The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has released two male Great Indian Bustards into the wild at Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan. This release represents a major shift in India’s decade-long conservation effort for this critically endangered bird species, moving from breeding captive populations towards returning them to natural habitats.
The release was conducted by Union Environment Minister Shri Bhupender Yadav on 4 October 2026, with Rajasthan State Minister for Forest and Environment Shri Sanjay Sharma and senior government officers present.
Key facts
- Two male Great Indian Bustards released at Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
- Release date: 4 October 2026
- Captive facilities at Sam and Ramdevra house 97 birds total
- 40 birds originated from wild-laid eggs; 57 bred in captivity
- 11 birds identified for release into wild; 2 released on this date
- 24 live chicks produced in 2025; 29 in 2026
- Around 200 sq. km. of fenced grassland enclosures established in Desert National Park
- 6 chicks hatched in Rajasthan and 2 in Gujarat through ‘jumpstart’ approach
- Programme involves Ministry of Environment, Rajasthan Forest Department, Wildlife Institute of India and International Fund for Houbara Conservation
What the Bustard Recovery Programme involves
The Great Indian Bustard Recovery Programme is a multi-agency effort spanning nearly a decade. It combines conservation breeding of birds in captivity with habitat management in the wild, threat mitigation and restoration of grasslands where the species historically lived. The programme is guided by recommendations from an Expert Committee and a Supreme Court judgement on species conservation.
The programme has two main facilities for captive breeding: one at Sam and another at Ramdevra, both in Rajasthan. Currently, these hold 97 birds. Of these, 86 are maintained specifically for breeding purposes, while 11 have been selected as suitable for release back into nature.
Shift from breeding to rewilding
For nearly ten years, the focus was on establishing a stable population of Great Indian Bustards that could breed reliably in captivity. The release of two birds marks a transition towards a new phase: taking birds raised in captivity and returning them to their natural desert habitats in Rajasthan.
Scientists plan to use what they learn from releasing these two birds to improve their methods for future releases. This includes monitoring the birds’ survival, behaviour and adaptation to wild conditions.
Breeding progress and scientific innovations
The captive breeding programme has achieved significant results. In 2025, facilities produced 24 chicks; this increased to 29 in 2026. Forty of the 97 birds now in the facilities were originally hatched from eggs laid by wild birds, indicating that wild populations have contributed to the programme.
Scientists have also employed a novel technique called the ‘jumpstart’ approach. Under this method, eggs laid by captive birds are placed in nests of wild Great Indian Bustards. Wild females accept and incubate these eggs as their own. This approach has resulted in 6 chicks hatching in Rajasthan and 2 in Gujarat, helping boost wild populations without relying entirely on captive birds.
Habitat restoration supporting rewilding
Rewilding cannot succeed without suitable habitats. The Rajasthan Forest Department has been establishing fenced grassland enclosures totalling around 200 square kilometres inside Desert National Park. Long-term studies by the Wildlife Institute of India have identified these areas as prime breeding habitats for the species, making them ideal locations for released birds to establish themselves.
What this means for you
This release is a step towards preventing the extinction of a bird species found only in India. Citizens concerned with wildlife conservation will see this as evidence that India’s conservation efforts are advancing beyond simply keeping species alive in zoos towards restoring them in nature. The programme also demonstrates how government agencies, research institutions and international partners can collaborate on species recovery.
For those living in or visiting Rajasthan, particularly around Jaisalmer and the Desert National Park, the presence of Great Indian Bustards being reintroduced to the wild is part of ongoing biodiversity restoration in the region.
What happens next
Eleven birds have been earmarked for eventual release into the wild. The ministry will monitor the two birds released on 4 October 2026 and use their observations to refine protocols for releasing the remaining nine birds in future phases.