In a major breakthrough for wildlife conservation, two new chicks of the critically endangered Great Indian Bustard have been successfully hatched under a captive breeding programme in Rajasthan, with one chick born using artificial insemination (AI).
With this development, the total number of bustards in captivity has reached 70, marking a significant milestone in the fourth year of Project Great Indian Bustard.
Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav termed the achievement a crucial step in saving one of India’s most endangered bird species.
Officials confirmed that while one chick was born through natural mating, the other was produced through AI technology, showcasing how scientific intervention is playing a key role in reviving the rapidly declining population of the species.
The use of artificial insemination is especially important for species like the Great Indian Bustard, where breeding success in the wild has been extremely low.
In a significant next phase, some of the captive-bred chicks are expected to be soft released into the wild, marking a challenging but hopeful step towards restoring the species in its natural habitat.
Once widespread across India, the Great Indian Bustard is now on the brink of extinction due to habitat loss and other threats. Conservationists believe that a combination of technology like AI and sustained protection efforts could be key to its survival.
Leave a Reply