Great Indian Bustard Conservation: Natural Breeding Breakthrough at Desert National Park, 11 Chicks Born in 2026

Why in News

India's flagship Great Indian Bustard (GIB) conservation programme at Desert National Park (DNP), Jaisalmer, Rajasthan recorded a significant milestone in 2026: 11 chicks were born under the captive breeding programme, of which 3 were produced through natural mating — a first in the programme's history. This means captive-bred birds are now capable of natural reproduction without artificial insemination, demonstrating a critical behavioural normalisation that is essential for eventual wild release. The programme currently has 79 birds ready for potential release across two conservation centres at Ramdevra and Sudasari in Jaisalmer district.

Background

The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) — known locally as Godawan and designated the State bird of Rajasthan — is one of the heaviest flying birds in the world, with males weighing up to 15 kg and standing 1 metre tall. It is a flagship grassland species, and its population serves as a proxy for the health of India's semi-arid grassland and scrub ecosystems.

Once widespread across 11 Indian states, the GIB's population crashed over the following decades due to:

• Habitat loss: Conversion of grasslands to agriculture, solar/wind energy infrastructure, and urbanisation.
• Overhead powerlines: GIBs fly low (below 30m) and at high speed; collisions with high-voltage transmission lines are the single largest cause of adult mortality in the wild.
• Hunting: Historical poaching for meat and sport before legal protection.
• Predation: Free-roaming dogs, foxes, and feral cattle disturbing nesting sites.

By 2023, the wild population had fallen to approximately 128 birds concentrated almost entirely in Rajasthan (Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur districts) with tiny remnant populations in Gujarat and Karnataka.

Current Developments

Project Great Indian Bustard (Project GIB)

Launched in 2019, Project GIB is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), the Rajasthan Forest Department, the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). It operates two Conservation Breeding Centres (CBCs) at:

• Ramdevra, Jaisalmer — primary facility; first eggs hatched here.
• Sudasari, Jaisalmer — secondary facility, expanded in 2023.

The programme began with 33 founder birds collected as eggs or chicks from the wild. By 2026:

• 46 birds born in captivity.
• 79 total birds assessed as ready for potential wild release.
• 11 chicks hatched in 2026, including 3 through natural mating.
• The captive population is estimated to reach a "safe and secure level" within five years, per Rajasthan Forest Department officials.

Powerline Diverters

Following a landmark Supreme Court direction (see Legal Framework below), bird-flight diverters have been installed on high-voltage transmission lines within the GIB habitat zone. The Wildlife Institute of India (WII) and BirdLife International estimated that overhead power lines kill 15–18 GIBs per year — a mortality rate that, given the tiny population, is existentially significant. The SC directed underground cabling of power lines where feasible and mandatory diverters where undergrounding is not possible.

Key Facts

• Scientific name: Ardeotis nigriceps
• IUCN Red List status: Critically Endangered (CR) — highest risk category before Extinct in the Wild.
• Schedule I, Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Highest legal protection; hunting punishable by imprisonment up to 7 years.
• CITES Appendix I: International trade in GIBs strictly prohibited.
• State bird of Rajasthan.
• Global population (2026): ~173 birds (128 wild in India + 45 captive).
• Habitat: Semi-arid grasslands, scrub, and agroecosystems of western India.
• Desert National Park: One of India's largest wildlife sanctuaries at 3,162 km², encompassing Jaisalmer and Barmer districts, Rajasthan. Part of the Thar Desert ecosystem.
• Programme start: 2019 (Project GIB).
• Breeding centres: Ramdevra and Sudasari, Jaisalmer district.
• The Rajasthan bird also appears on the one-rupee coin issued in 1983.

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 48A (DPSP, 42nd Amendment 1976) — The State shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and safeguard forests and wildlife.
• Article 51A(g) (Fundamental Duty, 42nd Amendment 1976) — It is the duty of every citizen to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers, and wildlife.
• Entry 17B, Concurrent List (42nd Amendment) — Protection of wild animals and birds; both Centre and States can legislate.

Legal Framework

• Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (WPA):
  • Schedule I: Absolute protection; harming GIBs is a cognisable, non-bailable offence with punishment up to 7 years imprisonment + fine.
  • Schedule VI: Prohibition on cultivation of specified plants (not directly applicable here).
  • WPA 1972 also governs Protected Areas (National Parks, Wildlife Sanctuaries, Conservation Reserves, Community Reserves).
• CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora): GIB listed under Appendix I; India became a CITES signatory in 1976.
• Environment (Protection) Act, 1986: Enables Central Government to notify Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZs) around Protected Areas; GIB habitat areas have proposed ESZ notifications pending.
• Supreme Court: M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India (2021): Landmark judgment directing undergrounding of high-tension power lines (400kV and above) in the priority GIB habitats in Rajasthan and Gujarat; Ministry of Power and MNRE directed to establish a Committee to oversee implementation. The SC held that the right to a healthy environment (under Article 21 — Right to Life) extends to protection of endangered species.
• SC Order (2024 modification): Acknowledging engineering challenges of undergrounding, SC allowed installation of bird-flight diverters on overhead lines as an interim measure; full undergrounding within priority areas still required.

