Project Great Indian Bustard adds three chicks; captive stock reaches 94
On 14 June 2026, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav said Project GIB added three chicks, taking captive stock to 94 and chicks hatched in the fourth breeding year to 26.
Summary
Project Great Indian Bustard (GIB) has added three more chicks to its conservation breeding programme, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on 14 June 2026. The three chicks came from one wild-collected egg and two captive-laid eggs, taking the captive stock to 94 birds. In the fourth year of captive breeding, 26 chicks have hatched so far: 18 through artificial insemination, four through natural breeding and four from wild-collected eggs. In exchange for the wild eggs, three chicks have hatched in the wild in Rajasthan through a 'jumpstart' intervention to improve founder genetic diversity and reduce predation risk.
Key facts
- Captive stock
- 94 birds
- Chicks this year
- 26 in the fourth year of captive breeding
- Breakdown
- 18 by artificial insemination, 4 by natural breeding, 4 from wild-collected eggs
- Jumpstart
- 3 chicks hatched in the wild in Rajasthan
- Announced by
- Bhupender Yadav, 14 June 2026
Practice MCQs 3 questions
According to Union Minister Bhupender Yadav on 14 June 2026, the captive stock of Great Indian Bustards under Project GIB has reached how many birds?
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Correct answer: C — 94
The captive stock grew to 94 birds after three new chicks.
How many Great Indian Bustard chicks have hatched so far in the fourth year of captive breeding (as of 14 June 2026)?
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Correct answer: B — 26
In the fourth year of captive breeding, 26 chicks have hatched so far.
Consider the following statements about Project Great Indian Bustard (June 2026): 1. Of the chicks hatched in the fourth year of captive breeding, 18 came through artificial insemination. 2. Three chicks have hatched in the wild in Rajasthan through a 'jumpstart' intervention. 3. All chicks hatched this year came from wild-collected eggs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: D — 1 and 2 only
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. Statement 3 is wrong: only four of the 26 chicks came from wild-collected eggs.