In a first inter-state success, rare Great Indian Bustard chick hatches in Kutch

There are only three female GIBs and no males in Kutch. Pic/PTI

A Great Indian Bustard (GIB) chick has been born in Gujarat's Kutch after a decade through a novel "jumpstart" conservation approach, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Saturday.

"Gujarat sees a GIB chick after a decade, through a novel conservation measure, the jumpstart approach," Yadav said in a post on X, adding that the effort was coordinated by the Centre, state forest departments and the Wildlife Institute of India.

Officials said the initiative marks India's first inter-state "jumpstart" effort for the critically endangered bird. With only three surviving female GIBs in Kutch and no males, natural breeding had become impossible.

To address this, a captive-bred egg from Rajasthan was transported over 770 km from Sam to Naliya via a halt-free corridor. "The egg was carried for over 19 hours in a handheld portable incubator and successfully replaced in the nest on March 22," they said.

The foster female completed incubation, and the chick hatched on March 26. Field teams have since observed the chick being reared in its habitat.

Yadav said conservation breeding centres in Rajasthan now house 73 birds. "India is now moving ahead towards the rewilding of birds in the near future," he added, calling the initiative a key step in long-term species recovery efforts.

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