Project GIB Captive Stock Reaches 94 Birds

Great Indian Bustard captive stock reaches 94

Asked by UPSCPrelims 2020, 20122 PYQs

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Prelims 2012Which one of the following groups of animals belongs to the category of endangered species?Solve with answer
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Battle Brief

Project Great Indian Bustard added three chicks in mid-June 2026, taking captive stock to 94 birds, the Environment Ministry said on 14 June. In the fourth year of captive breeding, 26 chicks have hatched so far — 18 by artificial insemination, four by natural breeding and four from wild-collected eggs.

Fact File

Release: 14 Jun 2026, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
New chicks: 3 (1 wild-collected egg; 2 captive-laid)
Captive stock: 94 birds
Fourth-year hatches: 26 chicks so far
Of the 26: 18 artificial insemination; 4 natural; 4 wild-collected eggs
Wild jumpstart: 3 chicks hatched in the wild in Rajasthan (egg exchange)

In the news

Project Great Indian Bustard captive breeding: what happened?

The Great Indian Bustard is among India’s most endangered birds. Captive breeding and careful return of genetics to the wild are how the recovery programme tries to keep the founder pool alive.

More chicks expected in the same season.
Wild egg exchange linked to jumpstart intervention for founder genetic diversity and lower predation risk in Rajasthan.

Back Story

What is Project GIB doing in year four?

Running captive breeding with artificial insemination, natural breeding and wild-collected eggs, while returning some chicks to the wild through jumpstart methods.

Why examiners care

Why does Project Great Indian Bustard captive breeding matter?

Conservation: Captive GIB stock at 94.
Science: Heavy use of artificial insemination (18 of 26).

Exam Radar

What can Prelims ask on Project Great Indian Bustard captive breeding?

GIB captive stock 94 (Jun 2026).
Fourth-year hatches 26: 18 AI, 4 natural, 4 wild eggs.

How to use this in Mains

GS-III Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation

As per PIB (2026-06-14): three more chicks took the GIB captive stock to 94; 26 chicks have hatched in the fourth year of captive breeding.
Captive breeding is insurance against extinction.

Quotable data point
Three more chicks took the GIB captive stock to 94.
PIB: Environment: Project GIB, 14 Jun 2026

Practice MCQs

Original practice questions (not PYQs).

Practice · UPSC

As of mid-June 2026, Project GIB captive stock stood at

Answer (c) & explanation

PIB (MoEFCC), 14 Jun 2026.

Quick questions

Questions students ask about this

How large is the GIB captive stock now?

94 birds.

How many chicks in the fourth captive-breeding year so far?

26.

How many of those 26 came via artificial insemination?

18.