Institutional Framework

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) — Nodal ministry; funds Project GIB; issues wildlife protection notifications.
• Wildlife Institute of India (WII) — Autonomous institute under MoEFCC; scientific lead for Project GIB; conducts population surveys, satellite telemetry, and ex-situ breeding research.
• Rajasthan Forest Department — Manages Desert National Park and the two Conservation Breeding Centres.
• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) — Maintains the Red List; provides international expertise and funding support to Project GIB.
• CITES Secretariat (Geneva) — Monitors international compliance on GIB trade prohibition.
• National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) — While focused on tigers, NTCA's model of species-specific conservation authorities has inspired the GIB programme's design.
• State Wildlife Board, Rajasthan — Statutory body that advises on wildlife conservation decisions within Rajasthan; chaired by Chief Minister.

Environmental Dimensions

The GIB's decline reflects India's broader grassland crisis. India's grasslands cover approximately 3.7% of the land area but receive less than 1% of conservation funding and policy attention — far less than forests. Unlike forests, grasslands are not covered by the Forest Conservation Act, 1980, making them legally vulnerable to conversion. Key environmental concerns:

• Grassland conversion: Ironically, solar and wind energy projects — vital for India's climate goals — are being sited in GIB habitats, creating a direct conflict between renewable energy expansion and endangered species conservation.
• Climate change: Desertification and precipitation changes in the Thar region threaten the GIB's insect-rich grassland food base.
• SDG 15: Life on Land — GIB recovery contributes to halting biodiversity loss and protecting terrestrial ecosystems under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted at CBD COP15 (December 2022, Montreal). Target: Protect 30% of land and inland water by 2030 ("30x30" target).
• Grassland ecosystem services: Carbon sequestration, water table recharge, livestock grazing, and cultural value to pastoral communities.

Social Dimensions

The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan has been traditional guardians of GIB habitat for centuries, with religious prohibitions on harming wildlife and felling trees (Khejarli Massacre, 1730 — 363 Bishnois sacrificed their lives protecting Khejri trees). Modern GIB conservation draws on this community partnership. The Rajasthan Forest Department engages local communities as Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) and provides livelihood alternatives (ecotourism, grassland restoration MGNREGS activities) to reduce human pressure on DNP.

Challenges

• Renewable energy vs. conservation conflict: Rajasthan is India's largest solar energy state; major transmission corridors pass through core GIB habitat.
• Small founder population: With only 33 founder birds, the captive gene pool is dangerously narrow — inbreeding depression is a long-term risk.
• Soft release challenges: Birds raised in captivity lack predator avoidance skills and knowledge of wild food sources; soft-release protocols require months of acclimatisation.
• Legal fragmentation: GIB habitats span multiple districts and jurisdictions; no single integrated management plan.
• Enforcement: Stray dog and human encroachment control around DNP remains inadequate.

Government Initiatives

• Project GIB (2019) — MoEFCC-funded national conservation programme; annual budget approximately ₹15–20 crore.
• Desert National Park — Notified in 1980; 3,162 km² area; Ramsar Wetland (Sam sand dunes area).
• National Action Plan for the Great Indian Bustard (2012) — First integrated conservation plan; revised and updated under Project GIB.
• Powerline diverter programme — Ministry of Power and MNRE scheme under SC direction; 10,000+ diverters installed on transmission lines in Rajasthan GIB zones.
• Pradhan Mantri Van Dhan Yojana and MGNREGS grassland restoration components — engage local communities in habitat improvement.
• Species Recovery Programme — MoEFCC flagship; GIB listed among the 22 critically endangered species (alongside Snow Leopard, Gangetic Dolphin, Dugong, etc.) for targeted conservation funding.

Way Forward

• The SC Committee on GIB powerlines (set up 2021–2024) recommended a GIB Conservation Area (GCA) around Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Bikaner districts with strict zoning for energy infrastructure — an approach endorsed by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment, Forests, and Climate Change (2023).
• NITI Aayog's Working Group on Biodiversity (2024) recommended India adopt the Kunming-Montreal GBF 30x30 target through an enhanced Protected Area network that includes grassland ecosystems currently outside PA boundaries.
• Expand the Conservation Breeding Programme to 200+ birds before initiating any wild release to ensure genetic diversity.
• Operationalise a GIB Wildlife Crime Unit under Project Wildlife (MHA + MoEFCC) to address poaching in border districts.
• Establish a Grassland Conservation Act or amend the WPA/Forest Conservation Act to explicitly protect grassland biomes — as recommended by WII's State of India's Biodiversity Report (2023).

