Four Great Indian Bustards Return to Rajasthan’s Desert Grasslands
Four captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards have been released in Jaisalmer’s Desert National Park, opening the rewilding phase of a decade-long conservation programme.
Four captive-bred male Great Indian Bustards were released near Sam village in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, in October. The release opens the rewilding phase of a decade-long conservation programme in Rajasthan’s desert grasslands.
The four birds are part of a group of ten earmarked for release from the Sam and Ramdevra breeding facilities. The programme is shifting from building a captive population to learning from reintroductions in the wild.
By October, the two facilities held 96 birds, including 56 captive-bred birds. The breeding effort produced 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026.
