Two captive-bred Great Indian Bustards released into the wild at Desert National Park
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UPSC has already asked about this. Read the story with these questions in mind.
On 4 October 2026 two captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards were released into the wild at Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. The breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra hold 97 birds, 57 of them bred in captivity. The release marks a shift in the decade-old recovery programme from breeding birds to putting them back in the wild.
- Date
- 4 Oct 2026
- Place
- Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
- Released
- 2 males (11 earmarked for release)
- Birds in centres
- 97 (40 from wild eggs, 57 captive-bred)
- Chicks bred
- 24 (2025), 29 (2026)
- Partners
- MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Dept, WII; funding National CAMPA
Great Indian Bustard rewilding: what happened?
The Great Indian Bustard is critically endangered and is Rajasthan’s State bird. A breeding programme started about ten years ago because wild numbers were too low to recover alone. This is the first step of putting bred birds back.
- On 4 Oct 2026 the Environment Minister released two male captive-bred Great Indian Bustards (GIB) at Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer [PIB 4 Oct].
- The process was initiated on 3 Oct from a soft-release facility; a new Rewilding Aviary was inaugurated and breeding centres at Ramdevra and Sam reviewed [PIB 3 Oct].
How has the recovery programme worked?
Bustard Recovery Programme steps (PIB)
- Collect wild-laid eggs
- Breed in centres at Sam and Ramdevra
- “Jumpstart”: captive-laid eggs placed in wild nests (6 chicks in Rajasthan, 2 in Gujarat)
- Soft release from a rewilding aviary
- Release into fenced grassland enclosures (~200 sq km) in Desert NP
What threatens the bustard?
- Loss of grassland habitat to farming and development.
- Collisions with overhead power lines; the Supreme Court has passed judgments on this, and conservation actions follow its expert committee’s recommendations.
- Very slow breeding: one egg at a time.
What do the breeding numbers show?
| Item | Number |
|---|---|
| Birds at Sam and Ramdevra | 97 |
| From wild-laid eggs | 40 |
| Bred in captivity | 57 |
| Kept for captive reproduction | 86 |
| Earmarked for release | 11 (2 released on 4 Oct) |
| Chicks bred in 2025 / 2026 | 24 / 29 |
Why does Great Indian Bustard rewilding matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Conservation | First step from captive population to wild augmentation. |
| Science | WII telemetry identified prime breeding enclosures. |
| Governance | Shows Centre, State, research institute and court acting together. |
What are the challenges in Great Indian Bustard rewilding?
- Released birds face the same power-line and habitat threats.
- Two birds are a trial; protocols will be refined after monitoring.
What should be done next on Great Indian Bustard rewilding?
- Monitor released birds by telemetry and adjust release protocols.
- Keep enclosures free of power lines and disturbance.
What can Prelims ask on Great Indian Bustard rewilding?
- GIB: critically endangered; State bird of Rajasthan.
- Desert National Park: Jaisalmer (and Barmer), Rajasthan.
- Breeding centres: Sam and Ramdevra.
- Programme partner: Wildlife Institute of India; funding National CAMPA.
How to write about Great Indian Bustard rewilding in Mains
Practice question (10 marks, 150 words): Captive breeding is only the first half of species recovery. Discuss with reference to the Great Indian Bustard.
- Intro: 4 Oct release.
- Breeding numbers and jumpstart.
- Threats in the wild.
- Next steps.
- Conclusion.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB, MoEFCC (2026-10-04): on 4 Oct 2026 the Environment Minister released two male captive-bred Great Indian Bustards (GIB) at Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer.
- GIB and Desert National Park have both been asked in Prelims; captive breeding → rewilding is a model for other species.
Quotable data pointThe process was initiated on 3 Oct from a soft-release facility; a new Rewilding Aviary was inaugurated and breeding centres at Ramdevra and Sam reviewed.
PIB, MoEFCC: Release of two male GIBs at Desert National Park, 4 Oct 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: GIB status, Desert NP. · Mains GS-III: species conservation.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
The Great Indian Bustard is the State bird of
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB describes it as the State bird of Rajasthan.
Consider the following about the GIB recovery programme:
1. Breeding centres are at Sam and Ramdevra.
2. It is funded by National CAMPA.
3. All 97 birds in the centres are to be released in 2026.
Which are correct?
Answer (a) & explanation
Only 11 birds are earmarked for release; 86 are kept for breeding.
Questions students ask about this
Where were the Great Indian Bustards released?
At Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on 4 October 2026.
How many bustards are in the breeding centres?
97 birds at Sam and Ramdevra, of which 57 were bred in captivity.
What is the jumpstart approach?
Placing captive-laid eggs in wild nests so wild females incubate them; it produced six chicks in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB, MoEFCC: Release of two male GIBs at Desert National Park, 4 Oct 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending