breeding by May 2029, which will pave the way for the natural breeding of this species in the grasslands of Gujarat.

The Great Indian Bustard is a large bird found in the Indian subcontinent and is considered one of the heaviest flying birds. Once commonly seen in the dry grasslands of India, this bird is critically endangered due to hunting and habitat loss. According to a 2018 estimate, its population had declined to around 150. This bird is protected under the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.