Rare Hope Takes Wing as Second Great Indian Bustard Chick Survives in Kutch

In a significant breakthrough for wildlife conservation, the second Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick born in Gujarat's Kutch district through the innovative 'jumpstart' conservation technique has successfully crossed the critical 40-day survival stage , Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav announced on Thursday.

The achievement has infused fresh optimism into efforts to revive one of the world's most endangered bird species. Yadav shared the update after reviewing the progress of Project Great Indian Bustard during the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in Coimbatore.

The chick, born on May 21, 2026 , has now survived the vulnerable early weeks that are considered crucial for the species' survival. The success is particularly noteworthy because the first GIB chick produced through the same initiative in Gujarat had gone missing in April, with officials suspecting it may have fallen prey to wild predators.

The 'jumpstart' programme was launched to address a grave challenge in Kutch, where only three female Great Indian Bustards are believed to remain. With almost no possibility of natural breeding, conservationists adopted the pioneering approach of transferring a fertilised egg from a captive breeding programme to the nest of a wild female. The wild bird then incubates, hatches and raises the chick in its natural habitat, improving its chances of adapting to life in the wild.

Yadav also highlighted encouraging progress in Rajasthan, where captive breeding centres at Sam and Ramdevra have produced 98 chicks so far. The project is now preparing to enter the rewilding phase , with the Wildlife Institute of India and the forest departments of Rajasthan and Gujarat working together to return more birds to their natural habitat.

The Great Indian Bustard, among the heaviest flying birds on Earth, is listed as Critically Endangered , with most of the remaining population found in Rajasthan and only a handful surviving in Gujarat.