Two captive-bred bustards released in Rajasthan desert park

Two male Great Indian Bustards bred in captivity have been released into the wild at Rajasthan’s Desert National Park, Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Sunday. The birds were released at Sam in Jaisalmer district as part of a conservation programme for the critically endangered species. Yadav described the event as a first step in rewilding captive-bred Great Indian Bustards.

In a post on X, the minister said the release followed nearly a decade of work by scientists, researchers and ground staff to help the species return to Rajasthan’s desert landscape. The birds had been raised at facilities in Sam and Ramdevra. The programme is being carried out jointly by the Union Environment Ministry, the Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India.

The facilities at Sam and Ramdevra currently hold 97 birds. Forty originated from eggs collected in the wild, while 57 were bred in captivity. Of the total, 86 birds are being kept for captive reproduction and 11 have been identified for release into the wild.

The captive-breeding effort produced 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026, according to the material. The figures indicate that the programme is continuing to expand its captive population while beginning releases. Yadav thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his continued guidance and support for species conservation.

The minister did not provide details on the released birds’ monitoring arrangements, survival prospects or a timetable for further releases. The Great Indian Bustard is described in the source as critically endangered. The release took place on October 4, 2026, at the Desert National Park in Jaisalmer.