Initiation of rewilding: Release process started for captive‑bred Great Indian Bustards at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer

WHAT IS THE NEWS? During Wildlife Week 2026 (03 Oct 2026), the Union Environment Minister and the Chief Minister of Rajasthan initiated the process to release two captive‑bred Great Indian Bustards (GIB) from a soft‑release facility into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer — representing a key move from captive breeding to rewilding. ([pib.gov.in]( KEY FACTS - Event date / Posted On: 03 October 2026 (initiation and announcement). ([pib.gov.in]( - Numbers in breeding facilities: 97 birds housed across Sam and Ramdevra (40 from wild‑laid eggs; 57 bred in captivity). ([pib.gov.in]( - Of these, 86 are maintained for captive reproduction and 11 have been earmarked for release into the wild. ([pib.gov.in]( - Recent reproduction: 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026 (captive reproduction results). ([pib.gov.in]( - Infrastructure: A new Rewilding Aviary (160 m × 64 m × 14 m) at Ramdevra constructed with a sanctioned budget of ₹9.25 crore by Rajasthan agencies; establishment of ~200 sq. km of fenced grassland enclosures inside Desert National Park for habitat restoration. ([pib.gov.in]( - Programme partners and funding: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change; Rajasthan Forest Department; Wildlife Institute of India (technical support); International Fund for Houbara Conservation (technical collaboration); National CAMPA (funding support). ([pib.gov.in]( WHY IS IT IMPORTANT? - Conservation milestone: Moving from captive‑breeding to controlled rewilding is a crucial, scientifically informed phase in species recovery for the critically endangered GIB — an umbrella species for grassland ecosystems. ([pib.gov.in]( - Ecosystem & livelihood linkages: GIB conservation supports grassland restoration, land‑degradation neutrality and potential eco‑tourism benefits for local communities in the Thar region. ([pib.gov.in]( - Policy and governance: Demonstrates coordinated Centre‑State action, use of National CAMPA funds, engagement of scientific institutions (WII) and international technical partners — a model for species recovery programs. ([pib.gov.in]( UPSC PRELIMS ANGLE - Facts to memorise: species name (Great Indian Bustard), project numbers (97 birds in facilities; 11 earmarked for release), infrastructure (aviary size and ₹9.25 crore sanction), and partner agencies (WII, National CAMPA). These concrete numbers and institutional links are typical prelims fodder. ([pib.gov.in]( UPSC MAINS ANGLE - Environment Paper and GS3 topics: Use this as a case study to discuss endangered species recovery — captive breeding vs reintroduction, habitat restoration, threat mitigation (including measures such as fencing, powerline mitigation elsewhere), community engagement and funding mechanisms (National CAMPA). Evaluate governance mechanisms and scalability to other grassland species. ([pib.gov.in]( KEY TAKEAWAYS - The GIB programme has moved into operational rewilding after a decade of conservation breeding — a critical shift that will generate scientific lessons for future reintroductions. ([pib.gov.in]( - The initiative illustrates multi‑stakeholder conservation: Centre‑State coordination, scientific institutions, targeted funding and international technical collaboration. Use it in answers on conservation governance and biodiversity management. ([pib.gov.in](