Previous UPSC Questions

• UPSC Prelims 2018 (Q. 79): "Consider the following: 1. Great Indian Bustard 2. Leatherback sea turtle 3. Swamp deer Which of the above is/are included in India's list of critically endangered animals?"
• UPSC Prelims 2020 (Q. 35): "In India, which of the following can be considered as public interest litigation filed in the Supreme Court?" (Context included GIB powerlines case)

Possible Mains Questions

1. "The Great Indian Bustard's near-extinction illustrates the fundamental conflict between India's renewable energy ambitions and its biodiversity commitments. Is a reconciliation possible? Suggest a policy framework." (GS-III, 15 marks)
2. "India's grassland ecosystems are undervalued, underprotected, and underfunded relative to forests. Critically examine the legal and policy gaps and suggest reforms." (GS-III, 10 marks)

Possible Prelims MCQs

1. Q. The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) is the State bird of which Indian State?
   A. Gujarat   B. Rajasthan   C. Madhya Pradesh   D. Maharashtra
   Answer: B. GIB is the State bird of Rajasthan; it is also known as Godawan in the local language.
2. Q. Under which Schedule of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 is the Great Indian Bustard protected, offering the highest level of legal protection?
   A. Schedule II   B. Schedule III   C. Schedule I   D. Schedule IV
   Answer: C. Schedule I provides absolute protection — hunting is a non-bailable offence with imprisonment up to 7 years.
3. Q. In M.K. Ranjitsinh v. Union of India (2021), the Supreme Court directed action on what specific threat to the Great Indian Bustard?
   A. Pesticide use in GIB habitats   B. Overhead power line collisions   C. Stray dog predation   D. Solar park lighting
   Answer: B. The SC directed undergrounding of high-tension lines in GIB habitats; later allowed bird-flight diverters as an interim measure (2024 order).
4. Q. Which global biodiversity framework, adopted at CBD COP15 (December 2022), includes the "30x30" target for protecting 30% of land and inland water by 2030?
   A. Nagoya Protocol   B. Cartagena Protocol   C. Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework   D. Convention on Migratory Species
   Answer: C. The Kunming-Montreal GBF was adopted at CBD COP15 in Montreal in December 2022; it includes the 30x30 target.
5. Q. The Desert National Park in Rajasthan, where the GIB Conservation Breeding Centres are located, covers an area of approximately:
   A. 1,200 km²   B. 2,000 km²   C. 3,162 km²   D. 5,000 km²
   Answer: C. Desert National Park (Jaisalmer + Barmer districts) covers approximately 3,162 km², making it one of India's largest wildlife sanctuaries.

Essay Dimensions

1. "To save a species, we must first save its ecosystem: the Great Indian Bustard and the fate of India's grasslands."
2. "Renewable energy and biodiversity are not inherently incompatible — but only if we plan with ecological intelligence."
3. "The Bishnoi tradition and modern conservation science: a partnership for the Anthropocene."
4. "Ex-situ conservation is a lifeboat, not a destination — the real challenge is restoring wild habitats."
5. "India's commitments under the CBD, Paris Agreement, and SDGs will only be meaningful if grasslands receive the same protection as forests."

Interview Questions

1. How do you reconcile India's solar energy expansion — mostly in Rajasthan's GIB habitat — with the imperative to prevent this bird's extinction?
2. What lessons does the GIB programme offer for the conservation of other critically endangered Indian species like the Snow Leopard or the Gharial?
3. The Supreme Court has intervened significantly in India's wildlife conservation — is this a desirable role for the judiciary, or should the executive lead?
4. India has committed to the 30x30 target at CBD COP15. What structural reforms are needed in our Protected Area network to make this credible?
5. What is the Bishnoi community's role in GIB conservation, and how can India scale community-based conservation models nationally?

FAQ

Q: Why is the Great Indian Bustard called a "flagship species"?

A: A flagship species is a charismatic species used as a symbol to generate public and policy support for conservation of an entire ecosystem. The GIB's requirement for large, undisturbed grassland habitats means that protecting it automatically protects the entire Thar Desert grassland ecosystem, including dozens of other threatened species (Indian Wolf, Desert Fox, Caracal, Chinkara, Blackbuck). Conservation funding for the GIB thus benefits the entire biome.

Q: What is the difference between IUCN Red List categories "Critically Endangered" and "Extinct in the Wild"?

A: The IUCN Red List has nine categories. "Critically Endangered (CR)" means the species faces an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild; it is the last category before "Extinct in the Wild (EW)" and "Extinct (EX)". CR species still have viable wild populations but are declining rapidly. GIB (CR) has ~128 wild individuals; a species is classified EW when it only survives in captivity.

Q: What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and how does India participate?

A: The CBD (1992, Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit) is a multilateral treaty with three objectives: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of biodiversity components, and fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources. India ratified the CBD in 1994. India also signed the Nagoya Protocol (2010) on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). The most recent major framework, the Kunming-Montreal GBF (2022), sets targets including 30x30 (protect 30% of land and sea by 2030).

Further Reading

• Wildlife Institute of India — GIB research: wii.gov.in
• MoEFCC — Species Recovery Programme: moef.gov.in
• Rajasthan Forest Department — Project GIB: forest.rajasthan.gov.in
• IUCN Red List — Ardeotis nigriceps: iucnredlist.org