Union Environment Minister releases two male Great Indian Bustards into the wild at Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
On 4 October 2026, Bhupender Yadav released two male captive-bred Great Indian Bustards at Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, marking the shift from breeding to rewilding.
Summary
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav released two male Great Indian Bustards (GIB) into the wild at Sam in Desert National Park, Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, on 4 October 2026, with Rajasthan Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma present. The release is a milestone under the Bustard Recovery Programme and moves India's GIB effort from building a captive breeding stock towards rewilding in natural habitat. Facilities at Sam and Ramdevra house 97 birds, of which 11 were earmarked for release and two were freed today.
Key facts
- Date
- 4 October 2026
- Release site
- Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
- Birds released
- Two male captive-bred GIBs
- Captive stock
- 97 birds at Sam and Ramdevra (11 earmarked for release)
- Programme
- Bustard Recovery Programme (MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Dept, WII)
- Funding
- National CAMPA
Background
- Of the 97 birds, 40 came from wild-laid eggs and 57 were bred in captivity; 86 are kept for captive reproduction.
- Captive reproduction yielded 24 live chicks in 2025 and 29 in 2026.
- Partners: MoEFCC, Rajasthan Forest Department and Wildlife Institute of India (WII), with technical support from the International Fund for Houbara Conservation and funding from National CAMPA.
- The jumpstart approach placed captive-laid eggs in wild nests; six chicks hatched in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat.
- About 200 sq km of fenced grassland enclosures have been created inside Desert National Park.
Practice MCQs 5 questions
On 4 October 2026, two male Great Indian Bustards were released into the wild at which site?
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Correct answer: A — Sam, Desert National Park, Jaisalmer
How many Great Indian Bustards were housed at the Sam and Ramdevra facilities at the time of the 4 October 2026 release?
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Correct answer: C — 97
Of the birds earmarked for release under the Bustard Recovery Programme, how many were released on 4 October 2026?
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Correct answer: B — 2
Consider the following statements about the Bustard Recovery Programme: 1. It is a collaboration of MoEFCC, the Rajasthan Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India. 2. It receives funding support from National CAMPA. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Under the novel ‘jumpstart’ approach mentioned with the GIB release, captive-laid eggs placed in wild nests led to how many chicks hatching in Rajasthan and Gujarat respectively?
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Correct answer: A — Six in Rajasthan and two in Gujarat