The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, in collaboration with the Rajasthan Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India, initiated the process for releasing captive-bred Great Indian Bustards into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer. Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma participated in the event marking the rewilding of two birds from the soft-release facility into an enclosure, representing a critical transition in India's GIB conservation program from establishing a viable breeding population toward augmentation of the species in its natural habitat.
The conservation breeding program has achieved significant progress with 97 birds currently housed at facilities in Sam and Ramdevra, comprising 40 birds from wild-laid eggs and 57 bred in captivity. Of these, 86 birds are maintained for captive reproduction while 11 have been earmarked for release into the wild. The program produced 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026 through captive reproduction. Scientific interventions include a novel 'jumpstart' approach where six chicks in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat were hatched by placing captive-laid eggs in wild nests that were accepted by incubating females.
Infrastructure development includes the newly inaugurated Rewilding Aviary at Ramdevra measuring 160m × 64m × 14m, constructed by the Rajasthan Forest Department through Rajasthan State Road Development and Construction Corporation Ltd. with a sanctioned budget of ₹9.25 crore from the Rajasthan Government. The pillar-less facility provides unobstructed flight space for captive-bred GIBs to develop flight muscles and adapt to natural conditions. Habitat restoration efforts include establishment of approximately 200 sqkm of fenced grassland enclosures inside Desert National Park, which serve as prime breeding habitats according to long-term telemetry studies.
The Bustard Recovery Programme is a collaborative initiative with technical collaboration from International Fund for Houbara Conservation and funding support from National CAMPA. The ongoing National Action Plan envisages conservation breeding, scientifically informed habitat management, threat mitigation, habitat restoration and community engagement. The species conservation actions are guided by the Supreme Court of India's judgment based on recommendations of an Expert Committee constituted for this purpose.